A flat tire has a funny way of showing up when you’re already late, under-caffeinated, or both. And thanks to those stipulations, your brain immediately tries to negotiate: “If I just creep to the ...

Emily Long is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Duke University, she spent several years reporting on the federal workforce for Government Executive, a publication of ...

You get a flat, and under the carpet in the trunk is one of those “donut” (or “temporary”) spare tires – skinnier than the tires on your car, with a prominent warning about maximum speed on the side.