How A Collapsible Spare Tire Works, And How It Might Save The Spare Tire In EVs

[@ChristianBehnke]

I'm impressed with how it collapses itself back down! I would have expected it needed a special process for that, but cool that it didn't.

[@retrocompaq5212]

after few years when the rubber dries, its not as beautiful, its trash

[@botbot-dt9kg]

At first I thought it will need a pump to suck all the air out.

[@amzarnacht6710]

Yes, and when it does it invariably pulls the bead away from the rim, rendering the spare tire completely useless until a tire shop resets the bead.

[@CombatSport777]

Same

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

I thought it had to be more heavy duty, since EV s are heavy

[@twostate7822]

The trend for not including a spare tire is not restricted to EVs. ICE vehicles are also trending to removing spare tires to save money and increase storage space.

[@MegaLokopo]

It has nothing to do with space, it is all money and weight.

[@domnanzwandor]

​@@MegaLokopo Yeah and for them weight means money in many ways so we might say it's all about money.

[@SVW1976]

​@@domnanzwandor Your not wrong. Money is at the end of EVERY decision. But it's to save weight not space.

[@Y2Kvids]

the big RSA is behind this trend

[@twostate7822]

@@SVW1976 Weight is not a real selling point, but storage space is definitely something that shows up in all the reviews and comparisons. And making an extra couple hundred dollars per sale by not including a spare tire, plus jack and mounting equipment goes straight to the bottom line. Tesla is not immune from doing things to save money. Getting rid of the driver console, and now getting rid of the stalks on the Highland Model 3 has the significant benefit of save a hundred dollars or so. Or getting rid of the mobile connector that used to be free is another hundred plus dollars straight to profit.

[@karlInSanDiego]

If you lose that valve stem, they're available at all car and bike shops. It's called a schrader valve.

[@chiemekaa]

Thanks for that. My anxiety on dropping or losing that valve stem would make me sacrifice the extra cargo room for a full-size spare.

[@horsepowerandtalk1033]

The whole thing is, but the part that unscrews is the Schrader valve core. If you're not careful it will go flying, then it's off to the auto parts or tire store as well. Where I live good luck finding a bike shop.

[@NovaResource]

If you lose the valve I’m sure the shop that is repairing the flat tire will find you one to replace it. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ghost307]

@@horsepowerandtalk1033 Any auto shop can sell you a couple to throw in the glove box.

[@NovaResource]

@@PMitchell106 LOL! If anyone is that concerned with removing and possibly losing a tiny valve they probably shouldn’t be jacking up a 5000 pound vehicle.

[@ceecee130x]

Deletion of spare tire has nothing to do with space or weight... it's absolutely just cost-cutting to pad bottomlines.

[@cementi4381]

Kinda blows my mind how anyone believes it is anything but cost cutting.

[@corytheriault2365]

Easy proof buy a new car or truck and order full size spare if weight or size was issue it wouldn't cost you $$$

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

No, it's completely about that, the cost of a spare tire is practically nothing when compared with the cost of a car. The ones I see listed are all under $500 after tax. The cheapest cars for this year are something like $16k, so an extra $500 on top of that is just not that much money. The alternative ways of hitting the fuel efficiency targets are a lot more expensive.

[@BrandEver117]

A donut spare doesn't take up much more room than this and weighs the same or less.

[@philosophia_melancholia6614]

​@@SmallSpoonBrigade ...dude you're forgetting the whole supply line and most petrol cars don`t get a spare so it is about the bottomlines.

[@dennisg.3364]

This is actually a great design. A big deal breaker for many shoppers is not having a spare tire.

[@amzarnacht6710]

They're flat out horrible. Heavy, awkward, and fail to take are half the time due to an unseated bead. I encounter these things on the regular and have to walk because it won't take are (without a high volume tank which few service vehicles carry).

[@ButterfatFarms]

@@amzarnacht6710 be creative dig that can of Ozium and a lighter out of your center console and get busy setting that bead roadside. Works for a regular spare donut's bead that's come off the rim anyway. Whether it'll work with these folding tires or not I'm going to try anyway and find out! If I've got an air pump a can of Ozium or something else flammable and a lighter I ain't giving up.

[@ButterfatFarms]

@@amzarnacht6710 the other less exciting way of setting the bead I've heard about is to have a ratchet strap with you and wrap it around the circumference of the tire and ratchet it down tight and add air.

[@vulpo]

This, and maybe a pneumatic jack, would be perfect for the Cybertruck which has its own pressurized air pump built into the vehicle.

[@ButterfatFarms]

@@vulpo patent protection only lasts so long and a pneumatic automotive jack isn't a very original idea at this point. Can't imagine there are any valid current patents for such that are practical and economical. A better idea is a pneumatic jack that has a refillable compressed air or gas cylinder to operate the jack. This can be provided with or used on any vehicle. It's already been patented, that patent has run its term and the idea is freely available to use. I've never seen anyone use it. Has anyone ever seen a self-operated self-contained pneumatic jack for sale?

[@tracyalan7201]

I'm not a car guy but I found the tech for the collapsible tire to be interesting in terms of space saving, availability. It looks like a good option for the average driver just wanting to have the tire there, but it still is multiple steps to inflate/deflate as well as the normal installing/changing the tire, which means my wife who knows less than me would be lost. Fortunately, that's why we have Roadside service, cell phones and on-star for our vehicles that she gets stuck with either car. Good video. Mahalo.

[@funnyfarm5555]

Nothing against your wife, but all my children and foster kids had to show me they could change a tire on their own before they were allowed to get their license. just a note about roadside service; some roadside assistance plans won't go to some locations like off a paved road.

[@brianbycroft6090]

Like all space saver type tyres they suffer from the same flaw; it only saves space if you don't need to use it. If you do get a flat, you need to find room for the full size flat tyre you removed.

