Most car buyers aren’t in the habit of checking for a spare while they’re kicking tires. But if you’re in the market for a new car, it might be worth a peek in the trunk.
Nearly all car companies are eliminating spare tires from their models. Some upscale and performance cars are instead coming with run-flat tires—tires specially designed to operate for a limited distance after losing air from a typical puncture. But if you’re looking at something more mainstream, the chances are all you’re going to get is a small air compressor and sealant kit for minor punctures. (See our tire inflation kit evaluations.)
Carmakers say the reason to skip the spare is due to increased pressure to squeeze more miles out of every gallon of fuel. And ditching a 40- or 50-pound tire and jack helps to increase mpg. A reason they don’t mention as often, though, is cost.
How to prepare for driving without a spare tire.
The argument could be made that dropping the spare makes sense, given that tire changing is a skill that has largely gone away, much like operating a manual transmission. Increasingly, people just don’t know how to do it, and they would rather call a roadside assistance service. Plus, modern tires are pretty durable, with industry statistics indicating that most drivers average around seven years between flats.
The problem is that an inflator kit won’t help if a tire gets a slice in the sidewall or suffers other more-serious damage than a basic tread puncture. (Read "My luxurious BMW 750iL run-flat nightmare.")
Some aftermarket suppliers and car dealers offer spare tire kits, including the tire, a jack, and a lug wrench costing anywhere from $150 to $300.
Whether you prefer to change your own tires or call for a tow truck is entirely up to you. But as always, the best advice is to know how your car is equipped before you take delivery. Don’t rely on the sales staff to tell you the new car has no spare. Of course, the best time to find out is in the showroom, not roadside, right after you’ve had a flat. This is especially good advice for first-time car buyers/owners.
Here’s a list of cars we’ve tested that came with an inflator kit instead of a spare tire.
Acura RLX
Audi TT
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS
Cadillac SRX
Cadillac XTS
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Spark
Chevrolet Volt
Dodge Caliber
Dodge Dart
Fiat 500
Ford C-Max
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Veloster
Infiniti G
Kia Forte
Kia Rio
Kia Soul
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Nissan Leaf
Porsche 911
Porsche Boxster
Porsche Panamera
Scion iQ
Smart ForTwo
Toyota Prius
Volvo C70
Volvo S60
Keep in mind that the list is growing. Some models, such as the Kia Optima we tested two years ago, that came with a spare tire and aren’t on the list, now come with just an inflator kit.
—Jim Travers
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