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MY design VS AAA and other products

Detailed description of the problem. Clear to reader why problem is significant and how it has been solved in the past. Answers (1) problem being solved, (2) why the solution is needed (3) who will use it, (4) discussed existing design solutions for your problem

Use what I have put so far + the resources and make a good argument and summary




The problem : X percentage of cars do not come with spare tires and jacks
My solution: design a Tire mobility kit(TMK) which is a combination of Tire,jack and lug wrench
why the problem is significant:


Project description


The Problem that we are about to solve?

What’s worse than a flat tire? The sinking realization that you have no way to fix it. That’s the situation more American motorists may find themselves in as 36 percent of 2015 models are sold without a spare tire, according to new research from AAA. That’s a steep rise from 2006 when just five percent of nameplates omitted a spare. As fuel-economy standards rise to 54.5 mpg for 2025, automakers are desperate to reduce weight and the spare tire is arguably the lowest-hanging fruit. Replacing a spare tire with a four-pound inflator kit can cut as much as 30 pounds from a vehicle’s curb weight, and the donut can be removed without the extensive engineering or major investment other weight-saving technologies require. AAA identified 136 models that don’t include a spare tire as standard equipment, although some of those vehicles do offer one as an option. Every major automaker, from Acura to Volvo, sells at least one car without a fifth wheel and tire. The list is heavy with sports cars, coupes, and hybrids, where space is at a premium, and German luxury cars and crossovers, which often use run-flat tires. (1)


The objective of this report is to design a tire mobility kit (TMK) which is a combination of a spare tire, automatic jack and a lug wrench.



Why the problem is significant and how it was solved in the past?
-percentage of people who get stuck on the road:
In  the United States alone, approximately 7 tire punctures occur every second, resulting in 220 million flat tires per year.  Statistics also show that every driver will experience on average up to 5 flat tires in their life time.  So the likelihood of running into such a roadside emergency is very high.(3)


At the past 

Why solution is needed?
-AAA can not assist the customer if he does not have a spare tire.
-cellphone dead-zone, where phones can not work due to signal 
-base on the consumer-affairs website there 200+ reviews from customers with bad experiences from AAA ranging from long wait time to the representatives not showing at all. One of the customers on the website, Caren of Mcmurray, who had been a member for 19 years said ”called for a change of tire. After 90 minutes called back. Nobody came. They assured me 40 minutes that someone would be there. I am sitting here for close to 3 hours.”(4)

 

Who will use it?
people who don’t have spare tires or a car jack in their vehicle.
People who want to replace their jack.

What are the competitive products? Discuss existing design solutions for your problem?
Triple A
Tire repair kit

1)Liquid tire repair is good to have in those emergency situations when you are traveling in your car and you develop a tire flat. A liquid tire repair kit can help you apply a temporary fix on the flat and get on the road in order to take the vehicle to the nearest tire repair shop to be properly fixed or repaired.

Depending on the type of liquid tire repair that you buy, you can apply a temporary fix in case of an emergency that can last for many miles until you can have a professional look at it. This is helpful should you find yourself stranded in some remote area and are miles away from the nearest repair facility.
Carrying liquid tire repair in your car provides you with a quick tire repair when you need it. The obvious pro for keeping liquid tire repair handy and available is that you will not be stranded or without a way to take your car to a repair shop. Liquid tire repair that is designed today has the ability to travel far and instantly seal a tire leak as well as patch a small tear that has developed on your car’s tires. This is even more important should you find yourself with an unreliable spare tire.

Using liquid tire repair may give you a false sense of security when it comes to the repaired tire. Liquid tire repair is meant to be used as a temporary fix for a leaking tire.

You should be aware that using liquid tire repair is a temporary, not permanent solution to your car’s tire repair needs and the car tire should be taken to a tire repair shop immediately after application. (2)


Tire Repair Kits

A tire repair kit, also called an inflator or mobility kit, takes up the least amount of space in a trunk because no spare is involved. Instead, you get a kit consisting of an air compressor and an integrated bottle of a thick, viscous sealant.

However, the repair kit has limitations of its own. It can't be used to fix about 15 percent of punctures, Berger says.

The kit can only be used if the puncture is on the tire's tread. If the puncture is on the sidewall and is larger than a quarter of an inch, you can't use the kit. Finally, you can't use the kit if the tire has separated from the wheel. In those cases you would have to call roadside assistance and have the vehicle towed to the nearest tire shop or dealer. (5)


Study up on tire inflators. Instead of a spare, some new vehicles come with a tire inflator kit. Today's models are more high-tech than the old-fashioned aerosol canisters that folks used to keep in the trunk. Like a small pump, it temporarily re-inflates the tire in a matter of minutes with pressurized gas. At the same time, it coats the interior with an air-resistant sealant.

Inflators work well only under limited circumstances, such as when a nail punctures the tire and remains embedded in it, according to tests conducted by AAA. “In situations where there’s a blow-out, side wall damage occurs or a tire is damaged by a curb strike, an inflator kit cannot provide even a temporary fix,” says Brannon.


Know the limitations of run-flats. About 12 percent of new vehicles come with run-flat tires, according to Edmunds.com. These are designed to temporarily resist going flat after a puncture. You can still drive on them for around 100 miles at 50 mph. (If you drive too fast or too long after a puncture, the tire can disintegrate.) That should be enough to get you to a service station. But you might have to wait overnight for a replacement tire, unless you can find a dealer that stocks these tires.

Many run-flat tires aren't repairable. If damaged, you have to buy a new one — and they cost more than standard tires. Thirty-one percent of run-flat owners have had to replace at least one tire, compared to 19 percent for standard tires, according to J.D. Power.

Run-flat tires don't always work in the case of sidewall damage. “Even run-flat tires cannot remedy all situations,” says Brannon.

 

Having a spare tire is more important than the convenience of an empty trunk. Flats happen, so be prepared. (6)

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