[@captmarko]

This is an amazing compromise. I can't consider vehicles without a spare, I have to drive for work quite a lot. Love the general concept of the miniature tire in the front compartment. Makes perfect sense.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

just throw a spare in the trunk or mount it on the back

[@retrocompaq5212]

after some years its complete garbage like ev cars

[@xsleep1]

So, when was the last time you had a flat? Or, how many times a year do you have a flat?

[@ButterfatFarms]

​@@xsleep1about 3 months ago.

[@joshuatk59]

@@xsleep1about once every two years, the roads around my area are terrible and being in the UK we spend about 70% of our days driving in darkness for work.

[@RaindoggTV]

I think you should have used the pump included so we can see how long it will actually take when we get a flat.

[@pasad335]

He'd still be filming...

[@STho205]

It is a rather stupidly implemented system. It solves a problem that really doesn't exist. Look at that spare tire bay. It is plenty big enough to hold a fully inflated compact spare. The trunk itself is big enough to hold the blown standard tire too...because you aren't going to leave it beside the road are you. The deflated tire saves enough space to fit in the slow pump that you have to tolerate while it is raining and you are being sprayed by trucks on the highway for 30 minutes. Just lose all that stupid styrofoam in the spare bay and the tire and jack easily fit. Germans are notorious for overly complex engineering of unnecessary things on cars.

[@evidencebased1]

Yes, I was thinking that there was enough extra space for a non-inflating compact spare if you redesigned the space a bit. I wouldn’t want to use that small inflator out on the road without a trial first.

[@justaskin8523]

@@STho205 - your post about German complexity made me laugh. You're not wrong, and you're not wrong about that car having room for a standard "donut sized" spare! If I'm stuck on the side of the road with a flat, I really want a smooth tire change, even if it's raining or snowing. The less time my car is stuck on the side of the road, the less chance there is that I'll get rear-ended by another driver...or struck by a car while I'm trying to hang the spare on the wheel.

[@STho205]

@@justaskin8523 yep. The inflater is one more thing to fail after sitting unnoticed for years below your trunk. The one they supply takes about 15 minutes as it is cheap and slow.

[@yazars]

I worry about how well the rubber would hold up after many years and whether it would be able to fold out successfully. I really hope a spare tire will be available for the next car that I buy

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

It doesn’t seem to be a problem, the first spate of this type was in 1969

[@NovaResource]

The one in my 1976 Nova still works fine for temporary and slow-speed use.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Just buy a full size tire for your car and keep it in the trunk, that is what I do.....even my 1998 Nissan Sentra fits a full sized spare tire under the trunk carpet fine

[@retrocompaq5212]

its not holding up really well and the pump takes an hour to inflate the tire, it took me an hour and 15min to change my tire, 15min to replace and hour to inflate, 2016 audi sq5, next time i will buy a real car

[@david19897]

​@@retrocompaq5212and flats happen like hardly ever so if it takes awhile it doesn't matter

[@yutakoh]

Neat spare tire! I can understand why Audi would rather have an extra 50 lbs set low the back vs up high in the front, even with then lower center of gravity that EVs inherently have. Great vid!

[@Notme-hm4vw]

Awesome video! My Cayenne has the same thing. I saw my spare and laughed thinking it was a joke. Had no idea it expanded like that. Thanks for sharing, could come in handy one day.

[@retrocompaq5212]

its will be a joke when you gonne have a flat tire in winter or rain and the pump will take an hour to inflate the tire, i have one in my sq5 and its complete garbage

[@amzarnacht6710]

You'll get to use it - ONCE. After that the bead will separate when it's deflated (unless it's done by a Porche/Merc/Audi certified service dept and even they'll screw it up half the time) and you'll be left carrying around 60lbs of dead weight for no reason.

[@percyfaith11]

Owns a Cayenne with no idea how the spare works 🙄

[@seanseoltoir]

Had a Cayenne Turbo... Instead of a spare tire, they decided to have a subwoofer and an air pump & can of fix-a-flat... Unfortunately, it had low profile tires, so the one time I had a flat on it, it busted a quarter-size hole out of the sidewall where I hit a pothole... No can of fix-a-flat is going to fix that... No spare tire would have helped either because it did the same to the front AND rear tires on that side... Luckily, I was only about 2.5 miles from my home and it was all 30-35 mph residential streets, so I just hobbled on home and lucked out with it not damaging the rims... I then bought a new set of regular profile tires and rims so that it would be more forgiving of potholes...

[@pjaxy]

I think they decided to put it in the trunk/boot and not the frunk/froot is for safety. The empty space in the frunk of EVs is one big reason that they do very well in crash tests.

[@tezz_27_]

Yeah I would assume this too, wheels have to be strong, having a big strong chunk of metal in the front would not be great in a crash test.

[@tedbellWRV]

Glad to see this video. Those of us living in more remote areas (e.g. mountains of central Idaho), often do not have cell service on the road. Therefore, no spare can be a problem. We cancelled our Rivian R1/S order partly because the optional collapsible spare was "unavailable" until some future date that kept coming and going.

[@amzarnacht6710]

It's a TRUCK! Just throw it in the bed or buy an after market tire mount if you're rural. And if you ARE rural why are you buying an EV???

[@tedbellWRV]

Actually, the R1/S is not a truck, it's an SUV. Besides the environmental benefits, we are interested in an EV because anyone with actual experience owning an EV, knows how inexpensive they are to own vs. an ICE. Even living in a small town in the mountains, 95% of our day-to-day trips are less than 10 miles. An EV is perfect. The spare tire is needed if we drive to the backcountry or a larger town - through cell dead zones.@@amzarnacht6710

[@SwapPartLLC]

I would think an electric vehicle might not be a great choice for people living in remote areas. If you actually live on a mountain, I would think all the uphill driving would greatly reduce the range you could get on a charge.

