Let’s say you’re in a hurry for an important meeting, and then you have a flat tire. The first thing you’re going to look for is, of course, your spare tire. But what if you find out that you don’t have a spare tire? What makes it worse is the type of spare.
As automakers shift toward smaller, temporary spares, some vehicles now come without a spare tire. However, this does not imply that automakers are abandoning you.
The decision was motivated by concerns about fuel efficiency, trunk space, and the perils of setting up a jack on the side of the road. Your vehicle may have run-flat tires, or you may find a tire repair kit in place of the spare.
According to AAA, only 5% of 2006 model year automobiles did not arrive with replacement parts, compared to 28% of 2017 models.
Many modern cars also include tire-pressure monitoring devices that inform drivers of underinflated tires.
Do You Need A Spare Tire?
Spare tires are no longer standard on many current models of automobiles. Approximately 35% of cars currently leave the factory without a spare tire. Most new light vehicles and bigger SUVs still include a spare tire. Below is all you need to know about replacement parts, including why they sold automobiles without them.
Spare Tires
When you have a flat, it is the most significant opportunity to learn about the many sorts of spares. It might be as simple as opening the trunk to examine what’s inside. Let’s take a closer look at each spare kind and how it’s changed over time.
Shop All Spare Tire Accessories Here
Run-Flat Tire
Vehicles supplied with run-flat tires lack a spare or repair kit and, for the most part, have reinforced sidewalls that perform with relatively little or no tire pressure, are heavier, and provide a firm ride. You must limit your speed to less than 50 mph, but you can still drive (up to 50 miles) until you find a tire shop or service station.
The use of run-flat tires has surged by 225 percent since 2007. According to Edmunds research, they are currently standard on only 14 percent of 2017 automobiles. In recent years, carmakers have begun to utilize them in other vehicles, like the Toyota Sienna minivan has a run-flat tire option.
Temporary Spares
Temporary spares, sometimes known as “donuts,” are the most frequent option for automakers. They provide the optimum blend of size and usefulness. Temporary spare tires are smaller than the rest of the vehicle’s tires and take up less trunk space. They’re also light enough for most folks to manage when changing a tire.
However, they usually come with a restricted number of pre-installed airbags because they are not nearly as strong as standard tires.
Full-Size Spares
A full-size spare tire is the same size as the other tires on the vehicle and is available in matching and non-matching configurations. According to Tire Rack, matching extras often have a lighter-weight design and shallower tread depth to decrease vehicle weight, increase fuel efficiency, and make the spare easier to install.
Over the last decade, the number of cars equipped with full-size spare tires has decreased by 38%. A full-size spare tire is standard on 22% of 2017 automobiles.
If you have a matching spare tire, you may get the tire repaired at your leisure rather than immediately. To maintain an extended tread life and balanced handling characteristics, you must include spares into the vehicle’s rotation cycle.
Space Considerations
Designing automobiles that require battery packs in addition to a gas engine or electric powertrain presents unique issues. In most cases, the battery ends up beneath the back seat or in the trunk, encroaching on the vehicle’s storage capacity.
Most alternative fuel cars are tiny, and a small plug-in hybrid sedan or hatchback with little luggage room is challenging to sell. Hyundai stated that it had revised its strategy for non-hybrid/EV cars in response to consumer input. The Accent and Elantra previously came with tire repair kits but now come with spares.
Suppose you’re in the market for a new automobile soon, research which manufacturers are the worst offenders, and keep it in mind while you’re at the showroom. And, if you’ve recently purchased a new automobile, have a look in the trunk before you become stranded.
Why Do New Cars Don’t Come With Spare Tires?
Several factors stated why car manufacturers don’t include spare tires anymore.
Improve Fuel Efficiency
When the jack and wrench become involved, removing the spare tire may reduce a vehicle’s weight by 30 to 50 pounds. It can also help with aerodynamics by reducing air drag from light tire compartments. These two criteria can help carmakers satisfy EPA regulations and enhance miles per gallon efficiency.
More Space for Smaller Vehicles
A pretty spare tire may take up a lot of space in compacts, sports vehicles, and tiny sedans, which is significant. In very compact automobiles, there may primarily be a trade-off between comfort and spaciousness in a sort of big way.
No Storage
Hybrids, diesel, and electric cars need a massive amount of discreet storage. Batteries and emissions equipment for such cars in general now take up space where the genuinely spare used to go discreetly.
Less Manufacturing Cost
Not only can manufacturers save a large amount of money, but they can also focus on improving other parts of the vehicle.
Are There Alternatives to a Spare Tire?
Run-Flat Tires
Run-flat tires become designed to allow limited driving after a standard tire puncture. When deflated, they become meant to travel 10 to 50 miles at less than 50 mph, allowing you to reach a servicing location. When there is a total air loss in a tire, run-flats may provide greater control than conventional tires.
The sole disadvantage of driving on a run-flat for even the shortest distances is that the tire will be ruined. If you have a flat in a rural section of the nation, you may be out of reach of the nearest tire repair business.
Self-Sealing Tires
A liner wrapped in a special sealant is available within self-sealing tires, and when a road item punctures the tread, the sealant substance “surrounds” the hole. The downside is that they won’t function if the puncture is more significant than a quarter-inch in diameter and do not work for sidewall holes, so if an item passes through the tread and into the sidewall, you will have a dead flat.
Shop All Self-Sealing Tires and Accessories Here
Inflator Kits
Although they are a less-than-ideal solution for a spare tire, inflator kits are becoming increasingly popular. New vehicles with standard tires may come with an aerosol seal kit. Some can be as essential as $10 cans of plugging minor puncture wounds. Other kits include a tiny air cartridge and a sealant bottle that you may replace.
Tire sealant kits only operate on small holes in the tread and do not function at all on slots or holes in the sidewall in a subtle way.
In a nutshell, whether your newly purchased car has a spare tire or not, it is always advisable to have one, with the right type and proper equipment in case of an emergency. The importance of preparedness is always helpful in times of worry.