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Spare tires may become obsolete

Posted: Jan 30, 2012 6:12 PM by Erin Schermele, David Sherman (KRTV Great Falls)
Updated: Jan 30, 2012 8:55 PM


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If you're in the market for a new set of wheels, you might be surprised to find out that your spiffy new car may not have spare tire - and instead be equipped with a sealant kit.

In 2010 the U.S. Department of Transportation required new vehicles to meet certain fuel efficiency standards. In order to meet the new mandate, some car makers are doing away with traditional spare tires and the corresponding tools to bring the car's overall weight down.

"Our first concern was that motorists were aware of it and that they take to proper steps about how to access the repair kit, and how to fix their spare tire if it comes to needing to do that on the side of the road, so our first concern was just making sure motorist were aware of this change," Tara Hanley of AAA MountainWest noted.

The new fuel economy standards are set at a combined 29.7 miles per gallon for the 2012 model year, increasing to 34.1 mpg by 2016.

AAA has compiled this list of vehicles that are currently or known to be affected by the change; the list is sure to grow, they say:

Acura
FCX Clarity: Inflator and sealant kit

Aston Martin - All models have an inflator and sealant kit

Audi
A5 (2008 - 2011): Runflats
A6 (2009 - 2011): Runflats
A7 (2011): Runflats
Q5 (2009 - 2011): Spare tire stored w/out air. Inflator is provided
Q7 (2007 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator kit provided when not equipped with a spare
S4 (2006 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator kit provided when not equipped with a spare
S5 (2008 - 2011): Runflats
TT (2008 - 2011): No spare. Inflator and sealant kit

BMW - All vehicles are equipped with Runflats, except:
1M: Inflator and sealant kit
M3: Inflator and sealant kit
X5 (2007 - 2011): Spare tire optional, Runflats are installed when not equipped with a spare
X6 (2009 - 2011): Spare tire optional, Runflats are installed when not equipped with a spare

Cadillac
CTS (2008 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
SRX (2010 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
STS (2005 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
XLR (2004 - 2009): Runflats

Chevrolet
Camaro (2010 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
Corvette (2005 - 2011): Runflats
Cruze (2011): Inflator and sealant kit
Equinox (2010 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
Volt (2011): Inflator and sealant kit
Chrysler: All SRT models with 20 inch wheels are not equipped with a spate

Dodge
Viper (1998 - 2010): Inflator and sealant kit

Ford
Explorer (2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
Focus (2008 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
GT (2005 - 2006): Inflator and sealant kit
Mustang (2011): Inflator and sealant kit (except GT Base, which has a spare)Vehicles without a spare tire

GM
Terrain (2010 - 2011) Inflator and sealant kit

Honda
Odyssey Touring (2005 - 2010): Runflats

Hyundai
Accent (2011 - 2012): Inflator and sealant kit
Elantra (2011 - 2012): Inflator and sealant kit
Sonata Hybrid (2011): Inflator and sealant kit
Veloster (2012): Inflator and sealant kit

Jaguar
XF (2009 - 2011): Spare tire optional, Runflats or inflation kit provided when not equipped with a spare
XK (2007 - 2011): Spare tire optional, Runflats or inflation kit provided when not equipped with a spare

Lexus
LF-A (2011): Inflator and sealant kit
SC series (2003 - 2010): Spare tire optional, Runflats provided when not equipped with a spare

Mazda
MX5 (2006 - 2011): Inflator and sealant kit

Mercedes
R350 BlueTEC (2011): Runflats
GL350 BlueTEC (2011): Runflats
E350 BlueTEC (2011): Runflats
SLS AMG (2011): Inflator and sealant kit
SLR McLaren (2005 - 2009): Inflator and sealant kit

Mini (all models) - Spare tire optional, Runflats or inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a
spare

Nissan
370z (2009 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
GT-R (2009 - 2011): Runflats

Pontiac
Solstace (2007 - 2009): Tire inflation kit
PorscheVehicles without a spare tire
Boxster (2005 - 2011): Inflator and sealant kit
Carrera GT (2004 - 2008): Inflator and sealant kit
Cayman (2005 - 2011): Inflator and sealant kit
Panamera (2010 - 2011): Inflator and sealant kit

Saturn
Sky (2007 - 2009): Inflator and sealant kit

Scion
iQ (2011): Inflator and sealant kit

Smart
Fortwo (2005 - 2011): Inflator and sealant kit

Toyota
Sienna XLE (2004 - 2011): Runflats

Volkswagen
Touareg Hybrid (2011): Inflator and sealant kit

Volvo
C30 (2008 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
C70 (1998 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
S60 (2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
XC60 (2010 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare
XC70 (2008 - 2011): Spare tire optional, inflator and sealant kit provided when not equipped with a spare

Topics: spare, tire, sealant, kit

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