[@tedbellWRV]

@@SwapPartLLC Don't worry, once you own an EV someday, you will get first hand experience and you can learn how EVs work so well - even in small towns or the mountains.

[@SwapPartLLC]

@@tedbellWRV If it works for you, that's great. I know nothing about them.

[@prozz5664]

This technology has been out for some time. What nobody talks about is what do you do with the tire and wheel that you pull off the vehicle. If you have luggage or anything in the trunk, it won't fit. Having worked for a European manufacturer in the past, customers always came in with their tire and wheel strapped to the back of the car with the trunk open. We always had a good laugh!

[@dirkheubel2899]

That was my first thought to, where the hell would you put the spare tyre. Not a good idea as far as I'm concerned.

[@davelloyd-]

that's an excellent point

[@horsepowerandtalk1033]

The American Motors Gremlin had those back in the day. I used to show it to my Auto Tech class on our unit on tires and wheels. I think it came with a can of compressed air. That cap came on most of by bicycles a long, long, time ago. Don't stick you finger in there it might get stuck. So when your looking for that spare tire on all the cars without them, go look for the lug wrench, jack and handle. They may say they're saving weight, but they are saving themselves the expense of supplying that equipment and wasting a lot of your time and money and wrecking your trip.

[@polyuniverse1908]

The 1973 Chevy Nova hatchback had a similar spare but it inflated with a cylinder of compressed air.

[@MartintheTinman]

Yep, just an underhanded way to make more money

[@anothercitizen4867]

1972 Hornet Sportabout had a collapsible as well. Never had to use it, though

[@kulgan96]

had to use my trusty spare yesterday. i always been advocating for spare tyre cause you got that wedding or plane you'r in the middle of nowhere and a big chunk of the tyre is missing. hope this catches on. great video

[@ChrisXif1]

GM had collapseable Space Saver spares in the 1970s...my 1976 Trans Am had one that looked just like the one you're showing.

[@ALMX5DP]

Oh interesting, just looked it up and saw a couple on eBay. Back then did they come with any kind of inflator or was it common just to solicit assistance from a gas station or similar if that was needed?

[@divides_by_zero]

Came to say the same thing about my 1987 Trans Am. I think it had a single use can of compressed air to inflate it. I had no idea they shrink back down when you remove the air. I never had to use it. I just assumed it would require a trip to the dealership to make it small again.

[@Meetoon733]

It seems like GM had a bunch of cool stuff in the past few decades and chose to just say "nah lets make stuff that sucks instead"

[@yvesst-georges5985]

My 1977 Porsche 911 had a collapsible spare tire with high pressure cylinder to inflate it. The gas tank was shaped to house the tire without any waste of space. This is the past, not the future…

[@NovaResource]

GM cars had them back in the late 1960’s. My 1976 Nova still has it.

[@terrencekuruma3224]

Very great video. For people who may not be as knowledgeable about cars, I'd say this is very informative. The tread design may be different than ones you see on other spare tires because this one is can collapse, unlike other spare/normal tires that keep their general shape when off the rim. As for why they don't put the tire in the front, it's because of spacing. Just because there is no engine in the front, does not mean the other components are also gone. You still have windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, Air Conditioning and Heating, and possibly access to the drive motors up front, as well as cooling for the battery. I also think other EV manufactures don't include a spare to keep the overall weight down. Efficiency is one of the most important things when developing passenger vehicles, more so for an electric car. For a lot of people who want to buy EV's they check the mileage it can go in a single charge. Easiest way to get more distance is to make the car lighter.

[@g7lethal]

my cousin had a car with one of these....he didnt know you had ti inflate it but he did make it to the shop! glad this video has been made

[@petervarley3078]

I suspected that many owners would not be aware that the tire needed inflation and would install it as is. When you have a flat tire is a bad time to discover that the pump doesn't work for some reason so I'd rather have a regular (pre-inflated) compact spare.

[@MegaLokopo]

Why would you care about a collapsible tire that only reduces its size by such a small amount? I'd rather have something larger but far lighter.

[@Richey24]

Alex you're looking good my dude! And love these kinds of videos too. Really helps make the channel feel like an encyclopedia.

[@chassoto]

This is really cool. More vehicles need a spare. The "run flat" thing has been entirely useless in every situation where I required a spare (sidewall damage). Incidentally, my 2023 F-150 Lightning is another BEV that includes a spare. In fact, mine is a full size spare. Most off road capable vehicles will have a full size spare.

[@brianerokicki8062]

great video, had this on my Macan but was afraid to use it because I figured the dealer would charge an arm and a leg to deflate and re-install. glad to know how easy it is to use. thank you

[@michaelblankenship548]

My '01 Mercedes SLK-230 had one of these. I thought it was pretty cool. Actually had to use it once when the body shop failed to replace a damaged tire after an accident. It's funny how he talks about that valve core remover cap as if it's something new. Those have been around since forever.

[@Wised1000]

I agree an excellent option. I would most welcome having one in my EQS and CRV hybrid. The GLS still has a spare. Though flat tires are rare having one is a major hassle if all you have is some goo and a pump, paticularly in the winter somewhere in the sticks. Cars without spares don't even a jack nor tools to do the job either.

[@NovaResource]

Well, think about it. Why would they give you a jack and tools to change a tire if they didn’t give you a tire to change? That’s why their removal saves weight. It’s not just the wheel and tire weight but also the weight of the jack and tools. Most, if not all, manufacturers offer a donut spare, jack and tool kit as an optional accessory from your local dealer (or from online sellers). It can be added to your car if you have FONS. (Fear Of No Spare)

[@pyronic120120]

@@NovaResource forget the "FONS", the main issue is that the goop and pupmp are very limited. In a world where tires are becoming more and more low profile, the chances of cracking a rim on a pothole for example is becoming much higher. A can of goop isn't going to save you. You'd have to go buy a spare anyways or get towed. cracking a rim isn't the only danger, what a bout a blow out? the goop isn't going to plug more than a small nail puncture, and honestly most tires will hold enough air to get you to the nearest tire shop to repair if you just re-inflate and don't remove the nail. Just make sure you drive low speeds.

