What, No Spare Tire?

By Thomas R. Buff

Its hidden far away in the recesses of the trunk. Out of sight out of mind. Not needed until you hear the dreaded low tire alarm and the strange icon appears on the dash. Flat tire, no problem. I can put the spare tire on and be on the road in no time. Open the truck and to your surprise there is nothing but a can of fix a flat, the stuff you used to fix your bicycle tires when you were a kid. Or maybe a tire inflator kit. Wow, a new car without a spare! Where did it go? Did they forget to put it in your trunk?

Not too long ago a spare tire used to be standard equipment in cars and trucks. The new car market is changing in ways that may leave some drivers stuck on the side of the road. Automakers have become so focused solely on fuel economy requirements, trunk space and safety concerns that they have shifted toward smaller temporary tires or in many cases, no spare at all.

Full size spares are the same size as the other tires on the vehicle and usually match the others. But there has been a 49 percent decrease since 2007 of vehicles that still provide a full time spare. Temporary spares, often called “donut tires” can be found in 52 percent of 2014 plus model year cars. But these tires are designed to be used on a temporary basis because they are smaller and are not made for speeds over 55 miles per hour. “Run flat tires” normally require no spare at all. These tires have reinforced sidewalls that give them the strength to operate with little or no air at all. They are designed to go up to 50 miles at speeds under 50 mph in order to make it to a repair station. These tires give the motorist the advantage of not having to stop on the side of the road to change it which can lead to a dangerous situation. But they are not immune to blowouts from hitting potholes which usually litter our area.

Some new car manufactures are not including any type of tire at all. Instead they are providing the lucky motorist with a tire repair kit, sometimes called an inflator or mobility kit. This kit consists of a small air compressor and a bottle of thick tire inflation fluid. If your tire goes flat you simply attach the kit to the valve stem of the tire, plug the cord into your power point and the tire fills up. Instructions are included with the kit. There are limitations to what types of tire injury the kit can repair. It can only repair a puncture if it is on the tires tread and most experts believe the repair is not permanent.

With the development of new tire technology, tires are stronger and more flat resistant. Run flat tires will get you to a tire repair shop safely without the need to change the tire on the side of the road. Tire pressure monitoring systems also provide a sense of security because the system warns you of a tire pressure problem. But according to a 2013 survey, one in seven cars bought today come without a spare tire. For drivers without a spare what happens if you experience a full blowout or the tire becomes shredded and you are on the side of the road out of cell phone coverage? Will a tire repair kit help you? Absolutely not.

An argument can be made that eliminating the spare makes some sense granted that most motorists will not change their own tire because roadside assistance is only a call away. Industry statistics indicate that most drivers average around seven years between flats. So whether you prefer to change your tire or call for assistance is your choice. But the bottom line is that you are prepared in case of a blowout. You don’t want to be caught by surprise when you open the trunk. Ask the sales staff to show you what type of spare the car you are buying has and if it doesn’t suit your needs ask for a spare tire. There is a long list of new vehicles that come with only an inflator kit. You will be surprised at what manufactures are included on this list. Use the internet and find out which manufactures cannot supply a simple spare tire when you purchase a brand-new vehicle. It may change your choice in what brand of car to buy. Happy Motoring and Happy Holidays!