What Happened to the Spare Tire?
When you purchase a new vehicle, you expect the car to be equipped with all of the basic features a new car would have. Features such as adaptive headlights, air bags, seat belts, backup cameras, and brake assistance. How about the spare tire? A decade ago, the spare tire was an important feature when purchasing a new car.
According to a study conducted by AAA, automakers are ditching the spare tire in favor of tire inflator kits. Over a third of new vehicles sold in 2015 alone were driven without a spare tire.
Stringent fuel economy standards have forced automakers to shed weight from their vehicles; these changes have generally benefited drivers by lowering pollution and consumer gas budgets. Substituting a tire inflator for a spare tire only saves about 30 pounds from the vehicle. The 30 pounds saved is equivalent to saving less than a penny per gallon of gas.
Meanwhile, tire inflator kits can cost up to $300 to repair after a single use. Not only are the tire inflators more expensive to repair than changing a tire, but they also have limited utility. When a puncture occurs in the center of the tire’s tread, on the side wall, or in case of a blowout, the tire inflator is not effective.
Flat tires aren’t disappearing anytime soon, so why should spare tires?
If you are shopping for a new car this season, do not hesitate to ask your dealer if your vehicle comes with a spare tire. If your vehicle is equipped with a tire inflator, learn how to use the kit. It’s better to find out now, than to be surprised on the side of the road.