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Check Your Trunk: GM and Others Canning Spare Tires…to Meet Gov’t Fuel Economy Targets

GM and Other Manufacturers No Longer Including Spare TiresBecause the U.S. government is seeking more “aggressive fuel economy targets,” and because motorists are increasingly concerned about gas prices, some car manufactures, chief among them General Motors, think they’ve found the answer: replace spare tires with inflator kits.

Wait, what?

You read that right. Here’s the thinking: if manufacturers remove the spare tire and its tools, the car will be 25 pounds lighter and therefore more fuel-efficient.

However, industry analysts estimate that losing 25 pounds worth of spare tire and tools saves less than 1 mpg.

So why in the world would manufactures replace the spare with an inflator kit that is totally incapable of dealing with large cuts or a damaged sidewall?

It’s all part of a larger strategy that responds to the Obama administration’s plan to double average fuel efficiency requirements to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, reports Reuters.

“For customers who want an extra wheel, they can get a compact spare as an option. That’s the way we try to package it,” said Dave Cowger, group manager of tire engineering at General Motors.

But at what extra cost?

“We’ll still offer one as long as the customer expects it,” said Vince Muniga, a spokesman for truck-heavy Chrysler.

And here is part of the problem: as recently as a few years ago, almost every car had a spare tire. It’s come to be an expected feature. Furthermore, dealerships aren’t exactly slapping bright, neon stickers on their cars saying, “All New Spareless Model!”

The obvious problem that has sprung up from the spareless strategy is that dealers have been selling cars to customers who are unaware of the absence of a fifth wheel.

And it’s not just a few models. It’s a growing trend.

“20 percent of the 1.2 million sedans, compacts and other passenger cars sold in the United States this year through October came without spares as standard equipment,” claims the online buyer research group Edmunds.com.

Was there any other reasoning behind the decision to ditch the spare?

“Automakers believe safety advancements have made the spare tire less crucial,” reports Reuters.

For instance, GM claims that services such as  OnStar remove motorists’ worries about flats or being stranded by them.

And how did motorists react after they got a flat and found out they had no tools to deal with it?

John Nielsen, AAA’s director of auto repair, cited anecdotal evidence of drivers who were “surprised” by the lack of a spare tire.

“The number of examples are small and would seem statistically insignificant, but the motorists that find out they don’t have a spare in a moment of need consider the issue quite significant.”

Really? Wouldn’t have guessed.

Car manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan, Fiat, Chrysler, Hyundai, BMW, and Mercedes, have also replaced the spare with an inflator kit. However, the difference is that these manufacturers have not implemented the spareless strategy on as great level as GM.

A final thought: GM and other manufacturers are ditching spare tires to make the car lighter and therefore more “fuel efficient.” As The Consumerist points out, brakes and headlight are also heavy. They might as well get rid of one of each.

(h/t The Consumerist)

Comments (97)

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  • ACACIA
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:27pm

    BO bama is an idiot!!!! this is what happens when the goverment discides to design cars for the motoring public.

    Report Post »  
    • MomaGrisley2
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:43pm

      This has been happening since 2009. When my teenaged daughter saved enough to purchase her new car I encouraged her to buy GM (just before bail out) because we live in a GM town and wanted to support our local businesses/workers. Just a month ago, she has her first flat and went to get the spare and THERE WAS NOT A SPARE! But, there was a wing nut and a can of Fix-a-Flat (GM version) where a spare tire should have been.

      I was with her when she purchased the car (2009 Cobalt) and NOTHING was said about spare tires no longer included in cars OR that is was an option. My daughter’s life was at stake because of this stupidity because the flat happened late at night after work!

      I confronted the manager at the dealership and he first accused us of taking the tire out! I would not let him get by with this at all. I showed him on the internet where MANY people were finding out that there was no spares in these cars. He then admitted that it would have been an option. I jumped all over him and asked,”WHY WERE WE NOT TOLD THIS?” He had no answer.

      BUYER BEWARE – and it is not just GM. Apparently, this is true is a lot of new cars.

      I am counting down the days until Nov. 2012 when we kick his butt out of office!

