No Spare Tire Anymore?

[Noah930]

Learn something new everyday.

Neighbor across the street bought a new Dodge minivan a few months ago. Recently he had a flat. I noticed it, as his van was parked on the street in front of my house. So when he came out, I helped him change the tire.

Only, we couldn't just change the tire because he had no spare! The spare on Dodge minivans apparently is carried UNDER the vehicle, between the driver and passenger front seats, so it's not something that's easily visible in the "trunk." We followed the directions to lower the spare...only to find out there was none. So we just pulled the wheel and plugged it with a kit I keep for my motorcycles. At least this allowed him to get to a tire shop to get it properly patched.

I'm surprised that in consumer-protection-oriented America, there is no law that mandates spare tires for new car purchases. (Excepting cars with run-flats.) What if this happened in the middle of nowhere, as opposed to at home? Heck, even in super-urban LA, there are plenty of places with spotty or no cell coverage. A minivan is typically a family vehicle; I wouldn't want Mrs. Noah to get stranded with no way other than AAA (or whatever roadside assistance people use) to get home. The Dodge stealer wanted $300 for a spare, so my neighbor bought a used rim and tire for about $100.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Learn something new everyday.

Neighbor across the street bought a new Dodge minivan a few months ago. Recently he had a flat. I noticed it, as his van was parked on the street in front of my house. So when he came out, I helped him change the tire.

Only, we couldn't just change the tire because he had no spare! The spare on Dodge minivans apparently is carried UNDER the vehicle, between the driver and passenger front seats, so it's not something that's easily visible in the "trunk." We followed the directions to lower the spare...only to find out there was none. So we just pulled the wheel and plugged it with a kit I keep for my motorcycles. At least this allowed him to get to a tire shop to get it properly patched.

I'm surprised that in consumer-protection-oriented America, there is no law that mandates spare tires for new car purchases. (Excepting cars with run-flats.) What if this happened in the middle of nowhere, as opposed to at home? Heck, even in super-urban LA, there are plenty of places with spotty or no cell coverage. A minivan is typically a family vehicle; I wouldn't want Mrs. Noah to get stranded with no way other than AAA (or whatever roadside assistance people use) to get home. The Dodge stealer wanted $300 for a spare, so my neighbor bought a used rim and tire for about $100.

It sounds like he should have had a spare. If the car was purchased used, the spare may have been used and never put back because it was a pain. Lot's of trucks and SUVs have the spare up under the back end of the car, same with some older corvettes.

My 2008 Boxster didn't come with a spare, it came with some stop leak goo and a 12 volt air compressor.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

It sounds like he should have had a spare. If the car was purchased used, the spare may have been used and never put back because it was a pain. Lot's of trucks and SUVs have the spare up under the back end of the car, same with some older corvettes.

My 2008 Boxster didn't come with a spare, it came with some stop leak goo and a 12 volt air compressor.

Or someone stole it, not uncommon. My GMC SUV's carry them under the cargo area. There is an access panel for the cable winch where the rod to drop it goes. It's plugged with a keyed lock to prevent theft.

SUV's carry full size 5th wheels so shopping for a new set of tires is as simple as lowering and absconding with 4 spares.

[cashflyer]

Many new cars come with no spare.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Noah930

... I'm surprised that in consumer-protection-oriented America, there is no law that mandates spare tires for new car purchases. (Excepting cars with run-flats.)...

Started a while back, 2011; New cars sold without spare tires: Automakers sell more cars without spare tires - Los Angeles Times

My MKX came with a huge one (27" across), that I removed immediately to gain some hidden storage.

[javadog]

SInce the feds decreed that tire pressure monitoring systems are required, lots of spares have disappeared. Not news...

JR

[widgeon13]

This is an interesting topic. Has anyone ever used the inflatable spare in a Porsche? If mine has been in the car for 30 years I'm wondering how reliable it can be??

Anyone ever use one? (Not trying to hijack just curious)

[javadog]

Yeah, used them many times. I inflate them from time to time, to clean them and to check them for cracks.

