More than a quarter of new cars have no spare tire

Frédéric Mercier

Thursday, 19 October, 2017 16:50

UPDATE
Thursday, 19 October, 2017 16:50

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The spare tire is like insurance. It wants to be, but we hope to never have to use it.

Except that the past few years, several automakers have decided to abandon this item, explaining want to lower the weight of their vehicles to achieve better fuel consumption ratings.

If that in 2017, the American Automobile Association (AAA) in advance that not less than 28% of new vehicles sold in the United States are devoid of spare tire. And as the automotive market in canada is pretty much the same, we can assume that the proportion is very similar, if not the same, on our side of the border.

Read also: 10 features that will soon disappear cars

This means that more than one new car in four does not offer a fifth-wheel in 2017. Replaced sometimes by repair kits are temporary. Some models are also fitted with the tires the “Run Flat”, that allow you to roll a few tens of kilometers, even with a puncture. But it is a low level of compensation compared with the traditional spare tire.

The idea of reducing the weight of vehicles is good, the whole world will hear it. Except that it was appropriate to ask if the car manufacturers do not intersect in the bulk by getting rid of the spare tire.

Last year, the AAA claims to have provided assistance to 450 000 motorists struggling with a flat tire and had no spare wheel. “Having a flat tire can be a nuisance for drivers, but does not have a spare tire can be placed in a situation even more serious,” said John Nielsen, director of AAA.

When shopping for your next vehicle, so take the time to check where is the spare tire. If there is a…