It’s not just “cheaping” out although that’s part of it. If the car doesn’t come with a spare tire from the factory then automakers don’t have to include that weight when the car is tested by the EPA. So then on paper it gets better gas mileage. One of the downsides to EPA regulations.
@@Chuck787better gas mileage AND better range. EVs don’t have spare tires due to the extra weight. ICE variants of the same vehicle may have one though.
I would have thought my 2023 Camry has a spare. Now I need to look. This is kinda scary info. It’s something that at 65 I wouldn’t have thought wouldn’t be included with a new car.
Not when for 100 years a spare was standard equipment. The fact that they quietly stopped providing them is just a new scumbag move. I never checked my spare until I needed it. Its several years old and had one. But if I bought a new car I never would have known until I needed it.
By federal law it is except there is legal loop holes around it. For instance if you tire came equipped with run flat tires manufacturers don’t have to provide a spare tire. I deal with this issue daily as I am a roadside assistance tech.
@@spacecityerlan My car did not come with a spare tire and it definitely does not have run-flat tires. You know that for sure after experiencing a quick flat while driving down the road.
Consumers want 17,18,19 inch rims that even makes spares even more imposable. Toyota is actually offering 16 inch tires on their cheaper hybrids for the 1st time in 2 years.
@@2148aa they can fit it in, my tacoma has 16s and the spare is a full size also. We don't live in Japan or Dubai, roads in america sucks, as to not give a spare (or make it available for a fee) If you have to call a tow truck for a flat tire, it will cost more than new tire and rim
@@agentsmith28052 it’ll be a challenge to buy a new car with a spare. I had to custom order 2 cars to get a spare. I had been stranded on a road trip on a long holiday weekend with a spare. It was such an inconvenience. So now I try to make sure I get a spare it’s it’s available.
I remember BMW had a Z3M ( what they called the clown shoe) it came with a can of Fix a Flat and a little inflator...... $50k car with a $20 dollar amazon looking kit
A spare is a dealer option. You can have one put in your new car for under $135. I'd probably opt for the aftermarket donuts with rims that match my factory rims. Only $350 with tire iron & jack
@@donwyoming1936 I bought the specific spare tire and kit (tire iron & jack) brand new that was made for my make/model year from online website parts geek. I read where many people were complaining about the generic spare tire and kit they bought not fitting into the wheel well / open slots manufactured underneath and causing the trunk fiberboard floor cover to stick up in the air instead of resting down flat. Also, some of them had mounting issues when trying to use the spare tires including the lug nut holes not lining up properly and spare tire not seating well when mounting. Also, most of the ones listed on EBAY were used and some had lug nut holes that had marring / damage and were no longer perfectly circular in shape due to misuse.
Let's see...subscription for heating your car, moving the seats, remote start.....(totally unnessary, but profit!!!)...but having a spare to keep you safe on the road....oh, you need one of those? How dare you. That costs us $$ (Car manufacturer intellect)
they don't leave out the spare for weight savings. I just bought a new dodge challenger which weighs over 2 tons - NO spare. it was a $300 option. I bought one on facebook for $40.
That's interesting getting a spare tire for $40 from a challenger I'll bet you if anything that somebody took the wheels off of somebody else's Challenger and selling the tires for 40 bucks a piece complete with the wheel.
@@garyquail4996 you can go to junkyards and buy them of crashed cars. I bought a set of steelies from a crashed highway patrol car, with very good tires for $350
Cross shopped CRV, Rav4, and Sportage hybrids. Only rav4 has a spare so it got the purchase. Manufacturers don't realize how important this is, especially for people in rural areas. Roadside assistance is hours away for me.
From Leo: A number of Cars now come with a 24 hour service card instead of a spare tire. Having experienced the inconvenience of not having a spare, and the incompetence of the call card road service, I would like 30 minutes in a dark alley with the SOB that decided to not include the spare.
@@tomforker9631 When I ordered a spare, I had to order the equipment/kit to change it too, a spare, jack & lug nut wrench set made for the make & model of my car so that everything would fit neatly like a glove inside the open slots/shapes manufactured into the trunk. That way the removable floor would go back down perfectly flat unlike what I read about people ordering a cheaper off-brand one and the removable floor sticks up a few inches.
@@stevedrinkard7297 Sort of, they put in $100 worth or electronics that they claim is worth $20,000. Especially from China, it is amazing how cheap really sophisticated electronics are at the mass produced, wholesale level,
A part of the problem is the fact that when buying a car, that is not looked up when searching online or asked about when going good to the actual dealership. When I bought my car in 2018, I did my research to see online and ask my sales rep at the dealership if my car at least came with a donut. We can't just assume that the car we buy will come with a donut.
Used to be that only cars that run flat tires didn’t have a spare tire. Should be a lot less than $100 for donut spare from a scrap yard. Anything with 4wd should absolutely have a full size spare.
My renegade came with run flats and no spare. I have to imagine a ton of owners with this don't know it and just get regular tires as their next set and are just s.o.l. when the moment comes.
Jeep: Now with legendary Fiat quality control! (I need to stop making fun of Stelantis, since I actually want to buy a 2025 Ramcharger... and they will be building a Jeep Cherokee on the same STLA platform.)
I recently had to call AAA to put on my spare tire when I had a flat several miles from home. As a woman in her late 70s, I no longer have the strength to lift and maneuver the spare properly. I prepared by getting out the spare and the jack, chocking the wheels, and putting out orange reflectors. When the driver arrived, I apologized to her for taking her time. She replied that 90% of the calls that she gets are from people who don't even know where to look for a spare tire, let alone know if they have one.
There's a owner's manual in the glove compartment. I just used it last week and hadn't changed a tire in over 20 years. Plus my spare was mounted underneath the SUV and had to be slowly lowered down from inside the trunk.
Actually it’s great that a spare tire is being removed. These days you can actually call and get it serviced quicker. Times are changing. There’s so many instances of people changing their tire on the freeway and getting hit, off the road. So it’s probably better to just call tow and then staying away from the car. I’ve already known a few people that it’s happened to. Additionally, these days you can buy the tire repair kit and plug it. You’ll be just as effective. As the donut to go to your nearest repair shop.
My car came without a spare or jack, just a miniature compressor and some tire sealant. I double checked to make sure I could fit a spare tire in the back of the car then bought a wheel, tire, jack and lug wrench. I also carry a tire cover, pair of gloves, flashlight and roll of paper towels for convenience sake. Over the 7+ years and more than 100k miles it has been used 3 times. I live in a small town and triple A isn't coming quickly and I know how to change a tire.
