

But what should you do when that spare tire needs to be replaced? Carmakers can save several hundred dollars per vehicle by foregoing the spare in new vehicles.Īccording to most automakers, a spare tire should only be used to get from where you discovered your flat tire to the nearest tire repair shop. Batteries and emissions equipment can often take up the same space as a spare.

There can be a trade-off between comfort and the space in small cars. These two factors can affect a vehicle’s MPG. It can also improve aerodynamics by reducing air drag from a spare tire that sits below the undercarriage of a vehicle. Removing the spare can reduce a vehicle’s weight by up to 50 pounds, including the jack and lug wrench. There are several reasons why automakers have removed or minimized the spare tire. Why Aren’t Some New Cars Coming With a Spare Tire? That way you’re prepared in case of a flat. If you’ve recently bought a newer model car, be sure to double-check that it has a spare or flat tire option. Do your research before you head out to the dealership. Especially since some trim levels include a spare tire, but not all. It can be difficult to tell which vehicles and models come with a spare and which don’t. See Consumer Reports partial list of spare-less vehicle models. The answer to that question is complicated as the number of vehicles that do not include a spare continues to change. Which New Car & SUV Models Don’t Include a Spare? Here’s what to know about spares, including why more vehicles don’t come with one, how to decide if you really need one, and the upsides and downsides of inflator kits. Getting a flat tire is a major hassle and can be costly.

Instead, many are equipped with a space-saver (donut) spare or tire sealant and inflation kit. While many new light trucks and larger SUVs come with a spare, many new vehicles do not include a regular-sized spare.Ībout one-third of new vehicles are not equipped with a full-size spare tire. The fact that spare tires are no longer standard equipment on many newer-model cars can come as a surprise when you get a flat tire.