[@Uncle_Spooky]

The 1980s Porsche 928s I had used the same type of spare. The car came with a small air compressor just as they do today. Absolutely came in handy a couple times and was grateful for not having to lug around another full size wheel.

[@Draconis8888]

That was pretty cool! Any spare is better peace of mind than the fix-a-flat some EV companies give you.

[@randomvideosn0where]

I carry a plug kit and bicycle pump. Still not as good as a spare tire (especially if your rim is the problem) but much better odds than the goo in a can on larger punctures.

[@justaskin8523]

Like others below, I also can't consider a car without a spare. Every flat I ever had on the freeway actually resulted in a broken sidewall AND a damaged rim. A can of Fix-a-Flat won't resolve a cracked, bent, or torn rim. I don't like donut spares, but you can't really buy any small or mid-sized cars or SUVs with full-sized spares. So it is what it is. But whatever car I have, I always check the spare tire whenever I check the regular tires. That's usually about once every 2-3 months. I have never had a tire that went 2 or 3 months and didn't need to have air added. If there's one thing I would emphasize to any car owner, it is to check your tires regularly, and check that spare too. When you have a flat, you're under tons of stress already; jacking up the car on the side of the road, trying not to die by getting hit by somebody texting on their smartphone while they drive on the freeway, and trying not to get crushed by your own car falling off its jack. When you know your spare was checked and filled just a few weeks ago, then that's just one less thing to worry about during an emergency. Be careful out there, people!

[@J-Bibble]

Ingenious design but I can't imagine there is a single Audi owner who would ever be able to figure how to inflate, install and deflate it.

[@mr.c6674]

You mean they either can't read the owner's manual, or they refuse to read the owner's manual like most people don't. That's on them, but I'm sure they will if stuck somewhere tow service will be slow or non-existant.

[@Argedis]

@@mr.c6674 A regular spare tire the same size as this tire when it's inflated could fit in that trunk area. No one wants to deal with a flat and then you have to deal with inflating a spare? Keep it simple. Just swap it and move on.

[@windsurfed1]

Thanks for making this video. I was wondering how a collapsible spare tire works. And I came across your video because of that, now I know how they work. I don’t have a spare tire in my 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. But I know they make a spare tire collapsible kit and a place to put it in the back and that’s what I’m going to have to buy. Thanks again!

[@tomkato6400]

My 1987 Nissan 300ZX had the same kind of factory collapsible spare tire also. It also came with a pressurized can of air (with a Datsun label) to inflate the tire. I replaced the can with a foot pump so I don’t have to worry about the can running out of pressurized air.

[@retrocompaq5212]

i have an electric pump in mine and it takes an hour to inflate, cant imagine with a foot pump

[@amzarnacht6710]

@@retrocompaq5212Takes me three minutes. It's all in the quality of the pump. 1.5 cu/ft per minute, minimum. 12v direct to battery (not cigarette lighter plug)

[@thebonermaker]

My 78 280z had the same thing. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever.

[@smashoklw]

My Dad had a '72 AMX with a collapsible spare. It used a single use compressed gas (co2???) cartridge to inflate. Nice idea although there was the question of where one would put the much larger flat tire in that itty bitty trunk. They were also known for not folding back down very easily. The issue with flat tire storage still remains but using a pump rather than a one shot canister to inflate sure makes more sense.

[@dongidongi]

That explains why the Chrysler Pacifica spare tire was able to fit in where the in car vaacum would fit otherwise, and also within the stow and go space for the 2nd row seats.

[@MazichMusic]

My 2020 Touring L has the option.

[@dongidongi]

@@MazichMusic I bought this on eBay. The 2019 Limited we have has the vacuum. So I just store it in one of the stow and go spaces.

[@srinikarate]

Good Product . lot of effort put in on th tyre design to manage the way it inflates and deflates... Seriously lot of efforts put there and hat off to u to share this knowledge to us as viewers 1- Todays cars are mounted with Tubeless tyres majorly and the leak on a tyre is very minium.. then Why not direclty use the pump on the flat tyre , inflate it and rush to the nearest tyre shop for further rectification? 2- Why not use the instant repair kits and go on until the weekend when u find time to repair the tyre using prfessional help? 3- Innovation is good.. thts how we improve our life.. I hope many likes this technology and use it in thier cars..

[@topher2495]

I live in the Arizona desert and have had flat tires three times in the last 6 years. Fortunately I factory ordered my Jeep Renegade with a spare which I would not be without in this area. None of the flats were fixafflat fixable.

[@spacemanmat]

Yep, couldn’t imagine not having a spare in Australia. Far the too much of the continent are remote areas and lots with no mobile service and even if you did get hold of someone it could be hours to get roadside assistance.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@spacemanmat How often do Aussies actually drive through those areas though? I'm sure truckers do, but there's a reason why those areas are so vacant, nobody's there. That being said, if you do expect yourself to be in such a position, buying an extra wheel may be worth it.

[@spacemanmat]

@@SmallSpoonBrigade usually such issues are found out when it’s too late to do anything about it. Remember the people likely to have an issue are not going to be the sort that is prepared. Also if cars don’t need to have spares then they won’t leave room for storing them so then you’ve got to deal with this odd shaped tire floating around the back of your car.

[@domnanzwandor]

​@@SmallSpoonBrigade It's often wise to prepare for the unexpected. Beats blaming yourself afterwards.