The problem isn't the lack of spare tires, it's the lack of common sense. Know your vehicle and be prepared and you won't find yourself up a creek without a paddle.
I got called in the middle of the night to drive half an hour to start my wife's Acura after she and her coworkers failed to start it. The problem? The interlock that won't let you start the car unless it's in park! That's right, she and all her coworkers couldn't figure out how the car was designed to work. Her friend came to visit us, I told them to bring their 4WD Lexus 'cause there's a bad spot in the steep driveway. Sure enough, they got stuck, so I had to call AAA to pull the vehicle. The tow trucker driver looks in the cab and says, "First thing you do is pull that lever there on the floor to put in four wheel drive." That's right -- they bought a luxury 4WD vehicle, but had literally never used the 4WD feature!
When I bought my car, I spent $120 trading the donut for a full sized spare, proved itself especially useful for an overnight run from Dallas to Oklahoma City.
My jeep renegade did not come with a spare tire but it had the space for one. I asked the dealer to give me a tire and jack. However they did not have a jack. I had to pay at a discounted price $45.00 so that was not too bad. Twice I have had flats at night and was able to change them.
There should be legislation if you want to sell a car in the USA, you’re going to sell it with a spare. Glad Obama made a backup camera a requirement for cars after 2018 but no politician has brought up the idea of a federally mandated spare tire for cars sold in America 🤔
You should know why - the car companies lobby both parties, and so they won't pass laws to protect us, the consumers. Look at how hard the right to repair fight is - it should be a right, with no question, allowed to those who purchase the product.
Good job raising awareness -- many drivers are clueless about this! I did get a chuckle from using that Tahoe in the intro, as I have that exact generation and trim and they have full-size spares.
Unfortunately a lot of hybrids are locating the battery where the spare should be (talking about you, Honda). Not having a spare/donut or even a place to put one is unacceptable.
I have many times had to go pick up the flat tire, Bring it back to shop ond mount a good tire on it. Any tire that goes flat while driving is usually destroyed and not repairable ,
If I was buying a new car and it didn’t have a spare tyre, I would just say no deal unless the dealer provides one in the sale.what use is a pump or a can of leak sealer if the tyre is ripped to shreds? It’s just a stupid cheapskate manufacturer cost saving. They need to listen to consumers and fix the issue. I just wouldn’t buy one without it. I live in Australia and some of our roads are terrible. I don’t buy new cars, so I go to the wreckers and buy a good full size wheel and tyre to carry in the boot as well as the space saver that most cars have here. It’s just reassuring knowing I have a proper spare tyre.
When car shopping a couple of months ago I asked the salesman about a spare in the vehicle I was looking at. When he said no spare I said no thanks and walked out. I did this with 3 dealerships. But I doubt it will do any good.
more profit for them. We have a Tesla Model Y and no spare tire. WTF! We had 2 flat tires in a year and had to have the car towed to the Tesla dealership. Insurance paid for the towing and we paid $500 (per tire and labor).
That's because Tesla has their vehicles coded in a way that will void the warranty if the tires aren't serviced by a Tesla-approved technician. You can buy the actual tires that Tesla uses from the manufacturers and 3rd party tire shops, but the vehicle has to be serviced by a Tesla tech or a Tesla-approved 3rd party vendor like Discount Tire and such. Same with doing replacement on the windows.
@@idkalan00 "Tesla has their vehicles coded in a way that will void the warranty if the tires aren't serviced by a Tesla-approved technician. " Warranty for what specifically the tires?
With or without a spare what I've been doing For years is carry a can of fix a flat a pair of pliers and a plug kit because most of the time but not always you can pull out the nail glass etc with the tire still on the car using the pliers and plugging the hole with the plug kit and filling the tire with the fix a flat for extra insurance to get you going
Absolutely mind blowing how people drive a 3 ton vehicle down the road and have no idea if they have a spare tire or not. It takes 5 minutes to familiarize yourself with everything your car has.
Lots of folks with a spare dont know that they should check it once in a while and make sure it has enough air. They dont stay full for ever. The cars with out spares and the pump and goo, if you can get it to work, you will have to still replace the tire because of the goo and maybe the hose on the pump. The car maker saves 100 bucks and it cost you over 200 bucks to fix if you have a flat. Nice! Also know if you add a spare like the Dad in the video you will need a jack also. You probably did not get one of those either.
1st option go to the junkyard and get a wheel and tire, and keep it on the trunk. 2nd option don't buy cars with no spare, 3rd opton get an older car, up to the mid. 2000s you would get a full size spare on Toyotas, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, or a pick up truck. I have a 2015 Tacoma it came with full size spare, amd a e39 540 came with 15" aluminum rim spare
If I remember correctly, places like NTB sell the wheel AND tire so you can get one there. Also, you can probably talk to the dealership about making sure that the option to buy a spare is available. Some car companies do have the box for full size spare, so check for it, and check the box if it is there. If not, I'm suggesting not buying the vehicle. There are four things to know when getting a wheel though: rim diameter, offset, backspacing and bolt pattern (such as 5x4 3/4, 5x5 etc) then the other thing you need is the tire size and rating. I honestly don't trust donut spares, but I'm sure that's just me.
We bought a 2015 Toyota Sienna with no spare. I ended up buying a used donut wheel. Replaced tire. Bought a scissor type jack at Harbor Freight. We generally keep the 3rd row seats upright. Put donut and jack in the area where 3rd row seats can fold down into. Auto manual states that you can drive short distances on the spare. They must mean about 5 to 15 feet.
My car comes with a donut. The year before it only came with a can of fix a flat. I could never drive a car without knowing I had a spare even if it’s only a doughnut. I have a portable tire inflater along with an emg kit which includes reflectors and road flairs
Part of the reason for the lack of spares is the increasing rim diameters of wheels. Higher-trim models often have larger rims and tires that can't fit in the spare tire well.
Actually it's more about cars being increasingly heavier than ever. More mass requires larger brake disc diameters which blow out the donut sizes to be too large.
My wife's minivan didn't came with spare, so I bought tire patching kit as precaution. We had a flat tire while driving from vacation and that tire patch kit was useless as 5" drill bit left in the highway when right through it and left too big a hole for tire worm plug. So, we'd spent couple hundreds to stay over night and new tire next morning. Buying a spare tire might be wise.
