At Home with Tech

Some new cars don’t come with spare tires anymore. Doesn’t that seem like a shocking omission? And I had to face that change when shopping for a new SUV. What’s behind this disruptive removal?

Does the car you drive have a spare tire? Chances are it does. That’s standard equipment all cars used to come with, right? But my new Honda CR-V Hybrid SUV doesn’t. You may imagine how I initially reacted to this missing feature.

My new Honda CR-V was the first SUV I test drove during my research phase, and though I loved every part of the vehicle, I didn’t like the fact that there wasn’t a spare. In fact, I was shocked.

Blame the Battery?
My hybrid’s battery apparently takes up too much space in the rear that’s normally reserved for a spare or donut. (There are other factors at play, which I’ll get into.)

I thought the minus-one-wheel factor would be a deal breaker. But by the end of my car-buying journey, I discovered other competing car manufacturers had gone the same route.

Increased Profit Margins
Why? Well, it would seem it’s about saving money and increasing profit margins.

One car salesman I spoke with told me the reason for this trend was to save on weight when new cars are transported on cargo ships to their destinations. That means the auto manufactures don’t spend as much shipping each vehicle overseas (less per-pound delivery cost).

And of course, an absent spare tire saves the manufacturer the cost of the tire.

On the upside, a car that weighs less also helps with its fuel efficiency. So, those savings go to you.

Use the Tire Repair Kit
Instead, these ‘spare-less’ cars are outfitted with tire repair kits. You can ‘easily’ inject a gooey tire sealant into a flat tire to plug up the hole from the inside. (This assumes the hole is a textbook tear in the tread.)

And that’s the tire-repair strategy for my Honda CR-V Hybrid.
Take it or leave it.

Every part of my fight/flight id rebelled against this seemingly irresponsible choice. But my calmer ego saw this challenge differently.

AAA Vs. Self-Reliance
Once upon a time, driving a car was a disconnected experience. It was you against the road. There were no cell phones. You couldn’t call AAA. If you needed to change your tire, you had to do it yourself.

Now, driving is an entirely ‘connected’ experience. There are any number of ways to reach out for help should you need it.

Well, I certainly don’t want to tempt fate, but fortunately, I’ve never had to change out a flat. And to tell you the truth, at this point, even with a jack and a spare tire, I’d probably still call AAA.

And granted, without a spare tire, you may not be on your way again, even with AAA. A tow to a gas station late at night will only get you so far.

Self-reliance is certainly the best option. That’s what my father taught me. (And when I was learning to drive, he also insisted I stick my hand out the window whenever I made a turn.)

Times change.

Still, a spare tire supports the equation of self-reliance. You can’t deny that.

Driving with No Net?
I know I can probably get by without a spare tire. Honda certainly thinks so. (Or it’s counting on there being enough people like me, who accept this ‘downgrade.’)

So, I bought my Honda CR-V Hybrid. Yes, I’m now driving with no net. But at least I’m not driving alone, even if I’m driving all by myself.

That’s the trade-off.

Say Goodbye to Five Tires
Yes, I’m rationalizing my choice to drive without five tires. I’m still a bit unsettled. But I’m okay.

Nobody likes change. Yet change is inevitable. Sometimes that comes from innovation. In other situations, it’s more about dollars and cents. Often, it can be about both.

All you can do is pay attention and make the best decisions you can for yourself.

Life doesn’t come with a spare tire. Now, some cars don’t either.