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:08pm

      Rose- ellen got a bike for christmas one year….. The next year they gave her the seat, thats why shes so angry….; ))

      Report Post »  
    • motonutt
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 7:23pm

      Let me get this straight……you go out and spend $30,000.00 for a new car and the first thing you have to do on the way home is head to the local wrecking yard and buy a rim and a tire for a spare to put in it. Now that’s the liberal new Hope and change (your flat tire)

      Report Post » motonutt  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 7:33pm

      A tire blows in the middle of a TX, AZ, or NV desert without a spare… Every car should have a spare. Saving so little fuel for something so important… worthless environmentalists.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • notasheep
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:06pm

      Magriz, you bought your daughter a 2009 Colbalt. No spare worried about safety. Can your daughter change a spare if not she would have gotten help from a stranger. Can she push the blue onstar button. All GM vehicles after 2008 have onstar standard. If you did not renew onstar
      Then don’t gripe about safety. Did she have a cell phone? She could have called 1 800 chevy USA. This is thier road side assistant number where someone from a certified business would free of charge brought her a new tire and put it on the car. She would have to pay the cost of tire but not service. Why did the tire go flat most liklely she had a leak and did not pay attention to the tire pressure monitoring system. If not that then the tire was probably worn and should
      Have been replaced. On the chance that it was a road hazard I would not want
      My daughter changing a tire at night nor would I want her to have some guy show up to “save” her.
      I don’t like regulations that the government puts on the auto industry but people need to know the facts and stop bitching about things they do not understand. Example the Volt is Obamas car. No it’s not. The vote was first talked about around 2004. It is a cool concept and would be a great second car for most people if the price was lower.

      Report Post »  
    • motonutt
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:14pm

      @DETROIT PAPERBOY,,,,,,LOL…..That was good! Although very insensitive to Tokyo Rose.

      Report Post » motonutt  
    • MomaGrisley2
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:04pm

      Notasheep – Perhaps you should think before you speak. She had a cell phone and called the tow service but was told it would be TWO HOURS before anyone could get to her. OnStar was not renewed because she is a YOUNG PERSON getting started. I DID NOT BUY HER CAR – I was there for support only – She bought her OWN car. Unlike the Occutards and perhaps your children, she is quite capable of doing simple things like CHANGING A TIRE for this was one of the first things she was taught when she got her license. See, that is what you call R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-L-E, a concept I am sure you are not familiar with. The fact is the dealership should have told her that spare was an option, or better yet, car manufacturers should stop trying to cheat the consumer and provide one as has been the case forever. I do not know what type of troll you are (socialist union thug or Occutard-lite) but it is time to return to your troll-hole.

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:22pm

    wow you know what ? if we remove the engine we’ll save a lot on weight & who needs doors ?

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:58pm

      I’ve been a chevy guy for 30 years, i have purcased more than 75 brand new cars and trucks from GM…. Ford will be my next new choice.

      Report Post »  
    • 1389AD
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:01am

      Hey, you don’t need brakes at all. Just stick your feet out the door and stop the car like Fred Flintstone!

      Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:03am

      My thoughts exactly, replace the engine with pedals, take off the doors, install hand brakes, eliminate two wheels and you have a new fuel efficient vehicle – lets see now – I know lets call it a bicycle.

      OMG

      Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:45am

      If we can get the bicycle concept working, we could get Michelle to ride one maybe she could be arrested for pedaling her a**

      OMG

      Report Post »  
  • The ME-ssiah
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:19pm

    Michelle Obama will be proposing that overweight people shouldn’t be allowed in cars next. Save on gas and make them do more walking ..

    Report Post » The ME-ssiah  
    • chips1
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 6:05pm

      It will cost more money just to widen the sidewalks for her to start walking.

      Report Post »  
  • tomloy
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:15pm

    Yeah, lets remove the spare tire rather than have turbo 1.3 litre diesel engines which get 60 mpg! This is GM’s very poor attempt to get consumers irate at the feds mpg mandate. The solution is to
    buy honda‘s and toyota’s until GM wakes up.

    Report Post »  
  • pennsy.357
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:09pm

    Maybe if Americans would go on a diet then weight savings wouldn’t be an issue with auto makers. Seriously.

    I own a four door Buick sedan (2001) and I carry a full size tire in my trunk in lieu of the doughnut spare as a personal preference; I rather a full size spare. First of all a doughnut spare should only be on the rear of the vehicle and not on the front steers; so it’s a real pain if you have a flat on the front steer; and a doughnut spare is a nuisance especially when you have a flat at night or on a Sunday and you’re hundreds if not a thousand miles from home. I bought two steel rims and mounted to snow tires. I carry one in the trunk with me as my spare and when I expect inclement winter weather I carry both in the trunk.