I should add that you should also have those high-visibility vests road workers wear in case you get stranded in situations with low light or poor visibility
Just throwing it out there if a new car doesn’t have a spare tire that weight does not have to be factored into all of the EPA tests. So you can thank your government partially for the lack of a spare tire. Yes automakers being cheap is also a factor.
Met a fellow tacoma owner a few weeks ago who had a flat tire. He had no idea the spare was under the bed lol. At least he had one. I have two for my tacoma for some reason.
Do cars still come with owners manuals? Nobody reads them. My ex bought a Mercedes that doesn't come with a paper manual, you have to look everything up on the touch screen... which is really useful when the battery goes dead!
@@elhoward7440 Just for a point fact what I've found very useful over the years is can find owners manuals on the internet on the internet on PDF files. You can download and print if you want.
I purchased a "donut" spare on Amazon from Modernspare. I just could not risk driving in some remote areas with little to no cell service. My review on Amazon: Very nice, well engineered kit. All of the hardware was of 1st class quality. I installed the wheel on the right front of my 2024 Honda Civic Type R for testing. There was adequate clearance on the Brembo caliper, about 5mm or so. My driving test revealed an expected moderate left torque under acceleration and equally moderate pull to the right under moderate braking (note to all of you considering wheels with a lot less offset). Drove a mile or so at a 70mpg cruise with no pulling at all. Gave a conditional 5 star product review. The condition is that the jack lift plastic puck slot was too narrow and I had to enlarge it to 9/16" to fit over the jack point.
@@elhoward7440 You are spot on. This was a test drive in very light traffic on a good place for a test drive. With ABS, the donuts are not as dangerous as they used to be. However, I would limit my self to 60mph or so normally.
The most important thing you can do is to check your tire pressure every month or more often if necessary. Use a tire gauge and inflate them to the pressure listed on the door jamb sticker.
Yeah my wife’s Hyundai Santa Fe didn’t have a spare. So I figured it out and ordered a used wheel, bought a new tire and jack and had to take the trailer hitch off to mount the tire where it goes.
Got a flat the other day. Had the smaller spare in the trunk. But what I couldn’t find was the tire jack. It was under the drivers seat. Wish I knew this before I called Triple A. 😅
It's manufactured traffic jams now. They save less than $100 wholesale per car and get to brag that they saved you an extra mpg while you are stuck on the side of the road.
I have only used the spare on any of my vehicles maybe once in 10 years. When I bought my first car that didn’t have one I was a bit upset at first but then after I thought about it it became a non issue. It just means people need to be responsible enough to walk around their car before driving and keep up at least with tire maintenance. Yes things happen on the road but insurance pays the cost of a tow and if you own a car you should be able to pay the cost of a tire.
My car salesman was upfront about it. It would be nice if it were available as an add-on. Ended up buying a compatible donut from another model and had it shipped. I’m not going to a junkyard. Options are a good thing!
Been driving forty years and I'm not even going to the supermarket two miles away from my house without a spare and tire jack. That's basic pull over on the shoulder fundamentals 101.
Quit buying that new junk, I haven't bought a new truck since 1983, C10 Chevy not a speck of rust, electric windows, radio, air conditioning, heater, cigarette lighter and ashtray, Cruise control, comfortable seat, spare tire, 6.2 Detroit Diesel, 24 Mi to gallon on the highway, who would want this new junk nowadays.
The problems with spare tires (full size or temporary compact) is that no one keeps it properly inflated and they are usually old and dry rotted because everyone ignores it until they get a flat but the spare is useless by then. And there's also those people that drive on their spare continuously because they can't afford to repair or replace the regular tire. Both scenarios are not ideal.
My jeep renegade had tread separation from the tire and it wasn't equipped with a spare, luckily the vehicle was equipped with Run Flat tires and I made it to the nearest town about 50 miles away. I was very upset.
Great point, but doubt it will buck new no OEM spare trend. It's really a scam that saves car brands money. You need a spare if you drive cross country or off road. I just used my full size minivan spare for 500 miles because I had a tire belt failure. If you have a tire replacement issue in small remote town, it's not likely local tire store has your specialize tires. They have to be ordered and shipped, while you wait it out. If you commute local with towing insurance, perhaps only then you can go spareless.
My Mazda Miata MX-5 not only doesn't come with a spare, there is physically no possible way of carrying a spare in the car. My Prius also didn't come with a spare; the hybrid battery fills the space under the hatch where a spare would normally go.
Back up cameras are mandatory for ALL new vehicles after 2018. A spare tire, a reflective triangle and a fire extinguisher should also be mandatory. Physical volume knob & manual parking/handbrake as well for safety. Electronic parking brake fails often when needed.
I always have a same sized spare...its kinda sad having shrinkflated spares And the actual basics are: Having a 4 way wheel nut wrench Having a scissor jack to hold the car up Having a pneumatic jack to lift the car And having a REAL spare tire While a roadside triangle and flare is nice its better to drive off the shoulder as much as possible because there are people stupid enough not to see the signs....oh and hazard lights
@@Tewthpaste that's a good one but here's a question what happens if one of the Jets that operate your flying car goes on the fritz do you have a spare jet?
I had a bmw x3 , wasn’t told anything about it not having a spare , and to top it off the tires that come with it are called ( run flats ) and they are only good for 15,000 miles , they cost $250 a piece or more , I got rid of the bmw and bought a Honda pilot , great car
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Advice: As a buyer, look for the “run-flat” disclosure document that’s normally included in your paperwork. 💯 It’s also important to register your tires with the tire manufacturer in case of any type of recall. Each tire has its own unique serial number. 💯 Both items should be reviewed with the buyer by the sales representative PRIOR TO delivery of the vehicle‼️💯
Mine didn't either when i bought it new. My tire shop told me that is what they are doing now to make the cars lighter. All it came with was a can of tire sealer and an air compressor.
All legitimate car companies provide a “SPARE”, they claim the absence of a spare making no more sense than producing a car that has no brakes. Missing either can cost you your life. We called AAA a couple years ago, and were told “they will be there ( halfway between Barstow and Vegas) in an hour”. Two hours later, we changed the tire ourselves. No SPARE,GOOD LUCK!
Get a full size spare tire! Buy a rim and tire bran new from a tire shop thats what i did for both my mini vans and got rid of the donut tires! Just go to a tire shop and they should know what you want. It may cost up to $1000 for it but it comes in handy if you blow out a tire and get a good jack for the car to :) BE WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!
