Flat Tire Towing – When No Spare Tire

All new vehicle models come with various advanced features like lane assists, automatic headlights and all high tech connectivity. Although different manufacturers strive to innovate and improve their models over the competition, but all vehicles on the road today still share the same characteristic – 4 air-filled tires. Road hazards, debris and potholes are still unavoidable even for the most advanced cars. Flat tires and blowouts can happen to any vehicles. Having puncture is not a huge problem in suburban area, there are gas stations and air pumps available to air up the tire to reach the closest tire shop in San Diego Area.

New Models Missing Spare Tire

Slowly, all car manufacturers, from sports cars to luxury brands are phasing out spare tire as base model feature. There are several reasons why spare tires are being replaced by tire repair kits and mini compressors.

Room shortage in the trunk. Hybrid models and plug-in vehicles with larger battery capacity usually lack trunk space and spare tire compartment is partially filled with addition batteries or other equipment.

Spare tire is an option. Car manufacturers like Kia and Volvo still maintain a room for spare tire under trunk floorboard, but actual emergency tire is sold as additional option to the base model. The space for the “donut” is there, but actual wheel is missing. When you get a flat tire and realize that your car doesn’t come with emergency wheel for replacement, your only option is to get your vehicle hooked and towed to a nearest open tire shop to purchase or repair your flat.

Two Flat Tires

Just in case your car had a major blowout on the freeway or low tire pressure indicator is blinking call us for flat tire service. Our San Diego tow truck driver is just 30 min away to pick you up.

AAA also offered up a list of 2017 models that don’t offer a spare at all. Here they are in alphabetical order:

AAA offers up a few tips to keep from being stranded:

Don’t assume there’s a spare, and if there isn’t, find out if it’s optional. Check tire pressures monthly, including the spare wheel in the trunk. Find out if your tire-inflation kit has an expiration date, and read the owner’s manual to learn how to use it and its limitations.
In a previous survey, AAA reported that less than 20 percent of drivers don’t know how to change a flat tire. According to cars.com