[@PeaceChanel]

Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 ✌ ☮ ❤

[@Tinrs80]

Well Darn man.. I think this was neat to watch. Hope u do more " how it works " Videos. Seriously

[@kolt9051]

Same! Every time Alex does one, I am super impressed on the topic he chose and his delivery

[@DruMcDoo]

Great idea and yes would be great for all cars. Having car with no spare I use a gun puncture repare kit. Basically you have round file on T handle to roughen hole having eased out projectile, then with the gun shaped tool force 1 inch long solid rubber plug in hole before cutting off excess on outside. Works really on most holes as long as they are not massive. Plug is temporary fix however last well until you can get it fixed ASAP. The great thing is wheel removal is not necessary so great at night when in best clothes. Would check tyre pressure every day until proper fix and instructions say keep speed low. Some kits are better than others. Some use glue, and with some the plug is like a champagne cork with the top being on the iside so really safe.

[@Static-MT]

Wow, this finally let me figure out what the deal was with the 1990s Acura NSX's weird spare tire! Very cool video!

[@mattsutube]

What an ingenious tire. Thank you for the tutorial! In the trade that little tool we call a valve core removal tool. Thanks. It's ingenious.

[@nicksgarage2]

Chrysler started using these in 1970 on the Barracuda and Challenger because of the small trunks. Been used in various vehicles ever since. Chrysler Pacifica uses these.

[@NovaResource]

GM cars had them back in the late 1960’s too.

[@MazichMusic]

My used 2020 Chrysler Pacifica has one of these spare tires located in the driver's side rear quarter panel, along with the tools and inflator/pump. According to the sticker, it was a $395 option.

[@baldheadlogic]

Alex always brings on the great information. Thank you Sir!

[@davinlaroche3029]

My 2005 C230 and 2011 GLK had one, and it is one of the coolest things I've ever watched.

[@quixomega]

I'd certainly rather have this than a fix a flat kit.

[@justaskin8523]

Fix a Flat can ruin a perfectly repairable tire. That stuff is nasty, or at least it used to be in the '90s. It would make it impossible to put a patch on the inside of a tire that only had a small nail hole. I don't know if Fix a Flat was ever improved.

[@swilleh_]

​@@justaskin8523there are different types of fix a flat. Some come as plugs. Better check them out.

[@wictimovgovonca320]

In 40 years I've needed a spare tire 4 times, or about one a decade. In all cases it was because of damage, and not excessive wear. Unfortunately on one of those occurrences, I could not use the spare. It was on a rusted solid lowering mechanism below my mini-van and I could not remove it. On subsequent vehicle purchases, I have ensured the spare was located on the interior. Luckily on that occasion, I broke down in front of a farm where they had a tire repair kit (nail through the tread) and compressor so I was able to get back on the road with my original.

[@buycarblog]

Amazing video demonstration. At first, I though this was a GUNIWHEEL but this looks great. Thanks Alex for posting. This will definitely be an emerging market in the automotive space.

[@MartinStockel-k6f]

An excellent option for a spare tire. I think we will start to see more in the future.

[@retrocompaq5212]

no its not, i have one, it take and hour to inflate when the pump is few years old

[@MartinStockel-k6f]

@@retrocompaq5212 I am sorry you are having problems with your old spare tire inflator. Have you tried contacting the inflator manufacturer or dealership where you purchased your vehicle. Because the inflator is absolutely necessary it should have a lifetime warranty. Can you fit a full- size spare into the compact spare tire spot?

[@amzarnacht6710]

God I hope not. These things are absolute garbage. They're ONE USE only. After that you need a professional tire shop to ensure it's functional for future use.

[@phalanx3803]

@@MartinStockel-k6f yea warranty ain't gonna fix it then a there when you on the side of the road trying to inflate the tire.

[@VictorMaxol]

A full size spare tightened down is a fantastic buffer in a rear ending.

[@t.d.5804]

Had this collapsible spare tire 50 years ago in my Opel Diplomat. Its life time was limited, replacing it and the pressure bottle was expensive. There is enough room in an EV, but nobody needs a spare tire anymore. People dont know how to change a tire, or they are just too lazy. That liquid glue stuff is enough. I do have a 10$€ rubber plug which is easy to install, plus a compressor, it doesnt clog the TPMS or the anti noise foam in EV tires.. Had to use it 3 times the last 10 years. Easier that changing the wheel. But most other people just call the AAA/ADAC/road assistance, they dont touch a nut. Also a spare wheel plus all the tools are expensive, companies save weight and money.

[@NovaResource]

🎯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@dzcav3]

Vehicle without spare tire = stupid. I've had many flats over the years, and always changed them myself and continued on my way with minimal delay.

[@bowez9]

Roadside assistant can take several hours to show up even when in town. But if you bought an EV you don't value your time.

[@laura-ann.0726]

In the Western US and Canada, you do in fact need a spare tire. There are tens of thousands of miles of roads in remote areas (Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, etc.) where there is no cell service. You get a flat out there in any of these cell phone dead zones, without a spare tire, and you might wait many hours for anyone to come along at all, then more hours for a tow truck to show up. I had a flat on I-5, at the Weed Airport last May. I put on my spare, and we were ready to go in 45 minutes (a younger person could have changed that tire in 20 minutes, but I'm 67 years old and not as up to tasks like this as I once was). If I hadn't had that spare, it might have taken 2 or 3 hours for a AAA tow truck from Yreka to show up, and we would have lost at least 4 or 5 hours total.

[@wildside1680]

I have been in the automotive industry for years, from being a mechanic, to owning a shop, and running a towing business, the collapsible spare has been around for over 10 years. It's more common then you think. Many manufacturers have implemented them, but they also require a extra cost, they need to include a pump. So many just went back to the compact spare, or included a "Fix a flat" Kit with slime and compressor, vs the collapsible spare.

