Your new car may have a giant touchscreen, heated seats, and enough safety sensors to make parking feel like a supervised activity. But open the trunk expecting to find a spare tire, and you might discover an empty storage compartment instead. Automakers increasingly skip traditional spare tires in some models to save weight, free up space, or accommodate other equipment.
That creates an awkward problem when a nail punctures a tire miles from home. Without a spare, a simple roadside tire change can turn into a tow truck, an unexpected repair bill, and a long wait beside the highway. The solution depends on what your vehicle carries instead, how badly the tire has suffered, and whether help can reach you. Fortunately, a little preparation can keep a minor puncture from becoming an expensive afternoon.
