No Spare Tire?

[robls]

Did you check to see if a donut or full size spare would fit in the cargo area when you lift it up. I am able to fit a full size spare in my 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited.

 

[Trooper]

Did you check to see if a donut or full size spare would fit in the cargo area when you lift it up. I am able to fit a full size spare in my 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited.

It will, but I need that cargo space for cargo

 

[Trooper]

There are many out there. Some pivot down for easier rear hatch access like this one.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Extreme...arrier-for-2-in-Receivers-5001-5831/322604691

This is a good option, and remedies a concern I had about the carrier in your post right before this one.

 

[finnski1]

I think it's a pretty good option. The only negative to me is the aesthetics of it back there all the time. Don't think it would bother me and I've often considered these a bit of a buffer from a very slow speed rear end.

 

[Al18]

FYI the donut spare tire in hybrid RAV4 fits under the floor of the cargo area, next to the 12V battery. I don't think there is enough room for a full size spare tire.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

I've been car shopping for a 3-row SUV and really like the new Hyundai Palisades hybrid. It has lots of safety and comfort features, lots of tech, and a smooth quiet ride. However, it doesn't have a spare tire...at all. Instead, it comes with a "Tire Mobility Kit" which is basically sealant and a small compressor to fill the tire until it can be repaired.

I've been struggling with whether this is a deal breaker. We are in the market for a larger SUV because of the longer road trips we take. Destinations include remote mountain areas of AZ and, in the summer, Central Coast of CA...which involves crossing the AZ and CA deserts in July. Around town it wouldn't be a huge issue as we could always call AAA for assistance.

Options are going to another vehicle like a Toyota Grand Highlander, but even that (and other SUVs) only come with a donut-sized spare. I could stow a full-size spare (and jack) in the cargo area but then that would greatly cut down available cargo space. I'm also researching the practicality of an after-market under-chassis mount, but I'm currently unclear whether there's enough room for a full-size spare there.

Looking for your thoughts as to what I should do.

Apparently you can install the under-vehicle spare tire carrier from the ICE version of the Palisades under the hybrid model.

Hyundai Palisade Spare Tire Carrier

However, people have complained about a lack of inside storage for the jack and tools required to change the tire. Then you'd also have to get an actual spare like the ones available from sparetire.com or other retailers.

And then you'd need a jack. Not sure how trustworthy this one is, but it's rated for 2 tons.
Jack kit

Best of luck!

 

[Al18]

You could just get the spare tire for the Hyundai Palisade, which comes with 5 years of roadside assistance.

 

[Mr_Pink]

In my lifetime of driving I have only had one flat and that was 35 years ago.
Carry a couple cans of fix a flat

Fix-a-flat stuff often ruins the TPMs inside your tires, if you have a newer vehicle.

 

[kgtest]

In my lifetime of driving I have only had one flat and that was 35 years ago.
Carry a couple cans of fix a flat

I actually put a puncture repair kit in each of my cars. But I have never had to use it.

Now I buy the tire warranty and do occasionally pickup nails, or more recently had the bead leak creating the slowest tire leak known to man...but the warranty covered them resealing the bead.

I wouldn't drive on a donut unless I absolutely had to and even at that, not more than 20 miles.

Park it. Find a repair shop, get the tire fixed or replaced entirely.

Thankfully I am not in the boonies very often.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

I wouldn't drive on a donut unless I absolutely had to and even at that, not more than 20 miles.

When I get flat tires in my 2WD pickup, which happens every other year or so, it's always one of the rear tires. There must be a ton of loose debris in the roads around me because I've had screws, nails, staples, and even a 5/16" box wrench embedded in my rear tires.

My truck has a donut spare, so I have to first remove the spare from under the bed, then jack up the front so I can take a tire from the front and replace it with the donut. Then I have to jack up the rear so I can put the tire I took from the front in the place of the flat rear tire. The donut must be a slightly different diameter than the wheels/tires I drive on everyday, because if I put the donut on the rear, my traction control and/or stability control lights flash on and off and I can hear the ABS system activating.

I can deactivate the traction and stability control systems, but they reactivate after 10 minutes and also every time I restart the truck. If I'm just going to Wal-Mart to get the tire fixed under warranty, I have just disabled those systems for the few mile drive. If I'm a ways from home when I get a flat, then I have to do the tire-swap dance.

 

[Out of Steam]

I'm fine with a donut spare. I am not okay with no spare. That would be a deal breaker for me. I've had way too many flat tires over the years to ever risk driving around without a spare.

With the proliferation of different tire and wheel sizes in the past 15 years, I believe that a spare has become more necessary, rather than less so,

 

[equakesfan]

I've had 4 flats on my cars over the years. First one I changed no problem (full size spare). Second one, I couldn't get the wheel off with the tiny tire iron (the tow truck driver had to get the extension for his tire iron so there was no way I could get it off). The third was I changed no problem but the donut spare was low on air (old car, never checked the spare for air pressure) when I put it on and I had to get air at work. The forth, the car didn't have a spare and the tire was not able to be pumped up with the sealant and I had to get a tow.

