If you ’ve been shit for a new car lately , you may have notice something miss from many newer models : a spare tire . How can that be ? What ’s a driver to do when they get a flat if they do n’t have a fifth wheel ?
But it ’s true : According to a new report from AAA , nigh one - third of unexampled 2017 model year vehicles do n’t amount equipped with a spare tire . And even though the figure of cars without fifth wheel has decreased in the last few years ( 36 percent of unexampled cars come sans save in 2015 ) many drivers still do n’t seem to realize it ’s a problem — until they get a apartment . Case in detail : AAA allege it pick up more than450,000 shout from membersin 2016 who had flat and were surprised to observe they did n’t have spares .
Of course , auto maker do n’t risk alienating client without a few unspoilt reasons , but a maroon driver who gets fascinate off safety machine might not check with them , no matter how dear the car company thinks it is . So why exactly are carmaker choosing not to let in supererogatory tires with fresh auto ? There are several explanations :
Run-Flats and Fuel Efficiency
If you ’ve buy a novel BMW in the past few years , chances are it does n’t have a bare tire . That ’s becauseBMWs are typically equipped with run - flat tires , which feature a stiffsidewallor interior reinforcement . Other automakers use run - flats , too , but BMW has become get it on for leading the accusation . Run - flatsare designed to ram up to 50 miles ( 80.4 kilometers ) after being punctured — below a top stop number of 50 miles per hour ( 80.47 km/h ) — until drivers can achieve a safe placement . They have to substitute once they ’re damage , and they are more expensive and hard to discover than regular tires .
It ’s hard to argue that supplying run - flat tires saves auto maker money , but what about when they put traditional tyre on those cars andstilldon’t leave a spare ? That could be nothing more than the carmaker want to save a buck . Here ’s why : It be about $ 100 to buy your own fifth wheel at a tire shop or at the franchise , and the proper jak and wrench will cost a bit more . consider the auto maker get these supplies at a blue cost , it ’s unconvincing they ’re saving any more than $ 100 per vehicle .
Hyundai is often nail as one of the automakers leading this trend , but it allege it is a matter of weight savings , not toll savings . Hyundai include atire mobility kitinstead of spares in many of its gondola . Michele Tinson , a Hyundai congressman , explain the elevator car company ’s strategy via email .
" The main benefit of equip a fomite with a tire fixture kit over a temporary redundant tyre is the nearly 25 - Sudanese pound weightiness savings ; monetary value was never a significant conclusion divisor for Hyundai , " Tinson says . " Automotive engineer are constantly finding ways to ameliorate a vehicle ’s efficiency , and weight reduction is a major factor in facilitate fomite achieve better fuel economy . "
In other word , reducing the car ’s full weightincreases fuel economy . Tire Rack , which tests and sells tires , discovered that weight preservation can improve a car ’s fuel consumptionup to 1 percent . That , too , is alluring for the auto manufacturer , because fuel economy ratings play heavily into a vehicle model ’s selling scheme , as well as the brand ’s overall fuel intake averages .
Space Considerations
The increase popularity ofhybridsand EVs is another factor for automakers to rule out unembellished tires . There are specific challenges in designing car that requirebattery packsin addition to a gas engine or electric motor . Generally , the battery end up under the rear fundament or in the tree trunk , which encroaches upon the vehicle ’s memory board space .
" Our engineer made the determination to settle the hybrid / plug - in / galvanic battery system in the unornamented tire well to maximize the passenger and cargo bulk of our alternative powertrain vehicle , " Tinson says .
This is n’t a immense job for heavy car , but mostalternative fuel vehiclesare small . A compendious plug - in hybrid saloon or hatchback — with no cargo space — is a bad sell , and car manufacturer need to compromise somehow . Bye - bye , supernumerary .
For what it ’s deserving , Hyundai say that , due to client feedback , the company has recently reconsidered its strategy for non - intercrossed / EV models . The Accent and Elantra , for example , used to occur with tyre fixture kits but now come with spares .
Until more manufacturers come suit , the onus is on car buyers to be prepared . If you ’re shopping for a cable car soon , rule out which manufacturers are the worst culprit , and keep that in psyche while you ’re at the franchise . And if you ’ve bought a raw gondola recently , take a peek in the trunk before you feel yourself ground .
