MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Your car could be missing an important piece of equipment used when you have a flat tire.
AAA said more than 30 million drivers could be out of luck.
Everyone can’t depend on their spare tire if they get stranded on the side of the road.
If you`re planning on getting on the road for the holidays, you may want to pop your trunk and see if a spare tire is inside.
“It just seems like a bogus deal,” said car owner Travis Jones.
Some drivers said if their car doesn`t come with a spare tire, they won`t buy it.
Instead of spare tires, you may find inflator kits with something inside similar to emergency tire repair.
It`s used for punctures.
Drivers said that`s risky, especially if they have a blowout.
“On one hand, it seems like a good way for the car companies to save money, but on the other hand it just seems kind of cheap,” Jones said.
“Subaru has only done that to one car out of necessity and that is the Crosstrek hybrid. Most hybrid`s because they have the extra battery, there`s no room for a spare tire so usually under the driver`s seat or the passenger’s seat, there will be a fix a flat kit,” said Alex Orsac who works at a local dealer.
Orsac says this saves local dealers money.
Manufactures were asked to make cars with less weight in the back of the car to meet new fuel economy standards.
Drivers said it`s unfair.
“You`d think it would include a simple thing like a spare tire,” Jones replied.
AAA said doing something like this is going to leave more people stranded on the side of the road.
They also said the inflator kits have replaced the spare tires on some of the vehicles in the last 10 model years.