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Obsession with fuel economy makes spare tires disappear

GasBuddy Blog -- Does it make sense to you that the new car you drive out of the dealer's showroom comes without a spare tire? A lot of people shake their heads but we've all got to get used to it.

The spare tire is disappearing from vehicles in the same manner that cigarette lighters did and it's not because fewer car buyers want them, or the space they take up, it's all because of the weight they add to the vehicle.

Increasing federal regulations have driven the auto industry's obsession with fuel economy while volatile gas prices have directed consumers to look in the same direction... That's what led to the development of the "temporary" compact spare tire in the '80s and those same pressures may now eliminate spare tires entirely...

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Submitted Jun 29, 2012 By: PD

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RocketGeek Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:10,602 Points:2,110,335 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:44:56 AM Ignore RocketGeek Report Abuse I'm on the fence on this one. I get the physics of it, but I need convincing that the sealant/inflate gadgets really work without further shortening the service life of the tire.
Lengas Champion Author Gary Posts:13,561 Points:2,719,725 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:44:24 AM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse The spare tire, donut, is needed esp if you have a blow out in the countryside.
SUPERSTEVIEO Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,523 Points:787,115 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:43:38 AM Ignore SUPERSTEVIEO Report Abuse they will probably offer it as an option.... i agree that teh new spare seems to be a very seldomly used item,,, if they would stop changing tire sizes so often, then we could keep our spares when we trade in.. seeing most people trade in for very similar sized cars... standardize.... PLEASE!!!
kyjlh Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,628 Points:654,455 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:43:33 AM Ignore kyjlh Report Abuse ok
Michaels2011 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,141 Points:106,005 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:41:53 AM Ignore Michaels2011 Report Abuse Mine has a tire
RamboOn66 Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,321 Points:1,886,755 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:41:51 AM Ignore RamboOn66 Report Abuse Sad.
gassy4u Champion Author Mobile Posts:3,763 Points:1,326,210 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:41:40 AM Ignore gassy4u Report Abuse Highly irrational.
keithyoon1977 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,924 Points:497,665 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:40:59 AM Ignore keithyoon1977 Report Abuse Ok
fillerupyeoww Champion Author Columbus Posts:5,890 Points:1,651,390 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:37:55 AM Ignore fillerupyeoww Report Abuse Good luck with that.
FMREALTOR Champion Author Florida Posts:6,415 Points:1,698,955 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:36:28 AM Ignore FMREALTOR Report Abuse A can if fix a flat does not work when something you have hit sliced the tire.
tbgasmizer Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,053 Points:1,230,620 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:34:31 AM Ignore tbgasmizer Report Abuse I'll give them a try.
jppezz Champion Author New Mexico Posts:8,601 Points:1,694,510 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:32:21 AM Ignore jppezz Report Abuse No spare tire no deal.See if they want to lose a sale because of a tire.
IB2ChillE Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:14,017 Points:2,930,700 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:32:11 AM Ignore IB2ChillE Report Abuse ...cost cutting and weight...
abk Champion Author Utah Posts:1,800 Points:657,075 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:31:36 AM Ignore abk Report Abuse That's the new version of American ingenuity.
isem Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,936 Points:425,135 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:31:05 AM Ignore isem Report Abuse What a lousy joke. Where are all the good comedians when we need one?
batman2010 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,678 Points:1,016,655 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:30:53 AM Ignore batman2010 Report Abuse ok
Bill100 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:41,505 Points:1,164,795 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:30:47 AM Ignore Bill100 Report Abuse Borderline Ridiculous.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,790 Points:1,548,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:28:55 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse It's bad enough having the "tiny" tire. But I do want a spare. I've had to use them numerous times in my driving career.
JLSindy Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,496 Points:674,990 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:28:46 AM Ignore JLSindy Report Abuse I agree with most of what everyone says. Using the excuse of fuel economy to increase bottom line - they do not reduce the price of the car because of this but do charge OVER $100 if you want to buy an extra rim and create your own spare tire!
4wheel Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:19,154 Points:2,743,690 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:28:23 AM Ignore 4wheel Report Abuse Yesterday's news.
Boo1989 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,183 Points:1,351,520 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:28:12 AM Ignore Boo1989 Report Abuse Just what happens when the "gubmint" gets involved. Get ready for your obamascare death panels you voted for!
Ratso Champion Author Ohio Posts:18,808 Points:2,686,545 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:27:34 AM Ignore Ratso Report Abuse Think the industry is looking for TOOOOO many solutions and forgot...people get flat tires and those bottled tire inflater's cant be counted on all the time !
