Why Does My Car Have No Spare Tyre

[renegadefm]

Recently bought a Dacia Duster on finance, but to my complete ignorance I didn't realise it came with no spare wheel.

I rang the garage where I bought it the next day apon realising it had no spare wheel, and they said oh didn't the sales team explain that to you, so I said no they didn't. I basically didn't expect it not to have one. 

Anyway the plot thickens because my partner is a carer and needs the car 24/7. Yesterday evening we were out in it, luckily only travelling at 30mph, and without warning the rear nearside tyre went bang, so I managed to safely bring it to a stand still, and luckily recovery quickly came out and brought the car home, but couldn't fix the tyre as they don't carry spare tyres.

Now we have a car we can't use until Tuesday at the earliest due to it being the Easter weekend, non of the tyre garages around here are open until Tuesday. 

Its worth pointing out the tyre was too damaged to re-inflate at the roadside.

So basically due to a lack of a spare wheel, which typically I grew up thinking was a vital piece of road side repair kit, was not included on my car, and apparently this trend is wider than I thought on most modern cars. 

So why are cars being manufactured without a spare wheel, when all it does is redures the car unusable, and in our case for many days, which is awful as my partner desperately needs it to be operational at all times. 

I can only assume manufacturer's think carrying an extra wheel and jack and tools is added weight, and without it the car will run more economically, and be better for the planet. But if it means calling out recovery trucks surely this means more vehicles on the road equalling more pollution, when ironically if the car had a spare wheel in the first place we could have just replaced the wheel ourselves saving call outs, and had a car we can use all weekend. 

Is there any particular reason this is happening, surely it can't be down to my logic of extra weight? 

[ToraToraTora]

Does it have a space for a spare wheel?

[davebro3]

It's all too common on modern cars I'm afraid - you get an "inflation kit" which probably won't work & then have to call on the road rescue if you have it.

It's a weight (& cost) saving measure to obtain slightly better mpg.

Sometimes they offer a spare or a space-saver spare as an extra.

I've bought myself a space-saver off ebay. £50

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora

Thank you for reply. 

There is no space for spare wheel, only a flat metal boot area. 

[ToraToraTora]

You can get a spare wheel kit...

https://www.allcarpartsfast.co.uk/dacia/dacia-duster-4x2-spare-wheel-kit-type-1/

 

[retrocop]

It is  a weight saving exercise. If you are lucky some European cars may include a can of solvent and a jack to reinflate a punctured tyre. I  paid extra for a full size steel rimmed wheel for my wife's Skoda Fabia and has been used regularly. My Skoda Superb came with a spare wheel as standard . Some regulation about weight down to the EU no doubt

[davebro3]

PS - you probably still need the jack to use an inflation kit as you are supposed to position the leak (if you can find it) at the lowest point.

[bhg481]

Remember if you buy a spare wheel that you will also need a jack. Make sure the jack will go low enough to get under the bodywork when the tyre is flat and the bodywork is nearer to the ground than normal. It will also need enough lift to get the car high enough to get the new wheel on, bearing in mind that as you jack up the body the springs expand and the wheel doesn't immediately start to lift.

[renegadefm]

Thanks everyone,

Does the kit fit under the car?

Reason being once my partner has the wheelchair in the boot there is no space left for anything else. 

Plus I find the weight issue ridiculous even though I assumed it might be that. I just can't believe what once was deemed a vital piece of kit is no longer included. 

My tyre was too damaged for any roadside repair, it was caused by a large screw which worked it's way into the tyre, and then it exploded, it was scary. Imagine if we we're going 60 or 70mph, we could be all dead. 

Scary stuff. 

[bednobs]

where do you live?  arent tyre shops open tomoz?

[barry1010]

Halfords are providing their 'tyre on the drive' every day including Easter Sunday in my area.  Check them out

[jennyjoan]

Same thing my car is 2019. Apparently this is normal. I bought a second hand one from the scrappies

[barry1010]

Is there room in your boot for it, JJ?

[johnny.5]

check out facebook marketplace there will be a wheel with tyre on there probably about £50 then just keep it as a spare 

[jennyjoan]

Yes.   I think it is a disgrace

[Fatalbertfixer]

If there is no room in the car for a spare,you could buy one and keep it at home,that way you can replace it once you have been recovered back home.

[jennyjoan]

What does    tyre on the drive.    Mean

[barry1010]

It just means they come to you and change your tyre on your drive

[nicebloke1]

Its nothing to do with weight saving. Its a cost saving exercise. If it was a weight concideration they would be saving anything on an electric car. What it has done apart from creating hassle for you, is bang up the prices of any rescue service you may need to use. If your on the motorway with a flat be prepared to empty your wallet with the call out charge nevermind the repair or replacment. The AA or RAC will find find some excuse not to come out sayi g your insurance dont cover such or, if you want them to come out there will be an extra payment reauired to cover the call out. Plus you will pay through the nose for a replacment tyre.

[newmodarmy]

^so the car manufacturers are in league with the RAC and maybe Kwikfit etc

[barry1010]

I'm with a dirt cheap recovery company and they do come out to flat tyres on the motorway.  Under £40 a year for my 14 year old banger.

Are we allowed to change a wheel on the motorway hard shoulder these days?