Well, if you’ve paid attention to what’s been happening lately, manufacturers are quietly removing spare tires from vehicles altogether.
According to AAA, roughly 30% of new cars sold today come without a spare tire — up from only 5% in 2006.
Consumer Reports says that since 2020, just 10% of new cars have a full-size spare and about half include only a small “donut.”
In the UK, the RAC found only 3% of new cars still come with one.
That’s not a small shift. That’s an extinction.
So Why Are They Doing This?
Here are the three most common reasons based on industry research:
1. Weight & fuel economy savings
A spare tire, wheel, jack, and tools can add 30–50 pounds. Removing it saves weight, improves fuel efficiency, and for EVs, adds range.
2. Cost reduction
Every part they remove is pure profit. Less steel, fewer parts, smaller packaging, lower shipping cost. That’s millions saved across a production run.
3. Space optimization
EVs and hybrids use that spare-tire cavity for batteries or cargo space. Modern suspension and tire design also make fitting a matching spare more complicated.
And Now, Reason #4… The “Conspiracy”
Let’s just say it — Big Tow and Flat Repair-Kit Companies are loving this trend.
Picture a smoky boardroom where executives from tow companies and tire sealant brands are sitting around a table drinking cheap bourbon from coffee mugs.
Tow Company Executives in kahoots with flat repair kit manufacturers
Across town, the marketing team at “FlatFix Kit Co.” pops champagne. The email subject line reads: “No spare? No problem. Time to sell more sealant kits.”
Meanwhile, automaker engineers shrug and say, “We saved 40 pounds… you’ll just have to call someone when you pop a sidewall.”
Coincidence? Or clever capitalism? You decide.
So What’s a Driver Supposed to Do?
If your vehicle has run-flat tires, you can usually drive about 50 miles at up to 50 mph after a puncture — just enough to limp to safety or a repair shop.
If you don’t have run-flats, your only options are:
Use the flat repair kit that came with the car (hope you know how), or
Call a tow truck.
And maybe that’s exactly what they want you to do.
Follow the money…
I’m personally a big fan of having a spare tire, but how many people today actually know how to change one? The modern driver’s “tool kit” is usually a smartphone, a roadside assistance plan, and good cell service.
Final Thoughts
The War on Spare Tires is very real. Automakers are ditching them to save weight, space, and money — but that convenience might be costing drivers independence.
Before your next road trip, pop the trunk. Check what you’ve actually got back there.
Because when you’re stranded on the side of the road and your “free” tow takes three hours, you’ll remember:
“It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
Thanks for reading the DealerPlateGuy Newsletter.
Found it useful? Pass it on. Let’s change the industry together.
— DealerPlateGuy
Fixed Ops Director | Creator | “Making fun of an industry I’m trying to change.”
Meta Title: The War on Spare Tires: Why Automakers Are Ditching Them and Who’s Benefiting
Meta Description: Spare tires are disappearing fast — only 30% of new cars still have one. Here’s why automakers are removing them, the conspiracy behind Big Tow and repair kits, and what it means for drivers.