Automakers are cutting costs and saving space by leaving out real spare tires, much to the frustration of many drivers when the repair kit doesn’t suffice
- Automakers are dropping spare tires to reduce cost, save weight, and increase space.
- Emergency inflator kits often can’t fix major tire damage like blowouts or sidewall gashes.
- Some drivers carry actual spares for peace of mind despite reducing trunk storage space.
Flat tires are a major inconvenience and, since Murphy’s law applies to them too, tend to happen when you are in a hurry to get somewhere. In any case, whether it happens in your driveway or on the side of a highway at night, a flat is one of those problems that feels like it shouldn’t exist in 2025 – yet here we are.
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One Tesla driver who shared his frustrating experience on Reddit eventually run out of patience. After dealing with multiple flats in a few months and realizing his tire repair kit was basically a one-hit wonder, he made a change. Now, he’s added a real spare tire to his trunk.
Sure, it eats up some volume, but it’s a solution that works for him. So now the question is: would you sacrifice some space to gain the peace of mind that comes with carrying a proper spare?
A Trend Toward Less Tire, More Guesswork
This Tesla owner isn’t alone. Automakers across the world are phasing out real spare tires in favor of emergency kits. They usually come with some sort of liquid sealant, an inflator, and not much else.
Unlike a real spare, these kits can only do so much. If the hole in your tire is too big, they have no effect – the sealant simply runs through it. The same is true if the hole is in the sidewall. If the tire is unseated from the wheel bead, they’re pointless. And, if like the driver who inspired this post, you’ve used the kit recently, there might not be enough sealant in the can to do any good.
In his case, not having a real spare meant going from a situation where he one reasonably be back on the road in a matter of minutes (if they do know how to change a tire, that is) to waiting for as long as it takes for a tow truck to make its way to them.
The Case for Ditching the Spare
Of course, there are benefits to a spareless setup. It saves weight and space, and in the event of a flat that can be fixed via sealant, the new method is often quicker than having to fully remove a wheel and fit in the spare. Adding a real spare also complicates storage beyond just keeping it in the car. Where will it sit? How will you secure it? In the case of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison we recently drove, where it obstructed the driver’s rear visibility, it was obvious that spare placement is key.
So we’re asking you: would you be willing to give up some trunk space and efficiency to carry a real spare, or are you comfortable relying on modern repair kits and/or towing services? Let us know where you land and feel free to share your experience if you’ve ever been burned by not having a real spare in the back.
#Spare #Space #Spare #Tire
