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Post by myboysnme on Apr 13, 2015 2:42:56 GMT
I ran over a metal pipe sticking up in the road and tore a hole in my tire. I was stunned to find out I had only some kind of tire repair kit which didn't work with a tire with a rip in it. In fact the 'fix a flat' type kit just ran out all over the road. I had no idea, but was told cars don't come with donuts or spares anymore. In fact ,when I inquired about getting one, they said I'd have to get a rim from a junk yard. Say what? I had to wait 2 hours for a tow truck to a tire place and then buy tires just to get home - took me 4 hours when if I had a spare I could have been on my way in like 15 minutes.
Have any of you had a problem with not having a spare tire? Did you already know that many cars don't include them anymore? I feel like it's some kind of scheme to boost tire sales or something. Like 5 people came in while I was there to get a tire due to a flat tire 3 of them towed in.
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Rainbow
Pearl Clutcher
Where salt is in the air and sand is at my feet...
Posts: 4,103 
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Post by Rainbow on Apr 13, 2015 2:47:48 GMT
That seems so odd. Don't most cars carry a spare?
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Post by Merge on Apr 13, 2015 2:47:55 GMT
Some cars do still include them, but I knew my Mini didn't have one when I bought it. The run flat tires are supposed to be the end-run around that, but of course even they won't run with a hole torn in them.  Sorry this happened to you - the extra size/weight of a spare reduces gas mileage, I suppose. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 2:57:01 GMT
I just got a new car on Friday and honestly...had to ask my DH if I had a spare tire. He said yes. I asked him if he actually saw it and he again confirmed that I do indeed have a spare tire.
It sure would suck to have to get a tow because you don't have a spare.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Apr 13, 2015 3:01:33 GMT
Yes, I knew that. I think it's a fairly recent phenomenon. We were told it was due to gas mileage. And for us, it's a big selling point when purchasing a car. We always look for cars/trucks that come with a FULL-SIZE spare.
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Post by hop2 on Apr 13, 2015 3:07:30 GMT
I walked out of a 'done' deal on a car that didn't have a spare. The dealership came up with one pretty quickly. It was years ago and I was pregnant the sales guy asked my DH if he was going to let me ruin a done deal like that.
DH said that he wasn't going to mess with a pregnant woman on an issue of safety. Lol the manager heard him and the dealership included the spare. Though that car had space for it, some new cars do not.
We haven't looked at a car without a spare since. We drive too many places where we'd be stranded for hours or walking many miles before help could be gotten. So for us it just makes sense to have a spare. ( and yes I do know how to change it and have ) Other people can manage just fine because they are not ever in remote places.
It's just a thing you should be aware of with the car you drive and how/where you normally drive.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 3:11:00 GMT
Both of our family's newer cars have spares. My dh's 2014 and my mom's 2013. Different brands. My older 2010 has one too.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 3:13:17 GMT
Oh and they both have free roadside assistance from the dealer so we would just call of a tow anyway. We actually had to on dh's and it took 20 minutes. Thanks Mazda.
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Post by elaine on Apr 13, 2015 3:13:31 GMT
I have never purchased a car without a spare tire. The recent one is a 2012 Odyssey.
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Post by eebud on Apr 13, 2015 3:15:41 GMT
I knew that some cars no longer came with spares because I did a little car shopping late last year. I think I will replace my vehicle this year or next but if something major goes wrong with it, I won't fix it. I wanted to be prepared with what vehicles I will test drive when the time comes. My plan is to buy something with a spare. I was surprised to hear that many didn't come with them anymore.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,539
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Post by iowgirl on Apr 13, 2015 3:19:37 GMT
Wow - I had no idea anything came without a spare!
Mine is a full sized spare that is hooked up underneath my truck. I have a cell phone. I am not crawling under there and changing that beast! LOL
I do have a mini air pump in my car. It is so small it fit easily in my glove box. It is amazing how it can air up a tire!
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 3:24:58 GMT
Ugh, sounds like a long, and expensive, day for you! I didn't know that not all new cars had spare tires. I know ours does.. it's two years old. The spare has to be accessed by this hidden mechanism in the back of the car, and then the tire lowers down from the underside. |
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Apr 13, 2015 3:38:06 GMT
I learned long ago that the there's no way I can get a tire off since the nuts are so tight. I'll use AAA if I need it. I think my van has one underneath it. We bought a car last summer and I don't know if it has a spare or not.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 7:09:14 GMT
I knew when I bought my car it does not have a spare tire. No spare means lighter vehicle = better gas milage and more storage space in the trunk. I just have a fix a flat kit and pump. If the damage is more than that can fix I'll have to call a tow truck. So I do make sure my AAA stays up to date.
But to be honest, I'm not sure I could access an under-car spare and change it. So to me it isn't a biggie. Most of my driving is urban where roadside tire changes is not safe. But the upside is a tow truck isn't far either.
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Post by miominmio on Apr 13, 2015 7:14:04 GMT
I bought a Mitsubishi last year, and it doesn't have a spare tire. With roadside assistance, I don't think it's a problem, and honestly, with my bad back, I wouldn't be able to change a tire anyway.
