Spare wheels face KO

A full-sized spare wheel is an increasingly rare sight in the boot of today’s car. An Auto Express survey of models on sale in the UK has revealed only one-third now carry them.

And if you’re buying a Ford, Honda, Volvo, MINI or Jaguar, you won’t find a standard spare at all. We checked the equipment list of 148 new cars, and only 50 were fitted with a replacement. Instead, 47 per cent had a space-saver – a downsized wheel that can be used as a short-term fix.

A further 16 per cent came with instant repair foam, which temporarily re-inflates and seals the damaged tyre. Five per cent ran on run-flats with stiffened sidewalls, which can be driven with a puncture at 50mph for up to 50 miles.

But the RAC says removing spares could put motorists at risk. “Tyres are often shredded, so repair kits won’t work,” a spokesman explained. “And motorway drivers would have to wait on the hard shoulder, which is really dangerous.”