⚠️ USE EXTREME CATION WITH AWD VEHICLES! ⚠️ AWD vehicles have computers that require all the tires be the same and have the same tread depth. Using mismatched tires and/or rims can cause major damage to the vehicle resulting in very expensive repair bills. I tried to buy a spare for my Mercedes 4-matic and learned this. I have to wait until it’s time to replace the tires, buy a matching rim, and get 5 of the same tires. In addition, I need to properly rotate the spare on the vehicle to ensure they all evenly wear the same. I expect other AWD vehicles probably have similar issues.
Check the tire placard on your driver door jamb; if it says none under spare tire pressure, all you have is an inflator & can of slime. Plus side, many cars still come with the spare wheel well there; you just gotta buy the spare and jack.
My opinion, either go for a full size spare tire or just the tire sealer. Avoid the compact size spare tire. Had heard plenty of story of people crashing because of the compact spare tire, and some said that their insurance won't even cover it.
@@uelld.8371 Not sure about your situation. But, I've seen cars with donut tires go 65+ mph. I think the recommendation is 50 mph. I've seen cars driving on 4 donut tires going 70+ mph 😬
Just buy one. Buy one that will fit the compartment. Yet. Fits your vehicle. We are on our own. We have to do everything ourselves. Also buy the proper tools for your vehicle to change a tire and if you have special needs. There are jacks that operate on 12v or a battery. Best and cheapest tools for lugnuts are the ones on batteries. Go to Harbor Fraight. Safety gear, etc. Then. Practice a couple of times. Get some or a light. For night time. Whatever works for you personally. You don't need anything expensive. Just works and is safe.
Buy a spare at a you pull it parts yard, this is all about money, nothing to do with weigh savings. Make sure to research the lug pattern and test fit it on a front and rear fitment to clear calipers and brake parts. Make sure to buy a jack and lug wrench as well, you may need different lug nuts depending on steel vs aluminum wheels when installing the spare.
Carry a patch kit and inflator and learn how to use it. Even a sidewall puncture can be patched. Odds are in your favor that a temporary patch will get you to help.
Car: $45,000
Also car: we need to save $100 by not including a spare tire
$25....
That Jeep is definitely not $45k. Less than $30k brand new, it’s a budget vehicle.
It’s not just “cheaping” out although that’s part of it. If the car doesn’t come with a spare tire from the factory then automakers don’t have to include that weight when the car is tested by the EPA. So then on paper it gets better gas mileage. One of the downsides to EPA regulations.
@@Chuck787better gas mileage AND better range. EVs don’t have spare tires due to the extra weight. ICE variants of the same vehicle may have one though.
@ said no one ever.
Not having a spare is one thing, not knowing you don’t is another.
I would have thought my 2023 Camry has a spare. Now I need to look. This is kinda scary info. It’s something that at 65 I wouldn’t have thought wouldn’t be included with a new car.
Not when for 100 years a spare was standard equipment. The fact that they quietly stopped providing them is just a new scumbag move. I never checked my spare until I needed it. Its several years old and had one. But if I bought a new car I never would have known until I needed it.
@@writerconsidered well you should know it is important to check the air pressure regularly since it could be deflated when you need it .
@@ritadyer9295 your Camry has a spare! It’s mostly newly redesigned inexpensive models or plug in hybrids that have no spare
@@davewilson7602 2023 is newly redesigned. You better check
A spare tire should be a requirement for ALL motor vehicles!
@@michaelwilliams4410 right, air pump for a tire that has to be serviced? patch or plug
By federal law it is except there is legal loop holes around it. For instance if you tire came equipped with run flat tires manufacturers don’t have to provide a spare tire. I deal with this issue daily as I am a roadside assistance tech.
@@spacecityerlan My car did not come with a spare tire and it definitely does not have run-flat tires. You know that for sure after experiencing a quick flat while driving down the road.
Yes!
@@spacecityerlan I hated run flats, especially at 325$ each. Got rid of them and bought a spare (and joined AAA,lol)
They want you to spend money on everything that use to be user serviceable.
Any excuse to not include a spare is just an excuse to screw the consumer
Consumers want 17,18,19 inch rims that even makes spares even more imposable. Toyota is actually offering 16 inch tires on their cheaper hybrids for the 1st time in 2 years.
@@2148aa they can fit it in, my tacoma has 16s and the spare is a full size also. We don't live in Japan or Dubai, roads in america sucks, as to not give a spare (or make it available for a fee) If you have to call a tow truck for a flat tire, it will cost more than new tire and rim
Welcome to late stage capitalism. Ben Dover
@ it’s not late stage capitalism. There is no such thing. Just washouts who think someone owes them something like yourself
You can buy a spare for $100. Some companies offer donut tires that match your factory rims for $350 (with lug nut wrench & jack included)
I wouldn't buy a new car without a spare
yup- once had two flats at the same time-I got home alright
You wouldn’t just buy a spare extra for like $100?
All EVs and most plug-in hybrids don’t have a spare tire. Not even a place to put one yourself
@@mrtidkaoj is it because the hybrid battery is thete?
@ That means if get a flat tire in a PHEV in the middle of nowhere you are screwed
I will not buy a vehicle without a spare tire of some type.
Its ridiculous for car manufacturer not to have a spare. 💩
@@agentsmith28052 it’ll be a challenge to buy a new car with a spare. I had to custom order 2 cars to get a spare. I had been stranded on a road trip on a long holiday weekend with a spare. It was such an inconvenience. So now I try to make sure I get a spare it’s it’s available.
I remember BMW had a Z3M ( what they called the clown shoe) it came with a can of Fix a Flat and a little inflator...... $50k car with a $20 dollar amazon looking kit
Agreed!
A spare is a dealer option. You can have one put in your new car for under $135. I'd probably opt for the aftermarket donuts with rims that match my factory rims. Only $350 with tire iron & jack
@@donwyoming1936 I bought the specific spare tire and kit (tire iron & jack) brand new that was made for my make/model year from online website parts geek. I read where many people were complaining about the generic spare tire and kit they bought not fitting into the wheel well / open slots manufactured underneath and causing the trunk fiberboard floor cover to stick up in the air instead of resting down flat. Also, some of them had mounting issues when trying to use the spare tires including the lug nut holes not lining up properly and spare tire not seating well when mounting. Also, most of the ones listed on EBAY were used and some had lug nut holes that had marring / damage and were no longer perfectly circular in shape due to misuse.