I still needed a tow truck even though I needed a spare one of 3 times. I wasn't going very far on the donut spare (probably my fault).
I probably have driven 1/2 million miles in my life, ~100k miles without a spare. Needing to call a tow once every 125k miles vs once every 200k miles, is not a big change I'm OK without a spare. I rarely drive someplace without cell service now so I'm OK not having a spare and calling a tow truck driver. I've called for tows for a dead battery twice and needed a jump twice but I don't carry a spare battery.

 

[Flyfish1]

In 46 years of driving I've had two flat tires. Changed them both easily. I no longer travel long distances in the car and with modern cell service I don't worry about it. Our new Audi cane with a donut , not glazed.
My RAM 1500 has a full sized spare. I slammed the pedal to the metal on my new (used) Jag F Type last fall before winter hit and walked sideways down the street pulling hard to one side. Checked the rear tires and had a nail in one of the rear tires. Ouch..they ain't cheap.

 

[CO-guy]

OP, I agree with the need for a full-sized spare tire. For hiking in the summer, we're often waaaay out on forestry roads, miles from anywhere. When we moved to Colorado, our Subaru came with a donut. The first time I got a flat (torn sidewall) and had to drive out on a donut, I immediately went out and bought a full-sized spare.

Our current vehicle, like most new vehicles, came with only the fix-a-flat and compressor. There was space under the floor of the rear hatch and I had the dealership pull a full sized tire off another vehicle to make sure the wheel fit in the space before we purchased the vehicle (it did). I also purchased a high lift jack along with the full-sized spare. A few months later, we tore another sidewall and extracting ourselves would not have been possible on a donut. After we returned from that trip, I immediately went out and purchased BF Goodrich Ko2s and haven't had a flat since then. Those things are bombproof.

 

[old medic]

This thread is getting to me... LOL....
We just bought a new utility trailer that doesn't have a spare. I'm leaving Thursday for a 400 mile trip hauling the ATV and gear for a weekend trip. Got all the tools and plugs and stuff... Well in prepping notice one of the NEW trailer tires only had 19 PSI in it, so aired up and holding. Yesterday we ran to town and DW and I had discussed getting a spare for it...... On the way to town here sits an abandoned loaded trailer on the interstate with a flat tire. So checked in 3 stores including where we bought the trailer... no one has a spare matching the rim. DW says just get one and I passed.....
Get on the interstate heading home and within a mile sitting ANOTHER trailer with a flat....
DW went on Amazon and ordered a matching rim and tire before we got halfway home, be here Wednesday.

 

[pjigar]

I'm fine with a donut spare. I am not okay with no spare. That would be a deal breaker for me. I've had way too many flat tires over the years to ever risk driving around without a spare.

Same for us. We carry a spare in the cargo are if a car doesn't come with a spare tire. It does cut down cargo but we can't be without a spare. We live in a semi-rural area.

 

[robls]

FYI the donut spare tire in hybrid RAV4 fits under the floor of the cargo area, next to the 12V battery. I don't think there is enough room for a full size spare tire.

I purchased 4 full size snow tires for my RAV4. When I put them on for the winter, I take one of the all season full size tires, and put it under the floor of the cargo area. The floor is very slightly raised when I do it. Have had no issues.
Not a SUV, but my spouse has a 2015 Cadillac CTS which came with a donut spare. We were able to remove the foam under the floor of the cargo area, and fit a full size spare.
Try looking at SUV's that have under the floor cargo area that may support a full size spare. When we were researching my 2020 RAV4 Hybrid, we actually brought a tape measure with us to see how much room was under there. Worth the time to do that as it was a big time purchase. Hope this helps.

 

[robls]

It will, but I need that cargo space for cargo

See my response at post #67.

 

[CO-guy]

I purchased 4 full size snow tires for my RAV4. When I put them on for the winter, I take one of the all season full size tires, and put it under the floor of the cargo area. The floor is very slightly raised when I do it. Have had no issues.
Not a SUV, but my spouse has a 2015 Cadillac CTS which came with a donut spare. We were able to remove the foam under the floor of the cargo area, and fit a full size spare.
Try looking at SUV's that have under the floor cargo area that may support a full size spare. When we were researching my 2020 RAV4 Hybrid, we actually brought a tape measure with us to see how much room was under there. Worth the time to do that as it was a big time purchase. Hope this helps.

That's right! Under the floor of the rear cargo area was a form organizer thing for the pump, lug wrench and other pieces. That foam organizer was tossed into the trash. In addition to the spare tire and high jack under the floor, we also have plugs, sealant, a pump, an extensive first aid kit, two space blankets, a foam camp mat for kneeling/sitting on rough/wet ground, a pair of traction boards, and a pair of 20,000lb recovery straps.

Since then, we've only ever used the traction boards and recovery straps to help other folks.

 

[Texas Proud]

One thing to remember with a trailer is that tires get OLD...

Many years ago I bought a used boat... tires looked great.. driving to the lake for the first time we had a blowout... BANG... tire completely gone... we had a spare so we were OK..

BUT, I was now worried about the other tire and the spare... so stopped by a few big box with auto depts and even tire stores... no tires!!

On the way back from the lake we were driving slower... but 15 miles from home, BANG... the other tire blew.. had to have boat flat bed towed to home..

