MAINE, USA — When is the last time you checked the well of your trunk? You may think there’s a spare tire there, but that's not the norm these days, and some drivers are being caught by surprise.
Over the past dozen years, automakers have gradually stopped putting spare tires in their vehicles, according to AAA research. Today, 30 percent of new cars don't have a spare.
"Auto manufacturers are trying to meet the fuel efficiency standards set out by the federal government," AAA Northern New England Public Affairs Director Pat Moody said. "About a third of new vehicles that are manufactured do not have a spare tire and the related equipment to change a tire."
Moody says without a spare tire, vehicles save about 30 pounds and help them be more fuel-efficient.
"In exchange for that spare tire, [auto makers] are putting in lighter weight inflator kits or tires that could ride without air in it for a short distance," Moody told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Moody said when shopping for a new vehicle, buyers can ask if there’s an option to purchase a spare tire with the vehicle.
If you do have a spare tire, Moody said it's important to check tire pressure frequently. Moody continued, adding that it's wise to know how to use the equipment in a vehicle that may help drivers if and when they get a flat tire.
"I think it's certainly shocking to people. [A spare tire is] one of those pieces of the vehicle that you really don’t think about it until you need it, and then you really need it," Moody added.
For more information on what to do if you don't have a spare tire, click here.