Driving on a Temporary Spare: Plan the Next Stop

A temporary spare gets you to the next step. Check its limits before deciding where to drive after a flat.

A tire change is not the end of the repair

When you call for usable-spare tire installation, tell us where you intend to go afterward. A nearby tire shop and a long drive home are different plans. Rick’s installs a suitable spare when the vehicle and working space allow it; the damaged tire still needs a tire shop’s assessment.

As you prepare for colder-season driving in Chicago, check the spare’s instructions before a flat interrupts your plans. Keep the vehicle manual accessible so you are not guessing about limits in a parking lot.

Read the limit for your actual spare

A speed limit is not a distance allowance. Do not turn a “50 mph” label into permission to drive 50 miles. Check the spare’s label and your exact vehicle manual for speed, distance, pressure and placement instructions.

For example, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata owner’s manual limits its compact spare to emergency use, prohibits speeds above 50 mph and calls for prompt repair or replacement of the original tire. That example is not a universal specification for every spare.

The same manual requires attention to load limits and tire pressure, warns that ground clearance is reduced, and prohibits towing a trailer with that compact spare installed. Follow the instructions for your own equipment.

Choose a destination before leaving

Call the tire shop to confirm that it is open, can assess your tire and can receive the vehicle. Ask about after-hours drop-off if necessary. Do not assume an open parking lot means a shop can accept a car.

Then compare the destination and route with your spare’s restrictions. If the permitted trip does not work for your situation, tell Rick’s before requesting a tire change alone. We can discuss compatible light-duty wheel-lift towing and confirm whether the vehicle, destination and access fit the equipment.

A spare installation should not be booked as a way to continue an unrestricted day of driving. Arrange the repair visit as the next step, rather than waiting until the spare becomes another roadside problem.

Report damage that a spare cannot resolve

Tell us about a bent rim, damaged studs, steering trouble or suspension damage, even if you have a spare. Changing the tire does not repair those components. Damaged-suspension towing requires a vehicle-specific equipment and access check; dollies are used when appropriate for a compatible tow.

Also mention a missing wheel-lock key, seized lug nuts or a spare that cannot be reached. These details can change the service plan before anyone is dispatched.

Arrange help in Lake View East or the North Side

Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance is open 24/7, with Lake View East as the primary service area and Chicago’s North Side as the broader focus. Call with the vehicle year, make and model, affected wheel, spare details and planned destination.

Give the exact street address, nearest cross street and side of the street. For rear parking, identify the alley or lot entrance. For a garage, report the level, height clearance, ramps, turns and loading room. We confirm availability, suitability and the quote by phone.

Driving on a Temporary Spare: Plan the Next Stop

A tire change is not the end of the repair

Read the limit for your actual spare

Choose a destination before leaving

Report damage that a spare cannot resolve

Arrange help in Lake View East or the North Side

What to expect when you call Rick’s

About Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance — 24/7 Lakeview & North Side Roadside Assistance

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