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BarbaraUK
Drama Llama
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Apr 13, 2015 8:42:49 GMT
Most new cars in the UK don't come with a spare tyre now, just one of the kits. When we have bought new cars recently we have asked for a spare tyre to be fitted because we weren't convinced the repair kit would be effective in all circumstances. However with roadside assistance and mobile phones now it isn't really a problem - I was just used to having a spare tyre and it felt odd not to have one.  |
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Post by KelleeM on Apr 13, 2015 9:11:01 GMT
I knew when I bought my car it does not have a spare tire. No spare means lighter vehicle = better gas milage and more storage space in the trunk. I just have a fix a flat kit and pump. If the damage is more than that can fix I'll have to call a tow truck. So I do make sure my AAA stays up to date. But to be honest, I'm not sure I could access an under-car spare and change it. So to me it isn't a biggie. Most of my driving is urban where roadside tire changes is not safe. But the upside is a tow truck isn't far either. Same here. I have the same car as Volt. Mine has roadside service and dh has AAA so we would just make a phone call if we were in a tough situation. |
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Apr 13, 2015 10:05:07 GMT
I cannot imagine that! I had no idea… I am the queen of flat tires. Literally. I've gotten a flat tire at least once a year for the last several years. I don't know why – I don't drive in dangerous areas and I don't drive recklessly.
I do have roadside service, and you better believe I'd use it! But it's a lot easier to have roadside service put on your spare than it is to have roadside service tow you to a tire shop. And what if it happens when a tire shop isn't open? Which is much of the time… Then you're really screwed.
I am planning on buying a new car this summer. This is something I will definitely have to take into account…
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Nicole in TX
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Post by Nicole in TX on Apr 13, 2015 10:13:53 GMT
Chalk another one up to government regulations!
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Apr 13, 2015 10:17:43 GMT
My car does not have a spare and I don't know anyone's car who has one unless it's an SUV or truck. Interesting thread.
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Post by GamGam on Apr 13, 2015 10:57:05 GMT
DH's BMW doesn't have a spare, and he found out this week that the run-flat tires really do work as BOTH of his back tires were flat after driving to a meeting and parking the car for 2 hours. The dash screen told him of the problem, and he drove to the tire store and they found 1nail in one and 2 nails in the other. Very strange that both were flat. I asked him if he had driven in reverse!
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Post by shescrafty on Apr 13, 2015 10:59:14 GMT
Chalk another one up to government regulations! How so? |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 11:02:09 GMT
I cannot imagine that! I had no idea… I am the queen of flat tires. Literally. I've gotten a flat tire at least once a year for the last several years. I don't know why – I don't drive in dangerous areas and I don't drive recklessly. I do have roadside service, and you better believe I'd use it! But it's a lot easier to have roadside service put on your spare than it is to have roadside service tow you to a tire shop. And what if it happens when a tire shop isn't open? Which is much of the time… Then you're really screwed.
I am planning on buying a new car this summer. This is something I will definitely have to take into account… Exactly...with no spare...your only option is towing and if you have the basic AAA package, you're limited to very few miles for the "free" tow. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:36:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 11:06:53 GMT
My car does not have a spare and I don't know anyone's car who has one unless it's an SUV or truck. Interesting thread. I purchased a 2015 Honda Civic (which is not an SUV OR a truck) on Friday and have a spare. (granted a "compact" spare but I don't see a need for a full sized spare) |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 11:07:10 GMT
Both DH's and mine have spares. Mine is full sized (2008). His is a standard spare I believe (2004). I have yet to use mine. I did have to have it replaced when some jackass rearended DH while he was driving my car. He has used his at least twice now. Both of my parents recently got brand new vechiles, both 2015. One is a SUV and it has a spare under the cargo space. The other is a truck and it's under the bed.
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Post by littlemama on Apr 13, 2015 11:14:41 GMT
My car did not come with a spare, but about a year after I bought it, the company started offering a spare for it for purchase. I drive too far to be without one, so I bought it.
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Post by deshacrafts on Apr 13, 2015 11:17:28 GMT
If you use the fix a flat stuff and you have wheel sensors, the sensor will most likely have to be replaced. My DH is a mechanic and he hates that stuff. It makes a huge mess in the tire and spoils the sensor. So not only will you have to replace the tire, but the sensor as well.
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MsKnit
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Post by MsKnit on Apr 13, 2015 11:44:26 GMT
IMO, they say they eliminated the spare to eliminate unnecessary weight, but I think it's just another cost cutting measure.
Since, we have been looking at vehicles, I learned that a spare tire is not always included. I don't like that at all. Just a recipe for being stranded.
I do think that our newest vehicle has a spare. The rest I know for sure that they have spare tires.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 11:45:03 GMT
I had a BMW for 5 years that did not have a spare tire. It had run flat tires. I actually loved it. I just traded that car two weeks ago, and my new 2015 does have a spare tire. I asked the dealership why they don't use run flats because I like them, and they don't use them. They still prefer a spare. Sorry that happened to you. |
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brandy327
Drama Llama
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Post by brandy327 on Apr 13, 2015 11:51:55 GMT
Yes, I knew that. I think it's a fairly recent phenomenon. We were told it was due to gas mileage. And for us, it's a big selling point when purchasing a car. We always look for cars/trucks that come with a FULL-SIZE spare. This exactly. |
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