That's how the car companies can afford to hire CEO's. With spare tires no CEO.
Auto companies had presidents and CEOs when vehicles had spare tires.
what is this non sense lol
Let's see...subscription for heating your car, moving the seats, remote start.....(totally unnessary, but profit!!!)...but having a spare to keep you safe on the road....oh, you need one of those? How dare you. That costs us $$ (Car manufacturer intellect)
But we did put $20,000 worth of computers sensors and other electronics and you want a spare are you crazy🙄
they don't leave out the spare for weight savings. I just bought a new dodge challenger which weighs over 2 tons - NO spare. it was a $300 option. I bought one on facebook for $40.
It was named Challenger for a reason
That's interesting getting a spare tire for $40 from a challenger I'll bet you if anything that somebody took the wheels off of somebody else's Challenger and selling the tires for 40 bucks a piece complete with the wheel.
@@garyquail4996 you can go to junkyards and buy them of crashed cars. I bought a set of steelies from a crashed highway patrol car, with very good tires for $350
@@garyquail4996 You know you can put any tire that fits on a challenger, right? It doesn't have to come off of one, lol.
@@johnmarston2474 It doesn’t need to come off a challenger but it can’t come off anything dude
Shrink-flation Deflation
Also, even if you have a spare it's always a good idea to make sure it's got air and ready to go in an emergency.
Cross shopped CRV, Rav4, and Sportage hybrids. Only rav4 has a spare so it got the purchase. Manufacturers don't realize how important this is, especially for people in rural areas. Roadside assistance is hours away for me.
Oh yes they know how important it is, they just don’t care about what kind of trouble you have AFTER THE SALE.
And in many places no cell service the extra bonus
The Mazda CX-5 has one.
I remember when it was a requirement to have a spare tire
There has never been any such requirement.
When? Where? By whom? I call BS
@@darrellhay More like it was considered "standard equipment", not an actual requirement.
From Leo: A number of Cars now come with a 24 hour service card instead of a spare tire. Having experienced the inconvenience of not having a spare, and the incompetence of the call card road service, I would like 30 minutes in a dark alley with the SOB that decided to not include the spare.
And a jack the spare isn't any good without a jack
@@tomforker9631 When I ordered a spare, I had to order the equipment/kit to change it too, a spare, jack & lug nut wrench set made for the make & model of my car so that everything would fit neatly like a glove inside the open slots/shapes manufactured into the trunk. That way the removable floor would go back down perfectly flat unlike what I read about people ordering a cheaper off-brand one and the removable floor sticks up a few inches.
The engineers that designed the MIata designed it with no physical way of carrying a spare. The new MIatas don't even have glove boxes...
But they did put in $20000 worth of electronics WTF?
@@stevedrinkard7297 Sort of, they put in $100 worth or electronics that they claim is worth $20,000. Especially from China, it is amazing how cheap really sophisticated electronics are at the mass produced, wholesale level,
Had a blowout in france and no spare wheel… one of the distressing times in my life
A part of the problem is the fact that when buying a car, that is not looked up when searching online or asked about when going good to the actual dealership. When I bought my car in 2018, I did my research to see online and ask my sales rep at the dealership if my car at least came with a donut. We can't just assume that the car we buy will come with a donut.
I have always looked at the spare when I buy a new car. Even back in the 1980s. I don't do donuts. I buy a full size spare with the car.
Used to be that only cars that run flat tires didn’t have a spare tire. Should be a lot less than $100 for donut spare from a scrap yard. Anything with 4wd should absolutely have a full size spare.
My renegade came with run flats and no spare. I have to imagine a ton of owners with this don't know it and just get regular tires as their next set and are just s.o.l. when the moment comes.
Some cars don't even have a place to put any spare, even a donut. I guess they want you to carry a spare in the passenger seat.
That was a Jeep. Marketed as a fun/adventure vehicle. No spare tire for you. Yes, i know its actually a Fiat.
Jeep: Now with legendary Fiat quality control! (I need to stop making fun of Stelantis, since I actually want to buy a 2025 Ramcharger... and they will be building a Jeep Cherokee on the same STLA platform.)
@ I know, its just for fun. I love the wrangler, grand cherokee and Ram though. 👍
How many of these new kids n gen even really know how to change a tire
@Briannll6 did you tell them they are pathetic lol
It's hard to change a tire while watching tictoc on your cellphone.😂
@sj8778 Nah, he didn't say that because gen-z will put him to sleep. 🥺
I recently had to call AAA to put on my spare tire when I had a flat several miles from home. As a woman in her late 70s, I no longer have the strength to lift and maneuver the spare properly. I prepared by getting out the spare and the jack, chocking the wheels, and putting out orange reflectors. When the driver arrived, I apologized to her for taking her time. She replied that 90% of the calls that she gets are from people who don't even know where to look for a spare tire, let alone know if they have one.
There's a owner's manual in the glove compartment. I just used it last week and hadn't changed a tire in over 20 years. Plus my spare was mounted underneath the SUV and had to be slowly lowered down from inside the trunk.
Imagine it's almost 2025 and we still have tires that go flat!
I put run-flat tires on mine.
That’s what this car has too hence the kit they are just not realizing it?
Actually it’s great that a spare tire is being removed. These days you can actually call and get it serviced quicker. Times are changing. There’s so many instances of people changing their tire on the freeway and getting hit, off the road. So it’s probably better to just call tow and then staying away from the car. I’ve already known a few people that it’s happened to. Additionally, these days you can buy the tire repair kit and plug it. You’ll be just as effective. As the donut to go to your nearest repair shop.
Without a spare, your car goes on a flatbed tow truck. You'll be spending the better part of your whole day getting everything fixed.
My car came without a spare or jack, just a miniature compressor and some tire sealant. I double checked to make sure I could fit a spare tire in the back of the car then bought a wheel, tire, jack and lug wrench. I also carry a tire cover, pair of gloves, flashlight and roll of paper towels for convenience sake. Over the 7+ years and more than 100k miles it has been used 3 times. I live in a small town and triple A isn't coming quickly and I know how to change a tire.
Smart move 👍👍👍
Before spending $100 and more with the dealer, try the local junkyard. I got a spare from an older model of my car for $25.
No spare, no sale, period.
The problem isn't the lack of spare tires, it's the lack of common sense. Know your vehicle and be prepared and you won't find yourself up a creek without a paddle.
