Confirmed: NO Spare in 2011 Elantra (US version) Options

[Tom06]

They just tow you to a shop. Space saver spares are only supposed to take you short distances anyway, so you're stuck in whatever town you break down in until a tire shop opens.

[natesi]

They just tow you to a shop.

Lame

[Neanderthal]

So, if your tire blows out and you call roadside assistance... they would normally put your spare on for you.

But in this case, there's no spare.

So, do they GIVE you a rim and tire, or do they call a tow truck? Or what?

If they don't give you a tire (and just a tow) and it's after hours or Sunday (when all the tire places are closed) then you're totally stranded.

It seems unlikely they would give you an emergency tire -- they would have to bring some spares with them to get the lug pattern and possibly the offset right, although I suppose it's possible they might carry around a bunch of emergency spares.

The problems with roadside assistance:
1.) How long before they show? Thirty minutes? An hour?
2.) They'll probably tow you or flatbed you. How many spare tire/wheel combos are they going to have sitting around the shop? And will the person who answers the phone get the correct make/model/year so they, off-chance, actually bring the proper spare?
3.) They'll probably tow or flatbed you because
a.) they can charge more and
b.) entails less tow driver time and labor, with the chance of his injury, than if he jacked the car and put on a spare.
4.) If you call during a high-volume time, you could be stuck for a long time.
5.) Removes driver independence factor, very important to some.

[blacksapphirez]

MD is made in Alabama which does not come with a spare where as the UD made in Korea will be equipped with a spare. That sealer required to inflate a punctured tire does not harm the TPMS sensor.

As far as I know...

UD is made in Alabama for NA.
MD is made in Korea
MDa is made in Korea for NA consumption

US spec cars(regardless of their origin) will NOT have spare
Canada spec cars(regardless of their origin) WILL have spare

sealer specifically says not to use with TPMS.

I vote for SPARE all the way

This post has been edited by elantragt: Dec 3 2010, 06:45 PM

[jamhandman]

They just tow you to a shop. Space saver spares are only supposed to take you short distances anyway, so you're stuck in whatever town you break down in until a tire shop opens.

yeah but with a small spare tire you might be able to pick a better town

SPARE TIRE FTW!!!

Sure there is risk in putting the spare tire on, but if you don't feel safe then call in a tow truck.

[VIG]

I guess it's even more attractive to me because I have no roadside services.

[Vampyrate]

I've had AAA since I started driving and response times really have gone downhill. I think having a spare is just something that a lot of people are used to, like having a radio; for some it would be weird to have a car that didn't have that.

[only1db]

i was travelling to get my wedding marriage (because i forgot it on the way in! duh!) but i was going out and i had a tire go flat...if it wasnt for the spare tire i would have been beat unmercifully!!! thank you spare tire for making me on time to my wedding.

[Silentwolf]

I think you all should answer these questions tho.

How many total miles have you traveled?

How many years have you been driving?

How many flats have you gotten where a spare would have helped?

For me:
150k+

12yrs

1 flat

[VIG]

I think you all should answer these questions tho.

How many total miles have you traveled?

How many years have you been driving?

How many flats have you gotten where a spare would have helped?

For me:
150k+

12yrs

1 flat

Haha.

For me:

86k

7 years

4 flats

[natesi]

Been driving 19 years; lots of miles (don't know how many).

Lots of slow leaks, but only had to use the spare once. And it was well worth having. It got me home that night and then I drove to the tire place the next morning.

Without a spare I would had to have been towed to the tire place (major pain in the butt and possible damage to car), then either took a cab home (very expensive) or stayed in a motel (also very expensive). Look at the cost I would have to incurred (and the added time and inconvenience). The spare tire pays for itself, in my opinion.

So... the tow truck driver may get you and your car to the tire place... but if they are closed, then what? Is he going to drive you to a motel? Kinda doubtful.

[only1db]

thats a good way to think about it....


16 years

400k+ miles

2 flats (that i can remember)