What??? No Spare Tire???
Automakers are going to extremes to save money, weight, and space -- and increase gas mileage per government regulations. They are now beginning to leave off essential parts on cars they build -- including spare tires.
Yes, the trend has already begun. Manufacturers such as Toyota and Mazda are now shipping new vehicles with no spare tires. Not even the goofy little temporary tires. Let me repeat -- there is NO SPARE TIRE in some makes and models of new cars. The trend is going to accelerate over the next couple of years.
So what happens if you have a flat tire in the middle of the night on a lonely country road?
Some cars without spares are being offered with "run-flat" tires that purportedly will get you a few miles to assistance if a tire blows. However, what they don't tell you is that if you damage the tire's sidewall by hitting a pothole (a very common cause of tire problems), the tire no longer "runs flat." Another thing they don't tell you is that run-flat tires wear out prematurely and replacing them is not only very expensive, but it is difficult to find a tire dealer who can or will sell and install a replacement. In an emergency situation, you're not much better off with run-flat tires than without.
Mazda, in it's RX-8 with regular tires, offers an "Instant Mobility Kit," which is a cheap can of compressed air and sealant, which only works for simple kinds of tire punctures -- and you still have to get the tire repaired. They offer a spare tire and wheel as a factory option, but if you get it as a dealer option, it only comes with the wheel -- you have to get a tire and have it mounted separately. Of course, the full-sized spare must be stored in your trunk, where it eats up most of the small available space.
Many minivan owners who have "no spare" vehicles are buying regular spares and storing them in the rear passenger area, sacrificing the third-seat or luggage area. Some small car owners are finding that a full-sized spare will not fit in their trunks.
Surprisingly, vehicles sold with no spare tire still have a jack kit -- go figure. Since jacks are very heavy, watch for them to be next on the cut list. What's next?
Yes, the trend has already begun. Manufacturers such as Toyota and Mazda are now shipping new vehicles with no spare tires. Not even the goofy little temporary tires. Let me repeat -- there is NO SPARE TIRE in some makes and models of new cars. The trend is going to accelerate over the next couple of years.
So what happens if you have a flat tire in the middle of the night on a lonely country road?
Some cars without spares are being offered with "run-flat" tires that purportedly will get you a few miles to assistance if a tire blows. However, what they don't tell you is that if you damage the tire's sidewall by hitting a pothole (a very common cause of tire problems), the tire no longer "runs flat." Another thing they don't tell you is that run-flat tires wear out prematurely and replacing them is not only very expensive, but it is difficult to find a tire dealer who can or will sell and install a replacement. In an emergency situation, you're not much better off with run-flat tires than without.
Mazda, in it's RX-8 with regular tires, offers an "Instant Mobility Kit," which is a cheap can of compressed air and sealant, which only works for simple kinds of tire punctures -- and you still have to get the tire repaired. They offer a spare tire and wheel as a factory option, but if you get it as a dealer option, it only comes with the wheel -- you have to get a tire and have it mounted separately. Of course, the full-sized spare must be stored in your trunk, where it eats up most of the small available space.
Many minivan owners who have "no spare" vehicles are buying regular spares and storing them in the rear passenger area, sacrificing the third-seat or luggage area. Some small car owners are finding that a full-sized spare will not fit in their trunks.
Surprisingly, vehicles sold with no spare tire still have a jack kit -- go figure. Since jacks are very heavy, watch for them to be next on the cut list. What's next?
posted by Al Hearn at 8:05 PM
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