[@nowayjose596]

Would have been nice to see just how long it takes to inflate with the included pump bc that's extra time you'll be stranded on the side of the road (although you could start inflating it while you're getting the vehicle jacked up and the flat tire off).

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

It’s about 2-3 minutes longer

[@skeptibleiyam1093]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide 2-3 minutes longer than how long? (Great video BTW)

[@ronaldcole7415]

When I bought my new Toyota last year, the first thing I did was go online, buy an aluminum rim like the others, put a new tired on it and adjusted my trunk to hold it. My spare will go 65K now.

[@uweschroeder]

They work for road tires. So for most people and vehicles this would be a good solution. I always wondered why spare tires are so rare on EV's - guess using all that space for a huge battery doesn't leave many options. I have a full spare tire and I wouldn't want anything else.

[@azw409]

There's ample room, but manufacturers prefer to get better range stats and profit. Screw the customer once he/she has bought the car.

[@uweschroeder]

@@azw409 My wife's new car just has a tiny compressor and the gooey green stuff to fix a flat. Such a bad idea in a $60k vehicle.

[@MervynPartin]

Greetings from Britain. This tire looks to be a very good idea. I do not like the trend amongst manufacturers, even with gasoline powered cars, to do away with spare tires completely (less weight means better mileage). There have been a number of occasions in the past when I have had a flat and needed a spare. My son's Nissan Leaf only has a leak sealing kit, a poor substitute, in my opinion. One question that I have for all car manufacturers who fit space saving spare tires- Where are we supposed to put the normal full sized wheel that we take off to fit the spare? When you started removing the valve core, I thought that it could be easily blown out. Sure enough, it happened! Thanks for the very interesting and informative video. I wonder if other manufacturers may take up this idea?

[@fxtgwal]

to your first paragraph, this was my 1st thought watching. "How is this an EV thing?! When ICE cars are the same now". I got a new car last year, and not a single car I looked at came with a spare, not one - and none were EVs...

[@adamsyclone7409]

It’s not just evs my wife’s diesel Mercedes didn’t have one it’s bs it’s a safety thing and should be mandatory

[@Taras-Nabad]

I don't understand, how does this improve my life. Now I have yet another thing to do when I get a flat tire. The goal when you get a flat tire is to be able to change the tire and be up and running in the least amount of time. We are definitely moving farther from that goal.

[@robertshunter]

"Quite a while" might be considered a bit of an understatement, as my 2014 Audi Q7 came with one of these spares. Interestingly, it is also stowed in the orientation suggested, as the space within the wheel is used to mount the subwoofer for the sound system.

[@seb.]

even Touaregs had these circa 2010.

[@robertshunter]

@@seb. Yeah, same generation and platform.

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

Just went to check, my 2012 A6 has this too (as expected given the same MLB underpinnings). Neat!

[@NovaResource]

They go back further than 2014 or even 2010. GM cars had them in the late 60’s. First Gen Camaros had them.

[@robertshunter]

@@NovaResource Yep. Looks like the foldable spare tire concept started in aviation before it was adopted by the auto industry.

[@isaacpalmquist9202]

Would never drive a vehicle without a spare that is wild. Thanks for video

[@kirkjohnson6638]

EVs are already grossly overweight and giving up a little space to have a full size spare would be a much better compromise. Carrying around a tire pump and that collapsable spare is just some sort of sick joke.

[@mondotv4216]

Why? It's not just EVs that don't come with spares these days. People keep saying EVs are overweight. But a Model 3 RWD and a Toyota Camry have about 50kg between them. So what kind of vehicle do you drive Kirk?

[@kirkjohnson6638]

@@mondotv4216 When comparing weights, you have to compare vehicles that meet the same needs criteria for a particular owner. So, its certainly not easy to define apples to apples comparisons. But, to your point, a Tesla model 3 weighs about 500 lbs more than a Camry and about 950 lbs more than a Corolla which is more comparable to the model 3 than the Camry. But my comment was directed toward the collapsible spare which is simply a bad idea for any car whether its an EV a hybrid, or an ICE vehicle.

[@RChyshkevych]

I sure hope more vehicles do this

[@andrewk8636]

More complex for no reason. In a very compact car it'd make more sense but then the tire would be smaller anyway. Notice how much room they had around that tire? They could've fit a full size one just fine

[@krisg822]

@@andrewk8636 'for no reason' = money.

[@perryallan3524]

I'll stick with cars that hold a full sized spare tire in their wheel well. In my life I have destroyed by various things, and every one of those when I was > 300 miles from home and on a time schedule, they all occured on a Friday afternoon or weekend where I would have to sit for a weekend somewhere as I ran specific tires that most shops did not have (and had the 1st generation performance tires that came on a metric rims in the USA (on Ford Cars) which were imported Michelin European sports tires (I would have had to replace the rims to put American tires on the car) . In 2022 I had a Michelin tire start to delaminate over 1000 miles from home in Florida when my wife and I were coming home from vacation on a Friday and she needed to be at work on Sunday. Change the tire and continue to go (the very handy located tire shop at the next exit in Florida could not believe that I had a full sized matching spare tire in my wheel well). It has saved major issues many times between destroyed tires and flat tires. I can repair a flat or replace a tire later on my schedule. Priceless. Unfortunately, there are only a few car manufacturers who build cars that hold a full sized spare and jack in their wheel well. My wife's car also has a full sized spare - and she has learned the value in that as well.

