It's heresy I tell you....but who needs a spare tire?

We own a T@G outback, but also other types of utility trailers, and I would never go anywhere w/o a spare.

I do have access to AAA, but I will never count on them to change a spare.  It would take me longer to complete the call than doing it my self.  We also travel at night and some time far away from any towns or service.  All this would result in longs night and very long waiting times.  And on top of this, you are at the mercy of the co pany that comes to help you.  With a spare, you can choose where the bad tire will be fix or replace.

and I am also among the ones that rearly check his spare, since I have on board air in my wrangler and a portable air co pressor in my other TV.  So often, it is faster to fix the tire than changing it. Some areas will be closed for weekends.

I also travel by motor cycle, and a flat is always a major inconvenience and can be dangerous on a bike.  This is harder to controle and prepared for.  So since I can be better prepared for car travel, then I do it.

to me, it is part of being prepeared.

but this is me and even my GF is not even part of this.  

N7SHG_Ham said:

I think the very best insurance is a visual inspection each day before towing along with monitoring air pressure, preferably with a TPMS so low pressure and high temperatures are caught early. Most blowouts don't just happen, they result from low pressure then overheating, then tire failure. Not always true, especially for the notorious China Bomb tires... 

I have had to put a spare on my pickup exactly twice in 19 years and 300k, both off pavement. Zero times on a 14 year old cargo trailer with over 30k miles and my wife has had to call road service a couple of times in 14 years and 150k on her car.

Some new vehicles have even got rid of the doughnut tires in favor of no spare. I think tires are generally reliable enough these days that the chance of needing to change a tire is rare. Still I have spares, a TPMS, tire plugs and an air compressor. BTW, do not rely on a cheap "tire inflator" , lay down a few hundred bucks for one that will actually be useful when you need it, I can recommend the Viair brand.

Now to get rid of those China Bombs on my new 400!

Some of those tires that do not have spares, will have run flats tires of a can of gooe to fix it.  But for those who did not know, a run flat tire is done ounce it was used on a flat. 

Call me old school, but for me, a spare is still essentiial, even a simple donut, witch could be use on a T@B.

N7SHG_Ham said:

. I think tires are generally reliable enough these days that the chance of needing to change a tire is rare. 

If you try hard enough you can break anything. I blew out two tires at once a few years ago. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Since I first posted in this thread a couple of years ago, I have a new story.

We drive a lot of FS roads in the PNW, and I'm up to five flats over 20 years.  If you stick to pavement the OP probably has a case.

I managed two front flats at the same time last year on our Subaru, with only one spare of course!  Managed to patch the other tire with gorilla tape, 2 cans of fix a flat, and a small compressor.  Would have had to ride 20 miles out on the mountain bike to get help.  

Haven't had a flat on the camper yet, but take it on the same kind of roads, so won't leave home without the spare.

In support of texasaubiefan.....the Kia Soul wifey drives has no spare but came with  a can of goo you spray into the tire thru the valve. As long as it is just a puncture you’ve got a chance.

We purchased a spare tire for our latest car purchase that did not include the spare.  I don't really care what the actual calculated risk is of requiring the spare - when you need it, you need it.  Easy fix and cheap insurance.

@RCB, 

Throw a second can in, some gorilla tape and a small DC air compressor if you want to be self sufficient.  Then you have a chance.  

One can won't inflate enough to be useful.

@texasaubiefan thanks for following up on this topic.  So many posters don't. It's good for others to learn from your experience.

You won't need a spare tire, until you do.