BoerneWatch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:15,551 Points:2,455,890 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:26:53 AM Ignore BoerneWatch Report Abuse I'll get worse fuel economy in exchange for a full sized spare tire. I can't remember the last time I actually needed to use a spare tire but the thought of not having one is enough to burn extra fuel.
sramroop Champion Author Birmingham Posts:3,327 Points:741,805 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:26:13 AM Ignore sramroop Report Abuse Repeat
kyrunner Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,987 Points:1,701,875 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:26:01 AM Ignore kyrunner Report Abuse Another unintended consequence of government mandates! Weight must be cut to increase mileage.
HYEgasCA Champion Author Fresno Posts:2,111 Points:911,625 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:25:25 AM Ignore HYEgasCA Report Abuse Consequences of Big Government!!
otherdave Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,403 Points:1,271,110 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:25:18 AM Ignore otherdave Report Abuse Obsession with SCREWING the consumer!
dar 1 Champion Author Michigan Posts:5,903 Points:446,615 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:24:25 AM Ignore dar 1 Report Abuse NOT GOOD................
Pointtx Champion Author Austin Posts:3,246 Points:727,030 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:23:31 AM Ignore Pointtx Report Abuse I've certainly needed a spare in the past.
sappie Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,506 Points:587,570 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:22:36 AM Ignore sappie Report Abuse this is greed.not fuel related.
radstoy Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,459 Points:3,220,705 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:22:33 AM Ignore radstoy Report Abuse yesterdays news
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,297 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:21:37 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse another reason to buy used
JoJoQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,336 Points:1,040,155 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:20:51 AM Ignore JoJoQc Report Abuse What's next???
golftellowcat Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,458 Points:694,825 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:19:23 AM Ignore golftellowcat Report Abuse ok
jci25946 Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,276 Points:941,740 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:18:22 AM Ignore jci25946 Report Abuse TOMOK's post is right on!!
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,344 Points:1,893,305 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:17:41 AM Ignore epf Report Abuse Buyer beware!
fightbigoil71 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:7,572 Points:1,547,605 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:17:11 AM Ignore fightbigoil71 Report Abuse Saw this post yesterday...
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,845 Points:677,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:16:15 AM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse no cost cutting did that
dave364 Champion Author Lansing Posts:4,955 Points:1,439,290 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:14:52 AM Ignore dave364 Report Abuse not good
wt0826 Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,736 Points:838,100 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:14:22 AM Ignore wt0826 Report Abuse ok
Rick52 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:12,041 Points:1,200,595 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:14:18 AM Ignore Rick52 Report Abuse What dose the Highway Safety people say about this ???
minnesotagirl Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:5,872 Points:1,233,620 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:13:54 AM Ignore minnesotagirl Report Abuse Yesterday's posting
KentsterPA Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,712 Points:551,825 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:13:18 AM Ignore KentsterPA Report Abuse Should be a safety requirement
padlocks2 Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,062 Points:621,880 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:13:17 AM Ignore padlocks2 Report Abuse I havn't had to use my spare tire with 4 trucks in over 9 years, but I still prefer having it their for the peace of mind factor.
kobes1 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,502 Points:559,560 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:11:34 AM Ignore kobes1 Report Abuse Greed
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,070 Points:2,347,460 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:09:10 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Depending on where you are at when a flat happens, waiting for the 24/7 Roadside Assistance may take some time to get to you. When there is no cell phone service or you are way back off the highway in some forested trail head location, help maybe a long time in coming! With a spare tire and tools, you can be back on the road in a much shorter time. I will have a full size spare tire with me and to heck what the government says about that! Less Fat People = More MPG! Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
wkb03 Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,970 Points:595,000 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:08:14 AM Ignore wkb03 Report Abuse Working on the wrong end of the car,
bargainfinderGA Sophomore Author Atlanta Posts:232 Points:84,440 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:06:31 AM Ignore bargainfinderGA Report Abuse Insanity!!
kzza100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,948 Points:576,195 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:06:08 AM Ignore kzza100 Report Abuse yup
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,478 Points:664,900 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:04:48 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Don't like donut spares.
Petrock Champion Author Lexington Posts:9,133 Points:2,559,710 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 6:03:30 AM Ignore Petrock Report Abuse I don't plan to ever buy a car without a spare tire. Take note car manufacturers. By the way ... cars used to have cranks instead of starters. Eliminating the starter would probably also save weight!