[@Kevin27182]

One reason I see why not to put it in the front would be the high lift floor needed to get over. I guess they could do a big overhaul on the grill front area maybe make it a slot or something

[@perryleenders1070]

Front crash and pedestrian standards might also be the reason the wheel is in the rear cargo area

[@NovaResource]

@@perryleenders1070Yeah, because having a 49 pound tire up front is WAAAAAY more dangerous to pedestrians than a 400 pound engine block in the front of most regular cars. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@bitterNDsweet]

Cool spare, I need it! Kind of funny to see someone being sincerely excited over an original schrader valve cap. When I was a kid, these were all like this. Except made of brass or bronze.

[@chunkychuck]

According to an old Car & Driver article, the first vehicle with a collapsible spare was the 1967 Pontiac Firebird! ("Do You Care About Your Spare?", May 1, 2003)

[@paparoysworkshop]

And what do you do with the full-size tire that won't fit into storage place for the collapsible one? That is never talked about.

[@2012hinn]

I was also wondering why EV cars don’t have their spare tires in the front since they can already make space for a frunk… the Citroen DS used to squeeze a spare tire in with the engine up front

[@MuitoDaora]

Cut costs. They still could put below the boot but now call it an extra space.

[@crackedemerald4930]

One commenter said it was for better safety, as wheels are hard and big empty spaces are crumply

[@stevelloyd5785]

Best option is do what I do. Keep your tyres at the correct pressure, TPMS really helps with what. Carry a tyre puncture repair kit. I recently noticed one tyre was 4 PSI Low. So i removed the wheel, found the puncture and plugged it. 4 months later it is still perfectly sealed.

[@jamiegarton8518]

If there is no room to put a regular spare, where do you put the flat tyre and wheel you just replaced? If it fits where the collapsible tyre normally lives than it should just have a regular spare.

[@BradsSpace2]

Well you can always put it in the boot or in a seat well. Doesn't matter if it's only temporary

[@jamiegarton8518]

@@BradsSpace2 too bad if you're on a road trip with a full car of people and luggage. Its not for me.

[@cinilaknedalm]

Awesome video! I really dislike these small spare tyres - the hassle that weight/space saving provides cannot be compared to the hassle of finding a tyre place when you get a flat tyre on a long trip in the middle of the night.

[@kenbrown2808]

In Capitalist 'Murica, tyre place find you. jokes aside, flat tires are much less common, and so I don't have a problem with normal travel without a spare. in fact, neither of the cars we currently drive have one. I wouldn't be surprised if some tire centers now have a stock of spare wheels they can have their "roadside assistance" truck bring out to get a customer rolling back to their shop. I think when my wife had a flat, the assistance truck just inflated the tire (it had a nail hole) and it held long enough for her to get there.

[@meeder78]

The Vredestein Spacemaster has been available for couple of decades. It would certainly be nice if they would be in more widespread use.

[@DodgeCharger900]

Glad to see this is actually a highly improved version of the Vredestein Spacemaster 👍

[@fixyourautomobile]

If you didn't know these have been around for decades, you've lived under a rock.

[@TheJensss]

I want a spare tire in my car!. I still remember the time when a simple tool box was included with the car, and the car was made to be durable and user repairable.

[@r5LgxTbQ]

I'd imagine most people these days will just call AAA for a tow for the once-in-a-decade roadside flat. Spares were a bigger deal when people didn't have cellphones.

[@shamanthjilla]

As someone who started driving AFTER the smartphone era started, I didn’t understand why so many people complain about lack of a spare tire

[@nicksgarage2]

@@shamanthjilla No spare tire means you're stuck or can only go where the tow truck takes you. With a spare tire, you can go where you need to. Imagine getting a flat in the middle of the night.

[@Argedis]

@@nicksgarage2 Exactly. I'm not waiting for AAA especially when they can easily take an hour or longer to get to you.

[@TheEmptyHoliness]

This was so cool, thanks for the info and well made to the point video!!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex, If the OEM wheels and tires weren't so gargantuan in the first place, this fuss would not be necessary. 🤨

[@NovaResource]

Modern car wheel size is done for a reason. A larger wheel and tire has fewer revolutions per mile. That means the larger wheel and tire is spinning slower for the same speed as a smaller wheel and tire. Another reason is brakes. Heavier and more powerful cars need larger brakes. Larger brakes require more space inside the wheel and therefor larger wheels.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@NovaResource A few years ago I was at the car show in the Porsche display. Their street cars on sale to the public had larger rims than their race cars which had far more sidewall. I concluded that grossly oversized rims are a fashion statement .

[@NovaResource]

@@rightlanehog3151 I don’t disagree they are a fashion statement but that’s not the sole reason. Also, in racing, there are rules and regulations that participants must follow. Rules that limit things like brake, wheel and tire size. Street cars have no such rules. So, just because the racing car had smaller wheels than the street car, that doesn’t mean the racing team wouldn’t use larger ones if they were allowed.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@NovaResource When you can put your fist through the gap between the rotor and the inside of the rim, the rim is too big. 😉 The new GR Corolla is a good example of sensible balance in this area.

[@NovaResource]

@@rightlanehog3151 Front or rear brakes? Many cars you can do that at the rear because they are smaller rotors. Or maybe you just have small fists. Either way, it’s only your opinion that they are too big.

[@FIGHTTHECABLE]

Wow, that is some insane engineering of a wheel.

[@peterwilliams4734]

I would rather use the space to carry a full sized spare to swap and go keeping the same safety all 4 wheels have then to put on a spare that is not safe at all. Safety first right. You can't pass registration with a wheel that's different to the rest so why would it be okay to put one on to use as a spare? No thanks. If I had a car like that I would ditch that spare and carry a proper tire. This new idea of compromising safety to have more space is backwards thinking and I will have no part of it. IF having more space is a big problem then manufactures need to make the car taller wider or longer maybe all three instead of putting peoples lives at risk.

[@StevenZephyc]

Wdym a spare tire and rim are always made less durable than a normal tire and rim for a long time. They're always meant for an emergency and not an extra tire you can just swap and go.