Yes lets ignore a 120 yrs of standard equipment and put the onerous on the driver not the new paradigm shift that no one expected.
@writerconsidered Yeah, that's about the kind of response I expected from at least one person.
I got called in the middle of the night to drive half an hour to start my wife's Acura after she and her coworkers failed to start it. The problem? The interlock that won't let you start the car unless it's in park! That's right, she and all her coworkers couldn't figure out how the car was designed to work. Her friend came to visit us, I told them to bring their 4WD Lexus 'cause there's a bad spot in the steep driveway. Sure enough, they got stuck, so I had to call AAA to pull the vehicle. The tow trucker driver looks in the cab and says, "First thing you do is pull that lever there on the floor to put in four wheel drive." That's right -- they bought a luxury 4WD vehicle, but had literally never used the 4WD feature!
When I bought my car, I spent $120 trading the donut for a full sized spare, proved itself especially useful for an overnight run from Dallas to Oklahoma City.
My jeep renegade did not come with a spare tire but it had the space for one. I asked the dealer to give me a tire and jack. However they did not have a jack. I had to pay at a discounted price $45.00 so that was not too bad. Twice I have had flats at night and was able to change them.
There should be legislation if you want to sell a car in the USA, you’re going to sell it with a spare. Glad Obama made a backup camera a requirement for cars after 2018 but no politician has brought up the idea of a federally mandated spare tire for cars sold in America 🤔
You should know why - the car companies lobby both parties, and so they won't pass laws to protect us, the consumers. Look at how hard the right to repair fight is - it should be a right, with no question, allowed to those who purchase the product.
@@cpolo88 Because that's always the answer, more government mandates and legislation. 🙄
@@pauls8288 No, it’s not ALWAYS the answer, but sometimes it is.
Good job raising awareness -- many drivers are clueless about this! I did get a chuckle from using that Tahoe in the intro, as I have that exact generation and trim and they have full-size spares.
The Tahoe they are using has a FULL SIZE spare but they don’t know it’s underneath by the rear axle. 😂
Unfortunately a lot of hybrids are locating the battery where the spare should be (talking about you, Honda). Not having a spare/donut or even a place to put one is unacceptable.
Toyota Rav4 hybrid has one, but good luck finding other models that also do. (Prius doesn't).
@ yep - exactly
I'm afraid that eventually all passenger car will not have a spare.
The spare tire isn’t in the truck of the suburban because it’s under the truck. I have that model.
And a PIA to get to but at least it’s there. I put a bottle jack in my truck because the Jack they provide sucks. A small floor Jack is even better
@ Yep! And, got a better bottle jack too.
I’m glad my Corolla Hatch came with a spare and jack stand , it came in handy twice.
I have many times had to go pick up the flat tire,
Bring it back to shop ond mount a good tire on it.
Any tire that goes flat while driving is usually destroyed and not repairable ,
If I was buying a new car and it didn’t have a spare tyre, I would just say no deal unless the dealer provides one in the sale.what use is a pump or a can of leak sealer if the tyre is ripped to shreds? It’s just a stupid cheapskate manufacturer cost saving. They need to listen to consumers and fix the issue. I just wouldn’t buy one without it. I live in Australia and some of our roads are terrible. I don’t buy new cars, so I go to the wreckers and buy a good full size wheel and tyre to carry in the boot as well as the space saver that most cars have here. It’s just reassuring knowing I have a proper spare tyre.
When car shopping a couple of months ago I asked the salesman about a spare in the vehicle I was looking at.
When he said no spare I said no thanks and walked out. I did this with 3 dealerships. But I doubt it will do any good.
more profit for them. We have a Tesla Model Y and no spare tire. WTF! We had 2 flat tires in a year and had to have the car towed to the Tesla dealership. Insurance paid for the towing and we paid $500 (per tire and labor).
Your first mistake was buying a tesla. Your second mistake was not checking for a spare tire
Carry a portable air compressor ( I use a Dewalt 20v portable inflator) and a patch kit. Fit's easily underneath the rear trunk floor.
That's because Tesla has their vehicles coded in a way that will void the warranty if the tires aren't serviced by a Tesla-approved technician.
You can buy the actual tires that Tesla uses from the manufacturers and 3rd party tire shops, but the vehicle has to be serviced by a Tesla tech or a Tesla-approved 3rd party vendor like Discount Tire and such.
Same with doing replacement on the windows.
@@idkalan00 "Tesla has their vehicles coded in a way that will void the warranty if the tires aren't serviced by a Tesla-approved technician. " Warranty for what specifically the tires?
@@SDGreg Which brings us back to the first mistake buying a Tesla.
Yaaaa! I have a 20 yr old Ford Expedition with a full size wheel & tire underneath 👍🏼
Did you replace it within the past 6 years?
@@RobbieIsbellhe/she they/them will be alright
@@tothetexaschiefalotrecords738 you're using pronouns? WTF?
@ lmao 🤣 was trying be funny
Just think of all the money you spent on gasoline hauling around that heavy ‘full size tire’ and tools around for twenty years. Just saying. 😢
So why didn’t she check to begin with? This made news?
With or without a spare what I've been doing For years is carry a can of fix a flat a pair of pliers and a plug kit because most of the time but not always you can pull out the nail glass etc with the tire still on the car using the pliers and plugging the hole with the plug kit and filling the tire with the fix a flat for extra insurance to get you going
The first thing I did when I got my car was to check that it had a spare tire and jack.
Exactly. I even keep a better jackstand system in the storage area so I can change it faster and safer.
Absolutely mind blowing how people drive a 3 ton vehicle down the road and have no idea if they have a spare tire or not. It takes 5 minutes to familiarize yourself with everything your car has.
Lots of folks with a spare dont know that they should check it once in a while and make sure it has enough air. They dont stay full for ever. The cars with out spares and the pump and goo, if you can get it to work, you will have to still replace the tire because of the goo and maybe the hose on the pump. The car maker saves 100 bucks and it cost you over 200 bucks to fix if you have a flat. Nice! Also know if you add a spare like the Dad in the video you will need a jack also. You probably did not get one of those either.
