4 in 5 motorists still want a spare wheel
Thu, 22 Feb 2024
More than 4 in 5 motorists would rather have a proper spare wheel in their boot than a tyre inflation kit – and half are happy to pay more for it.
A survey of almost 12,000 AA members has found that 82% would prefer a spare wheel than a tyre inflation kit, numbers which are going up as the UK’s pothole crisis reaches a five-year high.
In 2023, pothole-related damage accounted for almost £500m in vehicle repairs.
But while younger motorists are increasingly assuming cars don’t come with spare wheels – 1 in 5 of 18-24-year-olds wouldn’t think to check the boot if they had a puncture – the AA is keen to point out that lots of cars still offer spare wheels as a cost option.
And when asked, almost 1 in 2 respondents said they would be willing to pay more to add in a spare wheel, citing the peace of mind that would come from it as a key factor.
1 in 3 added they would hesitate to buy a car without a spare wheel – and a further 1 in 3 admitted they would struggle to use a tyre inflation kit.
"The condition of Britain’s potholed roads is leading to a lot of damaged tyres," says AA Patrol of the Year Chris Wood.
"In previous times, if a vehicle suffered a punctured tyre, our patrols would simply fit the spare wheel and wave the member on their way. More recently, since manufacturers opted to fit an inflation kit instead of spare wheel, it can take our patrols a couple of hours to resolve the same issue."
Last year, more than half the vehicles that the AA attended with punctured tyres did not have a spare wheel.
The motoring organisation adds that the growing lack of spare wheels is leading motorists to buy spare tyre kits from third parties – something it says are becoming increasingly accessible online.
"Having a spare tyre can save time and money. If you don’t have one, consider buying one," says AA president Edmund King.
King says that with four out of five drivers preferring a spare, it should always, where practical, be offered as an option by car manufacturers.
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