JR

[widgeon13]

Never thought of doing that, good advice. Thanks

[asphaltgambler]

My experience with run-flat tire are awful. They are heavier, have much more rolling resistance, ride like ***** and are noisy. I don't care whether the vehicle has a spare or not I'm running regular tires on it. My '07 Jeep SRT8 came with Goodyears and they were all the above and worse. Finally a few companies started manufacturing / selling sizes that would work (staggered steam rollers) with the all wheel drive.

For me waaay smoother ride running more PSI, better feel, no noise and to top it off 1 more MPG overall than before. My (new to me) '07 BMW 328XI - is the first thing I'm replacing is the runflats

[Gretch]

I am personally sold on the run flats. Two in the fleet, a 2007 335xi and a 2014 535xi both have them.

they are Contis. We got 60+k out of the first set on the 335xi, and that alone sold me. Comfortable, quiet ride. Keep them pumped up to max spec for fuel efficiency and the BMW suspension handles the rest. I buy new cars for my bride and take her hand me downs as my sometimes dd. My fleet consists of several cars, trucks, none of which is younger then 15 years old. I like them all and they have treated me well. The girl gets a new car every 7 years or so and that means I get to a new one to my collection and maybe pass one on to a friend who will appreciate a car well maintained.

Run flats are awesome as far as I am concerned. I have a '99 tahoe LX and removed the spare from under the vehicle perhaps 10 years ago. It is the original that came with the truck. I may have used it maybe once.......I had inspected it and was convinced it would turn to a pile of rust if I left is hanging under the vehicle as designed. It takes up room in the rear of the vehicle, but at least I know it is there and in excellent shape to bail my ass out in a pinch.

My 1987 frankentruck F350 dulie dump 4x4 doesn't carry a spare at all..... but I am never far from home with that big ugly bastage.

Knock wood, I have never had to inflate the spare in my '89 928 GT or my 2000 C4. The spare in my '74 TR6 doesn't really hold air so I have to remember to check that puppy at least once a year.

[MBAtarga]

No spare saves the 30 or 40 lbs against fuel mileage.

[widebody911]

When I bought my first E46 M3 I found (much to my surprise) that it didn't have a spare. I hate it. When I go on roadtrips I'm in constant fear of destroying a tire. Instead of a spare you get the "///M Mobility Kit" which is a can of fix-a-flat and a little electric inflator - I 5hitteth thee not.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

No spare saves the 30 or 40 lbs against fuel mileage.

Weight , at least, small amounts, don't really have much effect on mileage, I thought. Handling, acceleration and braking, yes, but weight, especially that little, really doesn't affect mileage much.

It does however save costs, a lot of cost for the manufacturer which should go straight to the bottom line.

And you can also tell the consumer that they have a bunch more space and lighter weight for improved vehicle dynamics. So you make more money and you have some marketing to pass along to the consumer.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by widebody911

When I bought my first E46 M3 I found (much to my surprise) that it didn't have a spare. I hate it. When I go on roadtrips I'm in constant fear of destroying a tire. Instead of a spare you get the "///M Mobility Kit" which is a can of fix-a-flat and a little electric inflator - I 5hitteth thee not.

My boxster is the same. I think lots of cars these days are.

[pksystems]

I doubt most people know how to change a flat tire anyway.

[rattlsnak]

Yeah, cause fix a flat will fix this:



Hit a pothole, cracked my rim, tire blew out at 80+ mph. It wasnt pretty. Thank goodness i had a spare.

[Nickshu]

Wife's 2013 Volvo convertible came with no spare. It was a $150 option but took up most of the trunk so we opted not to get it. The car did come with an air compressior "sealing kit" that you screw a can of sealing goo into the top of this cigarette lighter powered compressor to seal a flat. Wouldn't work in a blowout, but it takes up very little space and 4 years free roadside assistance.

[Arizona_928]

Had to check the vw. Full size spare.
tsk tsk cheap domestics, and high end sob's....

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by pksystems

I doubt most people know how to change a flat tire anyway.

Yeah, 9 time out of 10 that I see a change on the side of the road, there is a second car that stop to help.

Originally Posted by masraum

.. It does however save costs, a lot of cost for the manufacturer...

More than the dollar GM save for the ignition switch fiasco. Back in 2011, "Hyundai said ditching the spare saves it about $22 a vehicle. That adds up to about $4.4 million on the 200,000 Elantras it expects to sell this year."