A growing number of new cars skip the spare tire entirely to save weight and trunk space, leaving drivers with only a tire inflator kit or nothing at all. If you're flat and there's nothing to swap it for, your options are narrower than you'd like, but there is a clear path forward.
Automakers increasingly ship vehicles with a tire inflator kit — a can of sealant and a small compressor — instead of a spare wheel. These kits only work on small, straight punctures in the tread and cannot do anything for a sidewall cut, a blowout, or a puncture near the edge of the tire.
If the damage is a simple tread puncture and the tire still holds shape, a mobile tire repair (plug/patch) can fix it in place without needing a spare at all. If the tire is damaged beyond repair — a sidewall cut, a blowout, or a puncture too close to the edge — mobile tire replacement brings a matching replacement tire to wherever you're parked and installs it on the spot, so a missing spare stops being a problem.
Tire repair is $49 flat when the tire is salvageable. Mobile tire replacement is a $49 service fee, with the replacement tire quoted separately before you approve anything. Typical arrival is 10–20 minutes, and you can track your provider on the live map the whole way.
Yes, it's increasingly common. Many manufacturers now include only a tire inflator kit or nothing at all, which is part of why mobile tire replacement exists.
Providers work to match your tire's size and specification as closely as possible; the exact tire is confirmed and quoted before installation.
Sealant from an inflator kit doesn't usually prevent a proper repair or replacement — tell your provider it was used so they can assess the tire correctly.
Typical ETA is 10–20 minutes depending on traffic and provider availability, and you'll see them approaching on the live map after booking.