Daum...

I don't like blind spot mirrors. Takes up valuable mirror space. Instead, try using this method. Since I was shown this 20 years ago, it has made my driving some much better ( I see more cars and know where they are at)
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/

And yes, get a plug kit.

 

A donut spare is for temporary use.

Put it on wherever the flat is. Then repair the flat in the next day or so. Don't delay for weeks or months or longer.

The diffy isn't going to catastrophically fail in a few miles......they ain't that fragile.

Spare tires are not to be long term.

 

Yep. I was out for dinner the other night and pointed out to some young lady her rear tire was completely flat. No clue how they did not feel it. The young man with her (Appeared to be boyfriend) got out and then started going through the trunk. It occurred to me afterwards I should have seen if he even knew what to do haha.

 

When I took a motorcycle safety course ( a must !! ) the instructor advised:
Mirrors say "No", but they never say "Go"

I find the mirror look-see on my Tacoma to be super good, but I have been giving a slight
twist of the head for 50 years now, and I'm good for a few more twists as well. Noticed when
I towed my little camper the vision was excellent as well.

 

I call AAA - family plan covers the me, us, the kids, and whoever I'm with regardless of vehicle.
It's pretty darn reasonable - useless 10 miles into the desert or woods I know, but in general when
you need a jump, or tire change, they are johnny-on-the-spot.

 

It definitely looks like a knife handle. Its crazy how something so flat hit the tire just right that it stabbed its way through.

 

That’s not a third of new cars and the models identified are a small percentage of the market but I agree, it’s a slow trend.