No Spare Tire in Your New Car? Don’t Be Surprised

<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/spare%20tire.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> When my husband and I got a flat tire this past Christmas Eve, we were relieved to know that we had a temporary “donut” tire in the trunk. The emergency assistance technician mentioned that he’s seeing many more new cars that don’t have any kind of spare. You just can’t assume that anymore.  One driver with a flat tire reported that all she found in her trunk was a tire inflation kit, which included a little air pump. That couldn’t fix her flat because the hole was in the sidewall. It turns out that carmakers are ditching spares to reduce weight and cut costs. Lighter cars get better gas mileage and produce fewer emissions. Consumer Reports investigated this trend and found that only 9% of cars made after 2020 have a full-sized spare, almost 50% still have a temporary tire, 34% include a repair kit and compressor, and a small percentage provide consumers with nothing at all. You should always ask if there’s an extra tire when you’re looking to buy a car. Check out the trunk of each vehicle you already own and consider buying a donut tire if there isn’t one already there. You really don’t want to be stranded without a spare on a long road trip, especially in the dark.  <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a> Local, Top Rated Diamond Certified Companies Related to Your Topic <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/contra-costa-auto-tires-wheels-alignment/" target="_self">Contra Costa County Tire Shops</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/alameda-auto-tires-wheels-alignment/" target="_self">Alameda County Tire Shops</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/san-mateo-auto-repair/" target="_self">San Mateo County Auto Repair Shops</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/marin-auto-repair/" target="_self">Marin County Auto Repair Shops</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/santa-clara-auto-repair/" target="_self">Santa Clara County Auto Repair Shops</a>  Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Tires-Wheels/" target="_self">The Essential Guide to Tires & Wheels</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-top-rated-companies/hub/ca/san-francisco-bay-area/" target="_self">Find Top Rated Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>