No spare tires in many new vehicles

[Keithpaints]

Today Janice & I were out in her 2021 Nissan Leaf. She bought it used 6 months ago with 8K miles on it. She was turning left into tight angle driveway I was going to say something because knew she wasn't going to make it from left tire hit curb blew out her sidewall. We parked in the lot I told her I'd fix the flat. She said no spare in this car I looked couldn't believe it. Boy I must be living under a rock. Had to call drivers assist on mainland get connected to tow company to tow car to Lex Brodies near. They were so busy had to wait hours before got to her. All she had to pay for was a new tire. Asked at Lex Brodies how many cars don't carry spares anymore & what do they do. Same thing you did get a tow company to tow car to a place to fix it. All total took over 4 hours seems like such a waste. I didn't even know quite a few cars don't carry any kind of spares these days.

 

[Gshep91]

My wife’s 2019 jeep compass came with a silly patch kit/tire pump. Of course it was useless the one time she got a flat and it shredded the tire.

I’ve also heard that if you mess up using the kit, it can leave tar like substance everywhere, But don’t know first hand

 

[Justinv]

I’ve never used a spare tire and frankly I’d prefer more trunk space. I also suspect few people will go to the trouble of swapping tires on a trip when an issue is encountered.

 

[blokey]

For electric cars probably because their floor space is taken by batteries but no excuse from traditional cars, I saw a new Mercedes SUV with huge space below trunk floor with nothing inside

 

[McMan]

I also suspect few people will go to the trouble of swapping tires on a trip when an issue is encountered.

It's not trouble. It's just changing a tire

Really, it’s usually a crapshoot if the spare will even be inflated at all…. because the only people who periodically check the air pressure in a spare are the very same people that were confronted with the indignity of a flat spare once upon a time because they hadn’t checked it in nine years….

 

[Keithpaints]

Always carried a patch kit on bicycle training for Cycle to the sun on Maui.
Fixed flats roadside.

Have changed wheels for others & myself before those small temporary wheels got popular. Was told luxury cars like Lexus don't carry spares anymore. I guess like many other things in our society can't be bothered changing a tire. I can't imagine going off road in a jeep out in wilderness without a spare.

 

[Keithpaints]

It's not trouble. It's just changing a tire

Really, it’s usually a crapshoot if the spare will even be inflated at all…. because the only people who periodically check the air pressure in a spare are the very same people that were confronted with the indignity of a flat spare once upon a time because they hadn’t checked it in nine years….

Yes and many don't have roadside insurance so have to foot the whole bill. Guess it makes sense rich have insurance call a tow truck.


In this age of social media many places in Hawaii that tourist see have to be rescued from their lack of gear & any knowledge of what they are getting into. Because tourist die every year in Hawaii falling off cliffs, being swept out to sea over rocks. Many places are fenced off now at lookouts because afraid of law suits.
I've seen them ignore warning signs go past the fences over to wet rocks with large seas.

Hiking with running shoes & little or no water. Here & on the mainland.

Opposite did serious offroading with my friend ex Navy Seal he was over prepared. Northern Arizona, Colorado. Isuzu Trooper, later got the smaller Hummer for off road.

 

[MarcelNL]

Blowing a tyre on a curb is dumb luck, can't you just call a tire repair company to fix it on the spot (that is what they often do with trucks)?

I recall reading something saying that statistically on Western EU roads (using decent tyres) you get a flat once in every 80.000km...(Belgian roads must have been excluded).

Since reading that I'm quite OK without a spare, which is common around here for a decade or two.
Must say that I only had a flat once over the past 10 years, and that was because I drove too close to a fence post (too impatient to wait until the gate opened further) and a sharp edge blew out the side of the tyre.

A bottle of some sealant and a compressor called a 'mobility kit' is standard issue in my current car (Ioniq 5 EV) but chances are that you're screwed when just inflating the tyre is not enough. Roadside assistance is not that costly IMHO, but it's all down to preparation and making choices IMHO (including getting new tyres timely).

 

[Greasylake]

I've had exactly two flats in my life, both at the same time. I hit a pothole on the highway a bit too hard and bent both rims on the left side. I was able to swap the powered wheel with a flat and limp the tire shop where I got the rims swapped out and was on my home in pretty good time.
My mom's car doesn't have a spare, instead the manufacturer recommends using run-flats. She's gotten a nail in a tire a handful of times, and has gotten several free tires under warranty. I definitely like the peace of mind of having a spare, and keeping a cheap impact in the trunk makes changing a tire a minor inconvenience anyway.

 

[daveb]

I can't imagine going off road in a jeep...