1st option go to the junkyard and get a wheel and tire, and keep it on the trunk. 2nd option don't buy cars with no spare, 3rd opton get an older car, up to the mid. 2000s you would get a full size spare on Toyotas, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, or a pick up truck. I have a 2015 Tacoma it came with full size spare, amd a e39 540 came with 15" aluminum rim spare
If I remember correctly, places like NTB sell the wheel AND tire so you can get one there. Also, you can probably talk to the dealership about making sure that the option to buy a spare is available. Some car companies do have the box for full size spare, so check for it, and check the box if it is there. If not, I'm suggesting not buying the vehicle. There are four things to know when getting a wheel though: rim diameter, offset, backspacing and bolt pattern (such as 5x4 3/4, 5x5 etc) then the other thing you need is the tire size and rating. I honestly don't trust donut spares, but I'm sure that's just me.
We bought a 2015 Toyota Sienna with no spare. I ended up buying a used donut wheel. Replaced tire. Bought a scissor type jack at Harbor Freight. We generally keep the 3rd row seats upright. Put donut and jack in the area where 3rd row seats can fold down into. Auto manual states that you can drive short distances on the spare. They must mean about 5 to 15 feet.
Saves the manufacturer money! 😂
My car comes with a donut. The year before it only came with a can of fix a flat. I could never drive a car without knowing I had a spare even if it’s only a doughnut.
I have a portable tire inflater along with an emg kit which includes reflectors and road flairs
Part of the reason for the lack of spares is the increasing rim diameters of wheels. Higher-trim models often have larger rims and tires that can't fit in the spare tire well.
Actually it's more about cars being increasingly heavier than ever. More mass requires larger brake disc diameters which blow out the donut sizes to be too large.
My wife's minivan didn't came with spare, so I bought tire patching kit as precaution. We had a flat tire while driving from vacation and that tire patch kit was useless as 5" drill bit left in the highway when right through it and left too big a hole for tire worm plug. So, we'd spent couple hundreds to stay over night and new tire next morning. Buying a spare tire might be wise.
I should add that you should also have those high-visibility vests road workers wear in case you get stranded in situations with low light or poor visibility
Thank you for this info. I am going to check my 2023 Camry tomorrow.
Just throwing it out there if a new car doesn’t have a spare tire that weight does not have to be factored into all of the EPA tests. So you can thank your government partially for the lack of a spare tire. Yes automakers being cheap is also a factor.
Donald will throttle EPA madness.
@@stevemurray710 not likely when Elon directly benefits from ICE banishment.
I bought brand new Kia Forte and there is no spare tire so I took the black mold foam out and installed my spare tire in there it fit great!
This is unacceptable!
Bought a new car earlier this year. Only considered cars with a full-size spare. Those inflater things are useless.
What did you buy? Not many cars to pick from with a full size spare any more.
Met a fellow tacoma owner a few weeks ago who had a flat tire. He had no idea the spare was under the bed lol. At least he had one. I have two for my tacoma for some reason.
Odd. A) that would be in his owners manual. And B) that's standard for pickup trucks. My old Ranger had that attached to a crank cable to lower it.
Do cars still come with owners manuals? Nobody reads them. My ex bought a Mercedes that doesn't come with a paper manual, you have to look everything up on the touch screen... which is really useful when the battery goes dead!
@@elhoward7440 Just for a point fact what I've found very useful over the years is can find owners manuals on the internet on the internet on PDF files. You can download and print if you want.
I purchased a "donut" spare on Amazon from Modernspare. I just could not risk driving in some remote areas with little to no cell service. My review on Amazon:
Very nice, well engineered kit. All of the hardware was of 1st class quality. I installed the wheel on the right front of my 2024 Honda Civic Type R for testing. There was adequate clearance on the Brembo caliper, about 5mm or so.
My driving test revealed an expected moderate left torque under acceleration and equally moderate pull to the right under moderate braking (note to all of you considering wheels with a lot less offset). Drove a mile or so at a 70mpg cruise with no pulling at all.
Gave a conditional 5 star product review. The condition is that the jack lift plastic puck slot was too narrow and I had to enlarge it to 9/16" to fit over the jack point.
The donut spares all say "don't drive over 55mph". Yeah, I know, everybody does anyway...
@@elhoward7440 You are spot on. This was a test drive in very light traffic on a good place for a test drive. With ABS, the donuts are not as dangerous as they used to be. However, I would limit my self to 60mph or so normally.
The most important thing you can do is to check your tire pressure every month or more often if necessary. Use a tire gauge and inflate them to the pressure listed on the door jamb sticker.
Yeah my wife’s Hyundai Santa Fe didn’t have a spare.
So I figured it out and ordered a used wheel, bought a new tire and jack and had to take the trailer hitch off to mount the tire where it goes.
Got a flat the other day. Had the smaller spare in the trunk. But what I couldn’t find was the tire jack. It was under the drivers seat. Wish I knew this before I called Triple A. 😅
It's manufactured traffic jams now.
They save less than $100 wholesale per car and get to brag that they saved you an extra mpg while you are stuck on the side of the road.
The new Honda CRV Hybrid does NOT come with a spare.
I have only used the spare on any of my vehicles maybe once in 10 years. When I bought my first car that didn’t have one I was a bit upset at first but then after I thought about it it became a non issue. It just means people need to be responsible enough to walk around their car before driving and keep up at least with tire maintenance. Yes things happen on the road but insurance pays the cost of a tow and if you own a car you should be able to pay the cost of a tire.
My car salesman was upfront about it. It would be nice if it were available as an add-on. Ended up buying a compatible donut from another model and had it shipped. I’m not going to a junkyard. Options are a good thing!
Been driving forty years and I'm not even going to the supermarket two miles away from my house without a spare and tire jack. That's basic pull over on the shoulder fundamentals 101.
Quit buying that new junk, I haven't bought a new truck since 1983, C10 Chevy not a speck of rust, electric windows, radio, air conditioning, heater, cigarette lighter and ashtray, Cruise control, comfortable seat, spare tire, 6.2 Detroit Diesel, 24 Mi to gallon on the highway, who would want this new junk nowadays.
It should be mandatory all passenger cars and light trucks have spares
Yeah sure how are you going to fight corruption and someone's pocket full of cash?
Not until long after MAGA is defeated.
The problems with spare tires (full size or temporary compact) is that no one keeps it properly inflated and they are usually old and dry rotted because everyone ignores it until they get a flat but the spare is useless by then. And there's also those people that drive on their spare continuously because they can't afford to repair or replace the regular tire. Both scenarios are not ideal.
My 2014 hatchback came with a donut but a big SUV like hers should have room for a full tire.
