Are You Concerned Your Next Car May Not Come With A Spare Tire?

Replacing the extra wheel with a run-flat tire or flat repair kit reduces weight, increases gas mileage and lowers costs. Those alternatives have drawbacks for drivers. Yet better technology has made flats less likely to occur, and motorists are relying more on roadside assistance services when they do.

Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste

2012 Hyundai Accent Photo Gallery

LEAKED! 2012 BMW M5 Photo Gallery

2011 BMW M3 Frozen Black Photo Gallery

Lotus Evora S USA Launch Photo Gallery

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

Read Article

alpha_q2 - 6/20/2011 2:26:49 PM

+5 Boost

Your mom carries one around her waist, so no, not really.

Joe_Limon - 6/20/2011 2:39:20 PM

+1 Boost

Impreza wheel well?

abqhudson - 6/20/2011 3:33:12 PM

+1 Boost

"Those alternatives have drawbacks for drivers" to say the least. Oh sure, roadside assistance is wonderful when you're driving through the West - say the middle of Wyoming or Montana. Oh sure - that 50 miles on that run-flat might get you within 150 miles of a new tire. Oh sure - Summertime (wintertime) fun trying to fix a flat along the highway. The sheep might, but, I will not buy a car without a spare tire.

dbtimes - 6/20/2011 3:35:52 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, prefer the spare tire!

Shredmo - 6/20/2011 3:46:08 PM

+1 Boost

Not concerned. G8 didn't come with a spare; I bought a full size aluminum wheel and tire from a forum member that was upgrading. The well holds it. Caveat, you need to provide your own jack and wrench. To me, the question: Would you buy a car with no room for a spare?

topneuro - 6/20/2011 5:24:19 PM

+1 Boost

No, because I would never buy any car without a spare tire.

vvelez - 6/20/2011 9:19:06 PM

+3 Boost

Spare tire please. Run flat tires are an abomination.

t_bone - 6/20/2011 10:16:10 PM

+2 Boost

I've actioned on it...when my wife had a MINI Cooper S I traded off the runflats before delivery and bought a spare donut. It kind of sucked having it in the trunk but it was still better than the alternative.

iamdabest1 - 6/20/2011 11:14:28 PM

+1 Boost

i didnt mind having run flats only on my 335i but when my m3 arrived with no run flats or spare i went nuts goin on bmw forums and i created my own.. works great, takes up half my trunk but i enjoy the peace of mind knowing i dont need to get towed..

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 6/21/2011 9:39:01 AM

+1 Boost

While in Panama i had a 530i rental with Runflats.

On a midnight Trip from Panama City to Colon {Extremely Dangerous trip on my Danger Scale} I hit a pothole which left a $0.25 sized hole on the inside wall of Right-Rear Tyre about 20 miles out of Panama City. Stopping was not an option so i decided to continue the journey { Another 50 miles Approx} Thankfully i was able to drive all the way to Colon cruising at about 70mph with no really noticeable difference to the vehicle's handling {Thanks RWD}.

The point of this story is that prior to that incident i was a firm sceptic of the Run-Flat idea. Since then I think id like them an all my cars.

t_bone - 6/22/2011 8:46:45 PM

+1 Boost

But if had been worse tire damage, it would have been MUCH worse. Instead of a ten minute stop, you would not have been in control of your own situation and would have needed outside help.