re: Cars being sold without spare tires

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Where do you not have cell service?

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It’s not often, but chances are if you don’t have cell service then you aren’t a short walk away from from any business, much less a tire shop.

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I’m a nice sized guy in my 30s and it took an hour to get the lug nuts off both times.

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lolwut? Are you serious? I'm 42 and had to put my donut on a few weeks ago because I ran over a screw. I had zero issues getting the lugnuts off, and the spare on, in under 20 minutes.

My wife has also changed her own tire in less time than it took you. Jesus man.

I dealt with the same stupid shite when I bought a car for my daughter last year. I told them I wasn’t buying the car unless it had a spare. They’re response was that it comes with an air compressor which is even stupider because some good a frickin’ compressor will do you if you have a blowout. They drug their feet like a bunch of bumbling assholes but complied.

I can’t remember the last time I used it but only because I can’t remember the last time I had a flat tire. I can put a spare on but I’m not doing it unless I have no other option.

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I dealt with the same stupid shite when I bought a car for my daughter last year. I told them I wasn’t buying the car unless it had a spare. They’re response was that it comes with an air compressor which is even stupider because some good a frickin’ compressor will do you if you have a blowout. They drug their feet like a bunch of bumbling assholes but complied.

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Did the car at least have a spot designed to hold a spare? The AWD Sienna doesn’t even have a spot for one.

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I was getting close to purchasing a new car, and at the last minute found out it doesn’t have a spare tire compartment (AWD Sienna). The last car I bought was a 2006 model so I haven’t kept up with the trends, but it looks like over recent years more and more cars are not coming with spare tires. Instead they expect you to use run flat tires or keep tire sealant in the car. Neither of those “solutions” is a solution for a side wall tear. I am baffled that it is even a “thing” to sell cars without spare tires. Just seems stupid.

Has anyone run into this or bought a car without a spare?

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AWD Sienna the problem with no spare is the rear driveshaft runs through the chassis where the underbody spare tire is stored on a FWD model. Even on the FWD model the spare is a pain to get to. The Honda Odyssey has a much better system with the spare behind the rear interior panels.

I'm not a fan of the runflats, they are very expensive and tend to get replaced instead of repaired. Most carry a Sienna spare in a bag in the back if they need one. You can buy the parts and jack kit to fit the factory jack to the van.

Several threads on Siennachat

Siennachat forum

Thanks for that link. One guy there hung his compact spare in a bag off the back seats, hardly taking up trunk space and the seats can still be put down. Sienna might still be in play for me after all. Still annoying they don’t have a compartment for one but this could work.

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Fatal shark attacks occur on average once every two years, there are on average 16 nonfatal shark attacks annually, over the last 3 years 51 people in the US were killed changing tires.

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You still have a higher chance of being attacked by a shark.

But you neglected to do lightning strikes.

Regardless, the point remains you're making decisions for your family based on statistical outliers. Decisions that leave them helpless to others for support.

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Thanks for that link. One guy there hung his compact spare in a bag off the back seats, hardly taking up trunk space and the seats can still be put down. Sienna might still be in play for me after all. Still annoying they don’t have a compartment for one but this could work.

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You're welcome. FWIW I own a 2016 FWD Sienna Limited and it has been a great vehicle so far. We were coming from a 2008 Odyssey Touring and the ride is much better on the Toyota's in general than the Honda minivans (yes we test drove the new model Odysseys too). We still own the Odyssey as a 3rd vehicle and it has had multiple repairs and recalls, I don't think Honda is the company they used to be.

I wouldn't let the lack of spare dissuade you, it can be overcome. Just be prepared to go to a non-runflat tire eventually. I believe the Sienna AWD can mount non-runflat tires on stock rims unlike the Odyssey Touring with the PAX system that also requires new wheels due to an internal stiffener ring (called DEPAXing).

My spare is upside down in the trunk. I have to pull it to air it up...so I just keep a plug in pump in my trunk. The two times I’ve checked it was flat. It’s a joke sized tire anyway.