    Report Post »  
    • ScottyK7
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:29pm

      I’ve done the same thing. I used to have a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. In the back on the side there was a donut spare, but also in the trunk there was space where a full size tire would go.

      So I went to my local junkyard, bought an extra rim, and the next time I needed tires, I told the guys to keep the best of the ones I was getting rid of to make a spare out of it.

      Drove around the country for years with both the donut and real spare, and liked the peace of mind. Never had to actually use the tire, but to me it was worth the ever so slight reduction in MPG to know that even with two flat tires, I could get to my destination.

      Report Post » ScottyK7  
  • nohussein
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:01pm

    Aren’t government regulations great!

    Report Post » nohussein  
  • cessna152
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:01pm

    Maybe we can all walk everywhere, live in mud huts and eat weeds. That would be the most efficient and what this administration wants… gotta’ love “government induced” progress and innovation.

    Report Post » cessna152  
  • crackerone
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:58pm

    B O puts off decision on oil pipeline from Canada until after the election. Cannot believe this POS.
    Spare tire is going to be the least of our problems!

    Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:08am

      Its his reasoning that amazes me. He is worried about the Nebraska Sand Hills. The environmentlists were so conerned about the Caribou migrations in Alaska. The Alaska Pipeline sure did disrupt them.
      Drill baby drill

      OMG

      Report Post »  
  • Founding Father2
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:57pm

    What if you could drive around the US in five minutes, then you wouldn’t need to fix your fuel efficiency… this guy just did it for you: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/nov/travel_around_us.html

    Report Post »  
  • MidwestMomof3
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:55pm

    And I thought it was bad when I had to pay extra for floor mats!

    Report Post » MidwestMomof3  
  • ROE-SMELLIN
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:53pm

    ATTENTION! The chickenshits at the blaze have pulled every one of roe-smellen’s comments so as not to offend the muslime loving POS rose-ellen. Free speech at the blaze?> B.S. An anti American bitch can say whatever she wants against Americans and Christians, but don’t say anything against her or you will be ostracized! THE BLAZE IS BU!!****!

    ROE-SMELLIN  
    • lembrandt
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:00pm

      Just so you know, Roe-Smellin, it is not just you who has had comments removed from the Blaze. I have had many, many comments scrubbed also. They all seemed to be politically incorrect so they had to be censored.

      What would you expect from an editor who used to work for the Huffington Post?

      Report Post »  
    • Just_Bubba
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:03pm

      I agree and it will come back around to bite them in the a$$… you can count on it. They let that POS spew her BS and when she is called out they cover for her. NICE. Typial PC crap from a place that should publish both sides and let people use their own brains to decide who is right or wrong. If it continues I’ll spend as much time as I can to undrmine their supposed neutral news site.

      Your choice BLAZE…make your move and then live with it.

      Report Post » Just_Bubba  
    • momrules
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:23pm

      This a shame, I enjoyed the comments and if the Balaze gets too PC a lot of will quit. I’ve had an anti Muslim comment pulled too.

      Report Post »  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:55pm

      Quit crying!

      Report Post »  
  • Rick494
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:51pm

    Get rid of some of the emission required equipment and you could really lighten the cars.

    Report Post »  
    • Just_Bubba
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:09pm

      Wait until they start using expensive high end composites to lighten the cars even more. You will get a $40k subcompact that will meet the new CAFE reqs. Good plan.

      Report Post » Just_Bubba  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:51pm

    What’s next? Bring your own seat.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:50pm

    I also hear they intend to have you drive off the lot a quart short.

    In 2007 Subaru tried to meet the level II emissions control stand by leaning out the engine…STI’s were literally blowing motors as they left the lot.

    Get an AFR gauge and check how lean the new vehicle run…with direct injection they can smooth the map to run very efficiently…that is if they know how to tune a car…and I’m not talking about changing plugs and setting points…I’m talking at least a 32 bit ecu that has about 300 or more tables to a map that allows the car to motor along.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • pennsy.357
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:04pm

      I’ve heard about this with transmission oil; auto makers will skimp a quart (or two) to save $$$$.

