Almost a third of UK cars are not equipped with spare tyres
By Denna Bowman
Up to 30% of motorists are driving around without spare tyres, according to a new survey carried out by an online motoring website.
The survey for honestjohn.co.uk revealed that foam repair kits are rapidly replacing traditional spare tyres.
However, 91% of the motorists who were questioned admitted that they would prefer to have a spare tyre.
And while car manufacturers are increasingly designing cars without spare tyres to make the vehicle more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly, 85% said they would rather have a spare tyre than a vehicle with lower CO2 emissions.
Removing spare tyres is a quick and cheap way to bring emissions down, but tyre foam kits only offer a short-term solution to a damaged tyre allowing motorists to get to the nearest garage.
Daniel Harrison, the editor of Honest John, said this new trend could have serious consequences for motorists.
He said: “While tyre foam kits can get a car to the nearest garage, our survey seems to suggest that being stuck with a flat in the middle of nowhere with just a can of foam is a situation most motorists would like to avoid.
“A tyre foam kit undoubtedly reduces the overall weight of a vehicle and therefore its emissions, meaning there is surely a place for them in some vehicles. But it doesn’t appear at the moment to be the case that motorists feel this is sufficient benefit to warrant losing the spare tyre.
“While it is understandable that manufacturers are trying many different methods to reduce CO2 emissions, the findings of our survey reveal that 95 per cent of motorists believe they should at least be given the choice.”
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