Where Did My Spare Tire Go? Why New Cars Don't Include a Spare (And What to Do)

So you buy a new car, everything's great, then you get a flat and go to grab the spare. Except... there isn't one. Just some weird can and a tiny air pump sitting there. Cool, cool, cool. Makes you wonder why new cars don't include a spare.

Yeah, this is a thing now. Car companies decided spare tires are too heavy and cost too much, so they're just not including them anymore. They'll tell you it's about fuel economy. Which is partly true. But let's be honest—it's also about saving money on parts they don't want to pay for.

What You Get Instead

Most cars now come with tire sealant (basically fancy goo) and a little air compressor. Some luxury cars have run-flat tires that can keep going even when they're half-deflated. If you get a small nail in the tread, this stuff actually works pretty well.

But here's where it falls apart: if your sidewall gets sliced or you hit a pothole hard enough to really mess things up, that sealant's not doing anything. You're calling for a tow.

Even when it does work, it's temporary. You've still gotta get to a tire shop.

How Common Is This?

Consumer Reports looked at cars from the last few years and found only 9% came with a full-size spare. About half have those tiny donut spares (which are honestly barely better than nothing), and the rest have either a sealant kit, run-flats, or straight up nothing.

Those donut spares are supposed to get you 50 miles to a shop, that's it. And your car handles weird with them on, so it's not exactly a great solution either.

Why They're Doing This

A spare tire, jack, and all that stuff weighs maybe 50-60 pounds. Ditch it and you get slightly better gas mileage, which helps car companies meet fuel economy rules. Plus they pocket the money they would've spent on those parts.

Win-win for them. Less ideal when you're stuck somewhere.

What You Should Do

Before you drive off the dealer lot, check what's actually in your trunk. Seriously. A lot of cars still have the space for a spare even if one didn't come with it.

You can buy a spare tire kit for around $250—tire, jack, wrench, the whole deal. Ryan Pszczolkowski from Consumer Reports says figure this out at the dealership, maybe even use it to negotiate. Finding out on the side of the road is the worst time to learn you don't have a spare.

Either Way, Be Ready

Spare or no spare, sit down with everyone who drives the car and actually go through the owner's manual. Figure out how to change a tire or use whatever kit you've got. Doing it for the first time in the dark on a busy highway is not fun.

Throw some stuff in the trunk too—flashlight, reflective triangles, gloves, maybe a towel. And make sure your phone's charged with roadside assistance saved in your contacts.

Sometimes the best backup plan is just knowing who to call when things go sideways.