[@abdullahk0405]

Only an american would say make the cars taller, wider and longer...

[@BrandEver117]

Spare tires are perfectly safe if you follow the spec and drive carefully. They are only meant to get you to a tire shop, not last the rest of a full road trip

[@makatron]

To this day I won't drive a car without a spare, they can keep claiming a run flat works just as good but nothing beats having a proper spare to keep going.

[@whiz3528]

Won't have to worry about a spare in an EV because we will never own one.

[@Fred-mp1vf]

If I buy a car without a spare (or with one of those little "donut" spares) the first place I go is the junkyard to pick up a "real" spare. Those "donut" spares are only good for about 100 miles, which may not be enough on the highway. They also make your vehicle less safe to drive. I also carry patches & a pump.

[@rudetoy8264]

Michelin X Tweel probably best suited for your spare as it’s half the weight, doesn’t need air pump, valve stem to loose, and puncture proof

[@Cloud30000]

Definitely better than no spare tire, but I hope the vehicles that currently include an inflated spare with better tread do not swap to this for a bit of space and lose the massive benefit that the existing tread provides over this compact version. If they can find a way to integrate an equivalent tread, I will be much more interested in this concept.

[@FFWrench]

I can see the spare NOT out in front for crash test, it would interfere negatively with crumple zones. As for the why on these types of tires, they are true to size to the original tires. Which is very important to AWD and Limited Slip differentials. Which is why the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen GM F-Body cars (Firebird and Camaro) had them. Limited Slip aka Posi, was std on the Z28 and Trans Am and a common option on the other models. Thanks for the video showing it in action. I used mine 1 time. Sadly used up the CO2 cylinder and unsure how to ever replace it.

[@melvinwatson5724]

Thank you for the video! As for why Audi probably placed the spare in the rear of the vehicle, it could’ve been due to crash test safety results. One could speculate there’d be greater risk of injury or death to the driver and/or passenger if the spare was in front during a crash. Again, this is merely speculation; but seems like the logical answer. Thanks again!

[@Aaphree]

My 2014 Mercedes and my 2018 Audi both have collapsible spares. I’m so used to donut spares that I was a bit confused when I checked them out, until I realized they were collapsible

[@spencertwoeightyz3383]

I wouldn’t consider anything except a full size spare for a regular car but for an EV, this is awesome.

[@JohnD-JohnD]

I wonder how the rubber holds up over time. 5, 10, 15 years down the road. I like my truck, it has a full size spare under the bed.

[@RichsMowersNBlowers]

Good demo of the air taking the valve stem and remember your on the side of the road...its gone not easy to find.

[@emmettturner9452]

The valve stem caps with built-in core removers are quite common. A lot of people put them on normal wheels, especially if they frequently do their own tire changes. Pretty common for off-road, adventure, dual-sport, and track bikes too.

[@krisg822]

extremely common for farmers, i remember we had that in 1990, and i am pretty sure those things are way way older than that.

[@schwuzi]

​@@krisg822 We have at least one on all of our machines and trailers.

[@krisg822]

@@schwuzi we had only those, bcoz that is what the tires came with....well not tires to be specific, the tubes that went into the tires.

[@nroose]

I have a spare that is significantly smaller than my regular tier, but I don't have to inflate it. Seems like a much better solution to me.

[@karlporath8904]

Such a revolutionary idea. WE HAD THIS IN THE 1960'S from the big three. The difference was the inflator was a can like fix-a-flat.

[@rockfangd]

Wow. That seems like a great idea. You made me very nervous as a mechanic though. I would not be holding it and moving fingers around the bead area. Have seen enough tires do bad things. I wonder how long it will still collapse properly. I am surprised I have never heard of this. It is all about weight saving and economy

[@TimBeaumont-c3w]

I have a 2001 Audi Allroad with 87,000 miles. I have never used the inflatable spare tire or pump. Although it and the storage compartment are pristine, I figured I would try to replace it before I take a road trip. It is 22 years old, and maximum recommended tire life ('industry standard') is 10 years. The original temporary inflatable spare is a Vredestein, 205/70 - 16, 97P, DOT DVHM 2101. No one has a replacement, not Audi, not Vredestein, not Coker Tire, not Tire Rack, not Tires plus, and none of the common manufactures. Good luck if you need a replacement if you keep the car more than the 'usual'. I am probably going to get a full sized bidirectional spare and tether it properly in the station wagon load floor. Probably more useful any way.

[@janes-e378]

Amazing. I have never seen anything like this before..what a brilliant idea 💡

[@poellot]

My 2014 vw came with a standard doughnut style apare. The space under the trunk fits a full size. So i bought a used rim and kept my best tire when putting new tires on. I now have a full size spare that i could drive on for months if i need to.

[@geraldc.37]

Adequate - yes. Although a valve stem remover with a handle is inconceivably needed as demonstrated.

[@miketrissel5494]

Oddly enough, looking at the 1.50-time mark, it looks like if Audi took the plastic out of the right side of the tire area, that keeps the tire from moving around, you could fit a full-sized tire in place. Looking at the ledge height behind this plastic insert being about 1.5" narrower, the tire width would work too. Nice technology, but sometimes I wonder if it is really worth the cost, when it's pouring down rain, in 40-degree weather with 40 MPH winds. Do you remember in the 80's, a tiny little car called a Yugo ... in that smaller than small car, they found room to put a full-sized spare inside. They bolted it right to the top of the air-cleaner.🤣All 14" of it.

[@freshgino]

Also, I think there are reasons why they don’t want to put the tires in the front, perhaps gettingnin the way of a crumple zone from doing its job? Plus the frunk is becoming very important since its kinda of a security box (its harder to get than the trunk which only have glass protecting it) i’d keep my laptop, in the frunk for example.