      Report Post »  
  • Kerri g
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:48pm

    I would just tell the dealer that if he wants me to buy a car from him, he had better put a quality spare in the trunk before I sign on the dotted line. No? No problem, I will check out the other 200,000 car lots in the city, bet someone wants to sell a car today.

    Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:46pm

    WalMart, tire in a can FTW!

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:42pm

    And for the $10,000 question: If I was a President and I wanted to say “It‘s time to put science back in it’s rightful place” where would I be placing it? Hint: think NASA.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:50pm

      Times up. For me what comes to mind is Ancient Persia or Assyria.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:53pm

      And then I’m drawn to the fake broadcast there a couple years ago, when they had a false report of ten foot tall aliens and space-ships. And then I thought to myself: that’s like the reports that happened in the U.S in the early 1900′s. Hmm….

      Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:53pm

      I think you’d have to issue an EO to DOT…I believe it is now or has been a law for sometime…cafe standards.

      http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/cafe/overview.htm

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:07pm

      See it falls into the whole “Plowing” Category I told you I have run out of patients for. They keep moving civilization around to keep people hungry and discontent, and then they sell you back your souls piece by piece.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:10pm

      I mean “Patience.”

      Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:38pm

    Great .. more government interference causing “unexpected” consequences. Could they at least put in a can of “fix a flat” or does that weigh too much also. Anything to screw over the consumer it seems.

    TEA!

    Report Post »  
  • purecolorartist
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:38pm

    I’d outlaw the doughnut tire and replace with a real tire.

    Report Post » purecolorartist  
    • Tman47
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:03pm

      I bought a new Mustang convertible. No spare. Not even mentioned/offered at the time of purchase. If you need to use the can of ‘tire repair slime’ that comes in its place, be aware that it will ruin the tire pressure monitoring sensor in that tire. $$ to replace that.
      Ford ‘offered’ to order me a ‘spare tire kit’ for $790 a few months ago. It has since dropped in price to $190, but it is still on backorder….
      Check your trunk.

      Report Post » Tman47  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:37pm

    Statistically, as fuel economy standards are raised, more people die in auto accidents because of the vehicle weight reductions. For Obama that’s a plus…fewer people on medicare and Soc. Security.
    See? he’s multitasking. Meanwhile, he canceled GMs hydrogen fuel cell reasearch and production. That’s technology that really works, no emmisions and no Arabs but, it was Bush’s thing so, it had to be stopped.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:41pm

      emissions

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • saranda
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:49pm

      Got any stats to support your claims? They seem a little made up to me, but happy to be proven wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:53pm

      I am surprised GM hasn’t they come out with the all-plastic car yet. The push for higher emissions will make it so, sooner or later.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:57pm

      GONZO .. it is true ..

      “In 2003, for example, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study estimated that for every 100 pounds of weight taken out of a car weighing under 3,000 pounds, the death rate goes up more than 5 percent; the increase is slightly less than 5 percent for those weighing more than 3,000 pounds. Two years before that, a National Academy of Sciences study estimated that the lighter vehicles required to satisfy CAFE were responsible for as many as 2,600 highway deaths in one year alone.”

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:57pm

      Google it, do your own homework. You‘ll find it’s true but, I’m not your search engine.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:01pm

      I had a full size Ford Bronco that I secured a railraod tie on the front for a bumper. Awsome sight coming at you on the road. And the cops never said a word about it. Probably reduced my gas milage though.

      Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:37pm

    ” Furthermore, dealerships aren’t exactly slapping bright, neon stickers on their cars saying, “All New Spareless Model!”
    ——————————————————-
    Don’t give them ideas. Soon, it will be an option they will charge for.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:49pm

      Of course they’re going to charge for an “Optional” spare tire. It wouldn’t be “Optional” if they didn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:56pm

      Being able to drive will be an option no one can afford…get in line for your 10 speed bike.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • momrules
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:36pm

    Well when did safety matter and common sense matter when you can save a dollar, or a tree or a salamander or a toad………..list is too long.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:36pm

    Communism rears it’s ugly head.And this is the result.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:34pm

    What happened to “Save the Children”, Potential Risk, and Safety?

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:29pm

    I have an idea so save weight and fuel. Don’t sell cars to fat asses like Michael Moore.

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
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