Why do many car manufacturers remove spare tires?

To reduce fuel consumption, automakers look for ways to reduce vehicle weight. Spare tires are one of the first burdens to be eliminated.

As many as 28 percent of 2017 vehicles sold in the U.S. do not come standard with a spare tire. “That’s a huge problem for drivers who have tire trouble and are stuck on the side of the road,” said Susan Hiltz, AAA’s director of public affairs. Tire kits aren’t always available, so drivers are forced to call tow trucks.

According to a survey by AAA, the number of 28% of 2017 model year vehicles without spare tires is down from 36% of 2015 model year vehicles. However, compared to only 5% of 2006 model year vehicles, it is a huge increase.

So will spare tires disappear, the way cassette players in cars disappeared? Maybe. Carmakers don’t just hate the weight; they also hate the extra cost of something resembling a spare tire.

To prepare for any situation on the road, AAA recommends drivers learn everything they can about their vehicle, from whether or not it has a spare tire to regularly checking tire pressure. Many new cars now come with tire pressure monitoring systems that let drivers know when their tires need to be inflated.

The heavy spare tire is something that needs to be eliminated as car manufacturers face pressure to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Some models also come standard with run-flat tires (which allow the car to travel at high speeds for a longer distance even if the tire is punctured, thanks to the special construction of the tire's strong sidewall). These tires are more expensive than regular tires.

The problem is that many customers call for help instead of changing a tire themselves when they have a problem on the road. Many young drivers do not know how to change a tire, with a rate of about 20% according to a recent study by AAA. And among men, about 97% know how to change a tire, while only 68% of women do.

Now, instead of spare tires, some automakers equip their cars with repair kits that can plug small leaks. But these kits are useless if the tire has blown out or if there is damage to the sidewall. Experts recommend that drivers replace tires after 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles) or more, or five or six years after the tire’s manufacturing date.

According to VNE