I can't imagine going off road in a jeep either

My Tacoma has (and hopefully always will have) a full size spare.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Last time I had to change a tire on the roadside was a Christmas Day with three small children (the twins were just newborns) in -10 weather out in the middle of the country en route to visit family in another state. I would hate to have had to try to find someone to come an tow us and our minivan full of luggage, Christmas presents, etc. I'm really not a fan of the current trend away from including spare tires.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I can't imagine going off road in a jeep either

My Tacoma has (and hopefully always will have) a full size spare.

Taco gang!

Full size spare with steel rim was definitely a selling point when I bought the truck. I don't want to be depending on a 2-ply donut if I'm deep in the backcountry to get me out. Already made use of it.

 

[MarcelNL]

when getting off the main roads I'd definitely want a full size spare tyre too! Perhaps two...

I can still vividly remember driving around on a gravel (logging) road in rural mid Sweden, hitting huge pothole hidden behind a corner and barely making it back to civilization...no cell phone coverage, no traffic, no houses anywhere near

 

[stringer]

My Subarus have full size spares. I would probably still call AAA to change it for me if I got a flat. The ground is hard and dirty. Full size spares are heavy and dirty. And if it doesn't work out for some reason with the spare then AAA will tow it. I pay for roadside assistance. Might as well use it.

 

[Pie]

I have that goop squirting/inflatey box thing instead of a spare. I have no idea how to use it and don’t want my rims coated with whatever’s in there.

The shop I go to has a mobile tire van, but I’d probably call AMA and get it towed.. although I thankfully haven’t yet popped a tire in this car yet.

 

[Boynutman]

Had 3 flat tires the past years. All cases a screw punctured and got stuck, slow leaks. Got myself a cheap 12V pump, keep it in the car. Perfect to reach the tire shop each time.

Save the gooey stuff for when i really need it (will be way past expiry date haha).

 

[Keithpaints]

They wont fix tire on spot couldnt anyway with blown sidewall. She has roadside insurance. We had to find out where they even had the tire for Nissan Leaf. They would much rather have car at establishment where they can mount a new tire on the wheel rim. I picked up a large nail on my Forrester. Put on spare roadside. I got a good deal on Forrester wanted a manual transmission. Military guy leaving Islands. 2016 bought it early 2020.
Hadn't been washed much, original tires on it few scrapes on body had those fixed, full fluid change & new set of tires soon after bought it. It's been a good vehicle for me do some yardwork have a folding ramp for Honda mower. Also use it for driving to trailheads with hiking club. Some hikes are offroad 4 wheel drive only allowed. Our hike leader John has 4 wheel drive Toyota Tacoma other is my Forrester that has done the dirt roads & low areas of road with water just fine. Feel like have much more control using manual transmission moving slow on bumpy dirt roads & standing water. Now cars have computers buttons you push for offroad, snow etc. Some Jeeps can do offroad most are made for pavement only. I laugh at the Land Rover commercials showing climbing mountains backing up to a cliff. It's all BS Sure the old Rovers like the Queen had could do off road in Scotland. The new ones aren't made for offroad & the rich people that buy them for status don't ever go offroad.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

my wife's TESLA has no spare. i noted a bolt in the tire once and it was the fastest panic run to a local shop where they addressed it properly. my wife wouldnt have noted it.

i just recently had a big rod jam into my Tacoma truck in the boonies. i heard the POP, and stopped immedieatly. once i opened the door, i herad the escaping air. i jumped back in and drove for the flattest spot i could find. changing a tire in the dark, on a dirt road sucks!!! happy to have my spare.

i bet a lot of new drivers cant change a tire anyways. not safely.

 

[ethompson]

I wasn’t allowed to leave the driveway until I’d demonstrated I could change a tire properly. I’ve had to use my full size spare 3x in the 13 years I’ve been driving. Check the pressure in it quarterly.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

i've changed the tire more for total strangers than i have for myself. i bet i have had 4 flats in my many many years of driving. including off road.

 

[Delat]

I'd love to have at the very least a space saver spare, but our cars have runflats so that provides at least some security. It's just nice to have when you're in a situation where getting a tow might be difficult.

I've put a tire pump + sealant to each car for emergencies but I don't have much hope for those kits.

 

[Keithpaints]

i've changed the tire more for total strangers than i have for myself. i bet i have had 4 flats in my many many years of driving. including off road.

When I was younger changed more tires for others esp. fairer gender.

 

[mike59]

I wasn’t allowed to leave the driveway until I’d demonstrated I could change a tire properly. I’ve had to use my full size spare 3x in the 13 years I’ve been driving. Check the pressure in it quarterly.

One of the first things I taught my kids (2 girls) when they started driving was how to change a tire. We did it together and put the spare on. Then put everything away and told them to do it and put the original tire back on themselves. They've never had to do it but if they did they'd be able to. And along with that - how to check tire pressure and inflate them.