Most of us just assume that our cars come with a spare tire. One woman who drives a Honda Accord Hybrid recently learned that her vehicle does not have one. But it does have something else.
It took her three years to find out that there's an automatic tire inflator in the trunk.
Now Alliyah (@alliyahs.glo) is wondering why the person she bought the car from didn’t tell her.
“Fun fact, if you didn’t know, like I didn’t know. Currently driving a hybrid Honda, I don’t know if all of them have it," Aaliyah says. "But I know the hybrid Civics, and the Accords, if you drive any of those Honda vehicles. Check your [expletive] trunk before you go to that [expletive] gas station to get air in your [expletive] tire, [expletive]."
She says they all have automatic air compressors.
Alliyah came upon this discovery that could’ve saved her a lot of trouble had she made it sooner.
“I was driving my Honda Accord for three years. Three," she laments. "And I didn’t know and literally I had a problem with tires over the winter time, because you know, the pressure and everything like that. Went to the gas station multiple times with my mom. We went multiple times. Only to find out there was an air pump in the trunk the whole [expletive] time."
“Ain’t Nobody Tell Me Nothing Bro!”
Alliyah also says she had no idea that her Accord doesn't have a spare tire.
“I didn’t know that it doesn’t come with a spare tire. Didn’t know that. I was coming from a regular Honda Civic. I never had a hybrid before, my first hybrid, didn’t know it did not come with a spare tire. But it comes with an air pump?” she says.
She's flabbergasted that the person she bought the vehicle from didn't mention either of these facts.
“And the person who sold me the car didn’t think to tell me that? Cause I’m just a girl, I’m not checking the trunk and inspecting the trunk, to find an air pump? Are we dumb? I would look in there to see if there was a spare, I saw nothing I closed it back up," she adds.
Other Cars Come With Automatic Air Pumps
A portable air compressor can save you from scrounging for quarters or waiting in lines at gas stations to maintain your rubber’s PSI levels.
Hybrid Accord and CR-V models indeed come with a tire inflator kit. In a YouTube video, a rep for a dealership demonstrates how to properly use the compressor.
While hybrid Hondas don’t come with a spare tire, the combination of an automatic tire air compressor pump and sealant is meant to allow drivers to temporarily fix a flat. The vehicles also have a user guide with instructions on how to address any errant nails or debris that breaches their tire’s rubber.
Honda isn't the only company opting for tire repair kits in lieu of spare tires.
Some Toyota Prius models (2023 and up) have tire repair kits, including an inflator. Which, like Honda’s hybrid vehicles, are put there in lieu of a spare. Kia owners have stated that their cars also come with these air compressors, too. The Kia Fore, Kia EV6 and EV9, Kia Niro, Kia Optima/K5, and Kia Soul are also said to come with tire mobility kits. Hyundai also packs some models with these items: the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tucson, Elantra, Santa Fe, and Kona EV come equipped with this compressor.
PSI Levels Are Important
If you’re unsure whether your car has an air compressor, look in the trunk or refer to your owner’s manual. Doing your research beforehand will let you know everything your vehicle should come with before purchasing it. Like Alliyah says, it could save you from the hassle of finding somewhere to fill your tires.
Most passenger vehicles include the recommended tire pressure levels on an information sticker on the driver’s side door jamb.
Keith Willcome of Bridgestone told Car and Driver, “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of proper tire inflation pressure. Inflation pressure affects every aspect of the tire, including the load carrying capacity, tread contact patch shape-where the tire touches the road-and size and handling characteristics.”
So be sure to monitor your PSI regularly, and account for any changes in climate as well. Most modern vehicles are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems that allow you to take a gander at your PSI right from your dashboard, too.
Motor1 has reached out to Honda via email and Alliyah via TikTok direct message for further information. We'll update this if either replies.
