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Spare Tire Delete & The Death Of Common Sense

enginedr

enginedr

Super Member
I purchased a used Acura TLX two years ago . Not until yesterday have I encountered a flat tire .Being a old school thinking person I assumed I would install my space saver spear tire so I can dive to the tire shop and purchase a new tire . Too my surprise after lifting the trunk mat all I found was a 12 volt air pump and some tire sealant . I guess the bean counter at Acura was never a boy scout . The moto always be prepared is not in his and Acura`s way of thinking . Upon further research I found out they offer a spear tire kit as a dealer installed option . All I can say is common sense is something that is not too common .And poo on me for not checking my safety equipment sooner .
 
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ehoove said:
My C5 Corvette does not have a spare, but does have Run Flat Michelins installed. Many C5 owners prefer to run regular tires though, and have AAA memberships!
Regards,
Jim
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I could see the run flat as a answer but a sedan that has the trunk room . I was towed to the dealer this morning to replace the tire . There was a TLX on the showroom floor $ 41000.00 with no spear tire . Imagine being stuck in the Mojave desert with a blow out no cell service , vultures circling just with a air pump
 
I have a 2001 BMW 740il and recently had a blowout on one of my Michelin tires while driving on a highway. I limped over into a gas station parking lot, called my Insurance company who had a service truck there in 30 minutes. The man was quite glad when I showed him my original stock spare tire that was properly inflated. I slipped the young man $20 and was back on the road in under an hour. I cannot imagine driving a car that did not have a real spare tire. You see these idiots on the road riding their "donuts" which are rated for what, 75 miles? You know they have been on there for weeks.

PS: When I was young I would have changed the tire myself, but this car has a cap over the lugs which requires a fitted cap to remove. What the heck, i am paying for roadside service, so I availed myself of it. He was glad to get the tip & my back thanked me in the am.
 
For some years we've been getting used wheels at the junkyard and replacing the donuts in our cars. We drive a fair amount on the highway and far from home so it's worth it for the peace of mind. Can't imagine having a car with NO spare at all. However I'm not surprised to see this on upscale cars like Acura. Maybe they figure if you can afford the car you are more likely to have roadside assistance or just pay someone to change the tire.

The other thing I did was get a cheap breaker bar and the correct deep socket for the lugs for each car and keep it in the trunk. Almost anyone can loosen lug nuts with one of those.
 
toxcrusadr said:
For some years we've been getting used wheels at the junkyard and replacing the donuts in our cars. We drive a fair amount on the highway and far from home so it's worth it for the peace of mind. Can't imagine having a car with NO spare at all. However I'm not surprised to see this on upscale cars like Acura. Maybe they figure if you can afford the car you are more likely to have roadside assistance or just pay someone to change the tire.

The other thing I did was get a cheap breaker bar and the correct deep socket for the lugs for each car and keep it in the trunk. Almost anyone can loosen lug nuts with one of those.
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Getting rid of the spare is happening in almost all cars, it saves weight, materials, and money(for the manufacturer, of course.)

My Mother in law's Elantra, Grandmother's Focus don't have spares.

I got my first flat tire last month, after driving for 19 years, so tire tech is improved, but it was a little scary putting that 28 year old donut on my car to get to the tire shop.
 
aside from my old american trucks who had full size spares, and my old detroit iron (rwd, v8, 4bbl stuff) everything, and I mean everything I have owned since was a mini (I have not run across delete yet...) EXCEPT for my damn Jetta TDI wagons. full size performance radial on a proper wheel
 
I was considering the Kia Niro, which is a 50mpg rated hybrid SUV kind of thing - when I ran across the same issue in their brochure.
No spare tire, not even a space saver! Seriously cheap-ass design! Sad sad ...I lost interest at that point.

enginedr said:
I purchased a used Acura TLX two years ago . Not until yesterday have I encountered a flat tire .Being a old school thinking person I assumed I would install my space saver spear tire so I can dive to the tire shop and purchase a new tire . Too my surprise after lifting the trunk mat all I found was a 12 volt air pump and some tire sealant . I guess the bean counter at Acura was never a boy scout . The moto always be prepared is not in his and Acura`s way of thinking . Upon further research I found out they offer a spear tire kit as a dealer installed option . All I can say is common sense is something that is not too common .And poo on me for not checking my safety equipment sooner .
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My car has one of those compact spares and I've used it a couple of times. Works great for a short trip home - just keep it aired up.