I do not know if they are still out there much but there was a time when trailer tires were called "China bombs"... I bought a know company brand...

 

[Al18]

Trailer tires may suffer from dry rot. You can check the manufacturing date code on the tires. If they are more than 10 years old, they must be replaced.

 

[RunningBum]

The last flat I had was on a dark rainy night, I cut left the turn from an off ramp onto a road short and there was a huge pot hole. Even at low speed it dented the rim. No way fix-a-flat was going to get me home with that. I knew of a covered place to change my tire just a short ways up the road and put the donut spare on and got home with little delay.

I've had a few flats in my lifetime. I'm not going to roll the dice and have a car with no spare. My current car, Subaru Outback Wilderness, has a full sized spare, with even a matching wheel. I ran it through the rotation cycle once so it has about 20K on it, so the tread won't be drastically different from the other tires on the car no matter when a flat occurs. I think Subaru expects the Wilderness models might be driven off-road a lot, making the full sized spare more desirable. I'd be ok with a donut but it is a nice bonus.

 

[old medic]

Trailer tires may suffer from dry rot. You can check the manufacturing date code on the tires. If they are more than 10 years old, they must be replaced.

One thing to remember with a trailer is that tires get OLD...

Thanks, yes I know... Its part of the reason I got a new trailer instead of renewing the 55 year-old one.
Have delt with the China Bombs over several campers. Load range is another factor many don't consider.

 

[folivier]

Speed is a big factor also. Some of those trailer tires are not rated for the speeds that some are pulled. I always cringe when I have someone pulling a trailer pass me at 80+mph.

 

[Andre1969]

I think I've dealt with five flats over the past 10 years. With 3 of them I really lucked out...I either got the vehicle home before it went flat, or I just happened to notice it was flat one morning. So, I'd just take the tire off, throw it in the trunk/bed of another vehicle, and run it up to the tire shop for replacement/repair.

The really scary one, was back in the summer of 2022, in my '67 Catalina. I was on my way to a car show in Macungie, PA, about 200 miles from my house. I had gone up the night before, and crashed with a friend near Harrisburg. When we headed out the next morning, I felt an odd vibration. I didn't think anything of it at first, because it's an old car, and if something DIDN'T vibrate or rattle, that would be odd...especially in a convertible. Well, the vibration kept getting worse and worse, so after about 20 miles, we stopped at a rest area. I checked the tires...they all looked good. Nothing seemed loose. But just to be safe, we decided to turn around.

The vibration felt like it was coming from the driver's side rear. But, when we got maybe a couple miles from the Susquehanna River bridge back in Harrisburg, suddenly the whole car started vibrating. Then there was a loud pop, and the rear passenger side dropped. My friend in the car panicked, but my initial thought was "Thank God, it's just a flat!" I was worried that the vibration was going to be something more expensive.

But now the fun part came. The spare. I had bought the car in 1994. When I got new tires, I also upgraded from the stock 14" rims to 15" Pontiac Rally 2 wheels. I kept the one 14" tire that looked the best, and used it for a spare. So, at that point, the "spare" was at least 28 years old! As for the "new" tires, which actually still looked new? They dated back to around late 2008, so at the time they were pushing 14 years old. I had just lost track of the time...it was scary how fast those 14 years went by!

Anyway, that 28+ year old spare got us back to my friend's house, and then we just went out to the car show in his Accord, and attended as spectators. Next morning I decided to chance it driving back home. I just kept the speed low, like around 50 or so with my flashers on, since it was going to be interstate (I-83). A bit south of York, I started feeling that "death wobble" again. Pulled off at Exit 10 to check it out. It looked okay, so I drove on. Then it got REALLY bad. I made it to the last exit on I-83 south, which I think was exit 4, and parked at a shopping mall. There was a tire store there, but they were understaffed and busy. The guy there just blew me off and said "I don't have anything that'll fit your car". I tried telling him those aren't the stock wheels, and all I need is something that would fit a 14" rim. But he just wouldn't hear me.

Luckily, there was a WalMart at the other end of that plaza, and they had a tire center. They actually had a 14" tire in stock, so I put it on for me. However, they made me sign a waiver about it being a non-stock tire. And they also made me jack up the car myself, take the rim off the car, and then put it back on, so they'd have no liability whatsoever.

Anyway, that was a lesson learned, that even if a tire looks good, old age will get to them. And also, don't forget the spare!

The last tire change was just this past September. A friend of mine who has a 2020 Nissan Kicks, cut a turn at an intersection too sharply in Baltimore, hit the curb with his front wheel, and blew out the tire. How he managed to not get it with his rear tire as well seems physically impossible to me, but somehow he missed that one!

Well, his car doesn't have a spare. So I let him use my AAA, and had it towed back to my house. I told him to take the tire off, and we'll run it up and get a new one thrown on, and he just looked at me, with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Turns out he did not know how to change a tire!!

Oddly, his car DOES have a jack and tire iron. Just not a spare. So I wonder if maybe it did at one time, and it just got lost at some point. He bought it used. Anyway, I jacked it up, took it off, and we got him a replacement.