Automakers Are Eliminating Spare Tires in Vehicles: Slime Has the Solutions to Protect You

Online, July 19, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Spare tires are so yesterday, but what if you get a flat tire today? When faced with having to use a traditional spare tire, many people do not feel confident that they can repair a flat themselves. Those that can change a spare tire are not immune to the dangers the roadside presents. From the vehicle slipping off the tire jack to being struck by traffic, changing a spare tire exposes drivers to an array of risks. As the worldwide leader in tire care, Slime decided to develop a better alternative to dangerous roadside repairs. In their flat tire repair kit, Slime and their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) sister company Sealant Systems International (SSI) have modern solutions that make the spare tire look outdated.
Rodney Cegelski, Slime's EVP of Marketing notes, "We knew that the spare tire was not the right tool and wanted to create a product that empowered drivers to repair a flat tire quickly and effectively. After watching market research participants change their spare tire and clocking a 45-minute average repair time, we knew something had to be done." After years of working with car manufacturers, the SSI brand Onboard Tire Repair System (OTRS) was born and sold into the OEM market. A few years later, the Safety Spair was born and sold at retail. Today, SSI continues to focus on supplying car manufacturers with high-quality sealant repair kits, while Slime brings this technology to the retail shopper with the Safety Spair.
As the name implies, the Safety Spair revolutionizes the way people repair flat tires by offering a safe, simple solution that gives every driver the confidence that they can repair a flat tire in just seven minutes. Today, Slime is still the only company to offer a push-button, complete sealant and air tire repair system that can be purchased in a retail setting.
Looking at the new vehicle market, it is plain to see that the spare tire is going the way of the cassette deck. According to www.Edmunds.com, "In the past five years, there has been a 38 percent decrease (about 51 models) in vehicles that come equipped with full-size spares." The decision to omit the spare tire from newer vehicles reduces costs and decreases the weight of the vehicle, helping to improve gas mileage. This, in turn allows automakers to meet the fuel economy requirements mandated by Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that require improved average fuel economy. With the CAFE standards in place, the spare tire will soon be a distant memory.
"After manufacturing sealant and air-based repair kits under the Slime brand for almost a decade, we have seen a growing consumer acceptance for these products," says Cegelski. As a worldwide leader in tire care distributed in over 80 countries, Slime offers a full line of tire care products, including tire sealants and tubes, to retailers, distributors and customers. Slime is a California-based company dedicated to creating tire care products that are safe for users, tires and the environment as solidified by Slime's Green Promise.
To learn more about Slime tire care products, visit www.Slime.com
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Media contact: Lisa Elia Phone: 310-479-0216 e-mail: [email protected]