New cars lose spare tire to lighten up
Stock image of a flat tire. Credit: Stock.XCHNG
A need to improve fuel economy in new cars is turning the spare tire into a real fifth wheel -- one that many manufacturers are leaving out.
Starting this year, automakers must achieve a fleet fuel average of 29.7 miles per gallon of gasoline, rising to 34.1 mpg by 2016. To get cars and light-duty trucks to consume less gas, many automakers are cutting weight. Many, for example, are using lighter plastics in dashboards and eco-friendly foams, rather than heavier types in previous years.
"They're doing all kinds of things to improve gas mileage," said Bill Chamberlain, director of marketing and fleet sales at Fritts Ford in Riverside, Calif. "Cars are getting lighter in every way possible to meet that goal."
For drivers, the most noticeable change might be ditching spare tires.
Taking out the spare, jack and other tools and replacing these with an inflator and sealant kit or run-flat tires -- which can travel with no air pressure long enough to get to a repair shop -- can lighten the car's load by 40 pounds, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Officials said 27 carmakers either have sold or currently sell cars without spare tires.
The move away from spare tires does not put drivers at any clear disadvantage, provided they know how to handle the situation, said Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club's automotive research center. Mazor said the Auto Club recommends that buyers get a spare tire, if they have the option.
"A number of people don't realize they don't have a spare," Mazor said.
Jean Bloom said she had no idea her BMW didn't have a spare, but she did know the tires were run-flats.
"I guess I never thought about it," said Bloom, 55, of Riverside, Calif.
Drivers who don't have a spare should know how to properly use a sealant kit and inflator, Mazor said. The kits can repair any puncture smaller than a quarter-inch in the tire's tread, not the sidewalls. Inflators usually plug into a car's DC power port and work just like an air compressor at a service station.
Run-flats are even easier, keeping the tires usable for a few miles or few minutes. But drivers should adjust when driving on patched tires or run-flats.
"In general, you are supposed to slow down to 50 mph," Mazor said.
The purpose of sealant kits and run-flats is to give drivers a chance to get to a service station or out of harm's way. It's vital to promptly replace the tire, Mazor said.
Removing the spare isn't the only measure automakers are taking to meet fuel standards.
Foreign and domestic carmakers are relying on smaller engines with turbochargers to improve power and lighter materials to make cars more fuel-efficient. As researchers work on more long-term changes in cars, such as more hybrid and electric models, even well-known cars are getting refreshed to be more fuel-efficient.
William McFarland, fleet account manager at Fritts Ford, said his cherry red Mustang is a prime example. From the car's front bumper that creates airflow beneath the vehicle to the lack of a spare tire in the trunk, McFarland said the car is meant to meet a set fuel standard. The Mustang's highway mileage has climbed from 23 mpg in 2002 to 30 mpg on the newest models.
If some of that benefit comes from not having a spare tire, McFarland said he is not worried.
"I'm 76 years old, been driving since I was 11 and I've never had a flat tire in my freaking life," he said.
