Patent ID: 7198084

Claim:
A dual purpose automotive tire apparatus for supporting a vehicle's tire and/or rim in the event of a flat tire and providing enhanced traction for a vehicle on a slippery road surface, said apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced elongated flexible retaining members defining extended end portions, a plurality of support members carried by and extending laterally between said retaining members, said support members each defining opposed first and second surfaces, said first surfaces each providing a tread and said second surfaces each providing a traction element and means for selectively joining together said extended end portions of each of said retaining members about a vehicle tire and/or rim such that said support members extend thereacross either with said first surfaces collectively projecting outwardly therefrom for supporting said tire and/or rim in the event of a flat tire or with said second surfaces collectively projecting outwardly from the tire for providing traction on a slippery surface, said joining means including a pair of attachment elements, said attachment elements being disposed proximate opposite end portions of said retaining members and defining channels extending therethrough such that said channels are in axial alignment upon said extended end portions being joined together and including a pin member extending through said aligned channels and being operatively connected to said retaining members.