For generations of motorists it was an unfailing presence in the trunk. There spare wheel it represented a guarantee of safety during travel and an immediate solution in case of drilling.
Today, however, the situation has changed: in many newly produced cars the spare wheel is no longer included in the standard equipment and is often replaced by repair kit o tyres of new generation.
A transformation that reflects the evolution of the automotive industry and the new design needs of modern vehicles.
Weight affects consumption and emissions
One of the main reasons for this choice concerns the overall weight of the vehicle.
A wheel complete with rim and tire can weigh between 15 and 20 kilograms. By eliminating it, manufacturers are able to reduce the mass of the car, with benefits – even if limited – on fuel consumption and emissions.
In a context in which environmental regulations are increasingly stringent, every kilogram saved contributes to improving the overall efficiency of the vehicle and bringing the parameters required by international regulations closer.
Space becomes a precious resource
Another decisive factor is the management of internal spaces. Modern cars must accommodate more and more technological components: advanced safety systems, sensors, electronic control units and, in the case of hybrid or electric models, batteries of considerable size.
Eliminating the spare wheel allows designers to recover useful space in the trunk or in the lower part of the car, improving load capacity or facilitating the integration of new technologies.
More advanced tires and emergency kits
The evolution of tires also contributes to making the spare wheel less indispensable. More and more models are fitted with run-flat tyres, designed to continue traveling even after a puncture, allowing you to travel a few kilometers until you reach a workshop.
Alternatively, many car manufacturers provide a repair kit consisting of a compressor and sealant. This solution allows you to temporarily repair the tire and continue your journey, although it does not completely replace the safety offered by a traditional wheel.
A change in drivers’ habits
The progressive disappearance of the spare tire therefore marks a cultural as well as technical change. What has been an indispensable element of the car for decades is increasingly becoming an optional extra, available only on request or on certain models.
A choice that responds to the needs of contemporary automobiles, increasingly oriented towards efficiency, the reduction of emissions and the integration of advanced technologies, but which continues to divide motorists between those who welcome change and those who would prefer not to give up a traditional road safety solution.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
