By avoiding the following pitfalls, you can be assured that your baby tire is as capable as his big brothers. If your spare is low, it may shred on the way home or to the service facility. The distance you can travel before this happens is directly related to the tire's inflation level. Check the pressure of the spare, as well as the other four tires every month or two. Although this problem is not as common as underinflation, it bears consideration.
Tires do have a shelf life.
After a period of time, they may begin to develop small cracks in the sidewall, your first clue to this condition. The leading reason spare tires fall victim to underinflation and dry rotting is inaccessibility. If you take your car to a shop, most automotive technicians are happy to check your spare if they can get to it. However, few will move your cargo for the sake of your spare. It is, as car makers state, for temporary use.