I finally got one of those little 12v compressors and I keep it in the trunk, all the time. Tried it out when I got it and it seems to work fine although a little slow. :) There's a bunch of them on Amazon for reasonable money.

Murray
 
toxcrusadr said:
For some years we've been getting used wheels at the junkyard and replacing the donuts in our cars. We drive a fair amount on the highway and far from home so it's worth it for the peace of mind. Can't imagine having a car with NO spare at all. However I'm not surprised to see this on upscale cars like Acura. Maybe they figure if you can afford the car you are more likely to have roadside assistance or just pay someone to change the tire.

The other thing I did was get a cheap breaker bar and the correct deep socket for the lugs for each car and keep it in the trunk. Almost anyone can loosen lug nuts with one of those.
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This. Went to HF and got a 1/2" drive, 2' breaker bar then got a 17mm socket and a short extension out of my tool box. Keep it in the trunk. Much easier to use than those short wrenches that come with cars.

$20 and that soft handle is nice.

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RT Fan said:
PS: When I was young I would have changed the tire myself, but this car has a cap over the lugs which requires a fitted cap to remove.
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Hopefully that plastic "socket" for the hub-cap is in your spare-tire well. It should have come with the car.

So you felt comfortable driving on an 18-year-old spare tire? I understand, you do what you have to do, but often that's not even as safe as not having a spare at all! Modern BMWs all have run-flats, with the exception being the M-cars where the high-performance tires don't come in run-flats in those sizes or speed ratings. Those come with a "mobility kit" (sealant and inflation method). I just tell my customers to call BMW Roadside Assistance and get towed to the nearest dealer. BMW roadside is free for at least 4-years and also included for the duration of the CPO warranty on used cars. Beyond that, it's available for a charge.

Many new BMWs offer the option of a space-saver spare. For some that deletes the standard run-flat tires. In some it also impacts the trunk space . . . a lot!!. I don't order any that way.
 
Mom's '15 Hyundai Accent didn't come with a spare or jack either. I'm not real happy about it, but I've been too lazy to go to the junk yard for them. I don't see or expect my mom to change a tire anyhow. The car came with roadside assistance and I think our insurance has it too.

Come to think of it, I think the spare is missing from underneath my van, too.:oops: Being in this area, it would probably be too rusted to use by now anyhow.:rolleyes:
 
I was suprised that my 2013 ford edge came with a full size spare.Though im sure 98 percent of flats are tread area,tire in a can is useless for sidewall damage which on some of the roads i travel might bring it to 50/50.
 
enginedr said:
I purchased a used Acura TLX two years ago . Not until yesterday have I encountered a flat tire .Being a old school thinking person I assumed I would install my space saver spear tire so I can dive to the tire shop and purchase a new tire . Too my surprise after lifting the trunk mat all I found was a 12 volt air pump and some tire sealant . I guess the bean counter at Acura was never a boy scout . The moto always be prepared is not in his and Acura`s way of thinking . Upon further research I found out they offer a spear tire kit as a dealer installed option . All I can say is common sense is something that is not too common .And poo on me for not checking my safety equipment sooner .
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Your dealer upon releasing the vehicle to you is supposed to go over all of the amenities and notify you of the fact that spare tire is an option and no longer standard.
Your dealer failed you!
 
Harvestor said:
Your dealer upon releasing the vehicle to you is supposed to go over all of the amenities and notify you of the fact that spare tire is an option and no longer standard.
Your dealer failed you!
Click to expand...

You are right on that fact . I bear responsibility as well . The reason for my thread is to complain about corporate America . The bottom line is more important to them , I understand about CAFE standards . A spear tire is a norm in US motoring culture and a much necessary piece of safety equipment . Much like a life vest is to a boat something you hope not to use but is there if needed .
 
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