My jeep renegade had tread separation from the tire and it wasn't equipped with a spare, luckily the vehicle was equipped with Run Flat tires and I made it to the nearest town about 50 miles away. I was very upset.
Great point, but doubt it will buck new no OEM spare trend. It's really a scam that saves car brands money. You need a spare if you drive cross country or off road. I just used my full size minivan spare for 500 miles because I had a tire belt failure. If you have a tire replacement issue in small remote town, it's not likely local tire store has your specialize tires. They have to be ordered and shipped, while you wait it out. If you commute local with towing insurance, perhaps only then you can go spareless.
My Mazda Miata MX-5 not only doesn't come with a spare, there is physically no possible way of carrying a spare in the car. My Prius also didn't come with a spare; the hybrid battery fills the space under the hatch where a spare would normally go.
Back up cameras are mandatory for ALL new vehicles after 2018. A spare tire, a reflective triangle and a fire extinguisher should also be mandatory. Physical volume knob & manual parking/handbrake as well for safety. Electronic parking brake fails often when needed.
I always have a same sized spare...its kinda sad having shrinkflated spares
And the actual basics are:
Having a 4 way wheel nut wrench
Having a scissor jack to hold the car up
Having a pneumatic jack to lift the car
And having a REAL spare tire
While a roadside triangle and flare is nice its better to drive off the shoulder as much as possible because there are people stupid enough not to see the signs....oh and hazard lights
My 2004 lexus ES330 came with a full size spare AND rim. Oh how times have changed.
*This will never happen in a flying car.*
@@Tewthpaste that's a good one but here's a question what happens if one of the Jets that operate your flying car goes on the fritz do you have a spare jet?
That’s why I am eagerly awaiting for the 21st century. I know flying cars will be a reality, I’ve seen the Jetsons.
until the engine you think you have in your jet is not included.
People can't drive now. What makes you think they'll be able to pilot a flying craft?
Airplanes exist clown.
Thankfully I have run-flats. Only 50 miles at 55mph!
The greedy are getting even more greedy!! 60k$$ and no spare tires !
I had a bmw x3 , wasn’t told anything about it not having a spare , and to top it off the tires that come with it are called ( run flats ) and they are only good for 15,000 miles , they cost $250 a piece or more , I got rid of the bmw and bought a Honda pilot , great car
Full-size spare tires should be federally required, just like seat belts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Advice:
As a buyer, look for the “run-flat” disclosure document that’s normally included in your paperwork. 💯
It’s also important to register your tires with the tire manufacturer in case of any type of recall. Each tire has its own unique serial number. 💯
Both items should be reviewed with the buyer by the sales representative PRIOR TO delivery of the vehicle‼️💯
Lots also have run flats
Actually very few vehicles have run flats.
@@thud9797 Yeah that’s true but mostly cars like Mercedes and bmw have them.
My car came with run flat tires instead of a spare. Run flat tires make the ride a bit firm, but can go up to 80 miles before they go entirely flat.
Wow, CEOs are on a rollllll with the greed. Let’s keep exposing them.
At least have it as an add-on at the dealership. Why wouldn’t you have a spare? These automakers only care about their profits
Some cars like Miata and Prius are designed with no place to put a spare.
Mine didn't either when i bought it new. My tire shop told me that is what they are doing now to make the cars lighter. All it came with was a can of tire sealer and an air compressor.
I have a spare now,miy tire has to be ordered and we wait..Worth it to carry one around.
Shrinkflation is hitting all aspects. Surprised manufacturers haven't thought to add a subscription based spare lol
All legitimate car companies provide a “SPARE”, they claim the absence of a spare making no more sense than producing a car that has no brakes. Missing either can cost you your life. We called AAA a couple years ago, and were told “they will be there ( halfway between Barstow and Vegas) in an hour”. Two hours later, we changed the tire ourselves. No SPARE,GOOD LUCK!
Get a full size spare tire! Buy a rim and tire bran new from a tire shop thats what i did for both my mini vans and got rid of the donut tires! Just go to a tire shop and they should know what you want. It may cost up to $1000 for it but it comes in handy if you blow out a tire and get a good jack for the car to :) BE WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!
Jeep renegade is another red flag. (Mopar technician here)
I said this on the sensibleprepper channel. I don’t have a spare. I need to get that.😂😂😂😂
needs to be a law where cars have to come with a spare tire.
Won't happen until MAGA is soundly defeated.
⚠️ USE EXTREME CATION WITH AWD VEHICLES! ⚠️ AWD vehicles have computers that require all the tires be the same and have the same tread depth. Using mismatched tires and/or rims can cause major damage to the vehicle resulting in very expensive repair bills. I tried to buy a spare for my Mercedes 4-matic and learned this. I have to wait until it’s time to replace the tires, buy a matching rim, and get 5 of the same tires. In addition, I need to properly rotate the spare on the vehicle to ensure they all evenly wear the same. I expect other AWD vehicles probably have similar issues.
Check the tire placard on your driver door jamb; if it says none under spare tire pressure, all you have is an inflator & can of slime. Plus side, many cars still come with the spare wheel well there; you just gotta buy the spare and jack.
My opinion, either go for a full size spare tire or just the tire sealer. Avoid the compact size spare tire. Had heard plenty of story of people crashing because of the compact spare tire, and some said that their insurance won't even cover it.
@@uelld.8371 Not sure about your situation. But, I've seen cars with donut tires go 65+ mph. I think the recommendation is 50 mph. I've seen cars driving on 4 donut tires going 70+ mph 😬
Just buy one. Buy one that will fit the compartment. Yet. Fits your vehicle. We are on our own. We have to do everything ourselves. Also buy the proper tools for your vehicle to change a tire and if you have special needs. There are jacks that operate on 12v or a battery. Best and cheapest tools for lugnuts are the ones on batteries. Go to Harbor Fraight. Safety gear, etc. Then. Practice a couple of times. Get some or a light. For night time. Whatever works for you personally. You don't need anything expensive. Just works and is safe.
Buy a spare at a you pull it parts yard, this is all about money, nothing to do with weigh savings. Make sure to research the lug pattern and test fit it on a front and rear fitment to clear calipers and brake parts. Make sure to buy a jack and lug wrench as well, you may need different lug nuts depending on steel vs aluminum wheels when installing the spare.
Then store the spare in your trunk where it takes up much space. No thanks.
Safety first
Carry a patch kit and inflator and learn how to use it. Even a sidewall puncture can be patched. Odds are in your favor that a temporary patch will get you to help.