Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Looks like another way the car makers are trying to meet the next round of Federal miles per gallon mandates. Cars already are being built with thinner metal, sometimes even plastic fenders and hoods. They recommend thin motor oil and conservative tuning to squeeze every mile out of a gallon of gas.
From what I can see, starting with the 2016 models we are going to relive the 1970 era when government regulations came before performance and motoring excitement.
Thanks to cafe standards mpg for cars must rise from 27.5 mpg to 37.8 and pickups must rise from 23.5 to 28.8 mpg by 2016. This means cars must improve 37% and pickups by 23%. Now you get the picture why automakers have to shed weight from their cars and pickups.
Do not drive super slow on a flat on the freeway! People are driving super fast and coming up on you, and having to make dangerous evasive maneuvers to prevent hitting you. Drive on the shoulder, call for help, or change the tire are all better, and safer options than continuing to drive super slow on a high speed road.
Funny I was just talking to a guy in my office building who has an old Hudson and a saab for his daily driver. He said when he first bought the Saab it came with a neat little tool kit, gloves and a bag to put the flat tire in to help keep the trunk clean. I remember this feature in higher end cars like the BMW and Mercedes of yester year.
I think it was the Corvette of several years back that removed the spare due to the run flat tires installed. It does free up trunk space.
I traded away my old 2000 F250 last fall. It had 151K miles on it. I'd never removed the spare. In fact, I had a minor wiring problem (with the trailer connection) that was traced to above the spare. The mechanic working on it couldn't get the spare off because it was rusted in place. I drove it that way for another year before trading it. Fact is, the last time I've had to use the spare on a vehicle was in late December, 1970. It was on a remote, dark stretch of highway in Alaska, -30F. I'm glad I had a spare then, but I've probably driven a million miles since and never needed one. (A few have gone flat in the garage, but then I just air it up and drive to the tire store.) I've had to use a couple spares on 5th wheel campers, but they're notorious for going flat or having blowouts so spares are essential for them.
With everyone having cell phones these days and having tubeless tires, a spare isn't needed often. Still, I feel better having one. Nearly half my driving is in areas not covered by cell service, so for piece of mind, I'd rather have a spare.
Maybe hardly anyone actually changes their own flats? They just call roadside assistance? It's more expensive for sure but I think fewer people know how to change a flat and you're always hearing about people getting hit by other cars when pulled over so it's safer to call in the "professionals".
More and more, the spare tire is being replaced with and inflator kit. Is this simply an issue of saving money or is it because tires are much less likely to go flat than in the past?
I believe there is a tax element in this issue, something about tax is higher on a heavier real spare tire.
How many people have been taught how to change a flat? Or use a tire gauge?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.