1/28/2024 0 Comments Aaa flat tire![]() Nearly one-third of today’s new vehicles don’t come with a spare tire as standard equipment, according to AAA, and that number is probably only going to go up. ![]() The typical procedure involves attaching the filler hose to the tire valve, plugging the power cord into the car’s accessory power socket, filling the tire with air/sealant, driving the car for a few miles, then rechecking the air pressure. Tire-inflator kits consist of an electric air pump and a canister of sealant to fix a puncture. In small cars, hybrids, and electric vehicles with large battery packs, eliminating the spare tire and tools frees up cargo space. Eliminating the wheel, tire, and tools also saves an automaker money-maybe $100 or so per car. Automakers fight to shave ounces from their cars (extra weight means lower mpg), and a spare tire-even a donut-plus a jack and lug wrench can weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. From a carmaker’s point of view, they’re downright brilliant. Tire-inflator kits are controversial-some people like them, others hate them. About a decade ago, GM started replacing donuts with tire-inflator kits in some of its cars. Then donuts-those smaller, temporary spares-replaced some of those full-size spares. Once upon a time, nearly all cars had full-size spare tires.
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