Tesla is now the world's most valuable carmaker, all thanks to the fact that the company builds some of the most prestigious electric cars currently available on the market. The American EV maker even has many more models in the works. One common denominator for all of Tesla's vehicles is that they have a lot of innovative and cool features, such as Sentry Mode, Valet Mode, and much more.

Updated October 2022: Concerned about your Tesla missing a spare tire? If so, we've got all the pros and cons surrounding this issue that buyers should consider when purchasing one of these popular EVs.

However, Teslas do lack certain aspects traditional vehicles have. One of those aspects is the fact that there is no spare tire. That's right — Teslas don't have this feature that has been standard on cars for decades. There are a few reasons behind Tesla's decision to leave out the spare tire, such as practicality, weight, lack of use, free roadside assistance, and inefficient labor.

In any case, The carmaker has a solid rationale behind its decision to not include a vehicle staple in any of its models, and drivers really don't seem to mind the lack of a spare tire, nor do they seem to need it should they find themselves with a flat tire. Tesla's decision has proven both practical and successful to the point where other car manufacturers now seem to jump on the bandwagon.

Read on to find out more about why Tesla no longer includes a spare tire with each of their vehicles.

Related: Here's Everything You Need To Know About Tesla Sentry Mode

Saving Space and Tire Technology

Spare Tire
Kurt Nordstrom via Flickr

The truth is, these days, spare tires are not used as much as they once were. This is also the very reason many automakers chose to follow Tesla's lead. When a vehicle's life cycle concludes, the spare tire and tools with the vehicle don't even get used before heading to the junkyard about 85% of the time, according to TireRack. To Tesla, it didn't make sense to include a spare tire when it is used only 15% of the time.

Tesla thought this was an unworthy investment. So, in place of a spare tire, there's something called the TPMS sensor. This informs drivers when the tire pressure is low, giving them enough time to drive to a tire repair shop, decreasing the risk of flat tires. However, many drivers are not too pleased with driver-assist programs such as TPMS.

However, Tesla actually equips its vehicles' tires with noise-reducing, sound-dampening foam that's permanently adhered to the inside of the tread surface. This helps reduce cavity resonance and road noise, but as a downside, smaller tire shops lack the proper training and supplies to adequately patch or repair Tesla tires. Keep in mind that up to 20% of the raw material and labor costs for tires are being invested in spare tires, making the process quite costly.

On top of that, spare tires take up space that could be used for more cabin or engine space. After all, part of the Tesla Model 3's appeal is its efficient use of cargo space. Finally, the sheer weight of the spare tire will weigh the car down, and without one, a vehicle will gain a tiny performance advantage as well as improved range. However, it is also important to note that tire technology has improved over the years and modern tires can withstand a heavy beating.

The Standard Repair Rate For Fixing Tesla's Tires

Tesla wheel and tire close up
terren in Virginia via Flickr

According to Tesletter, it costs $230 to repair a tire plus $55 for labor for each one serviced through Tesla's Mobile Service support. Tesla's mobile service also is more likely to fix the tire on the spot and have it repaired with less of a delay, though they lack the equipment for alignment, so they only do balancing.

Another alternative: most Costco warehouses will take on the job of repairing Tesla tires, but it costs $230 each, with a $70 discount when purchasing all four tires. However, there is an additional labor charge of $20 per tire. Also, Tesla does save a lot of money for its own business by not offering a spare tire. In fact, today, many carmakers do not offer a spare tire any longer.

Related: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Tesla Roadster

There's A Spare Tire Kit Available But It's Costly

modern-spare-tire-kits-cadillac-ATS-2013-2014-2015-2016-2017-8
Modern Spare

If drivers would rather have a spare tire kit, then one is available. It just comes at a really exorbitant price. The Tesla Store had a tire repair and inflator kit designed for temporary tire repairs on the road, but the company discontinued it in 2021.

The good news is that this tire repair kit is specifically made for the Tesla Model 3, and it's compatible with each one of Tesla's factory wheel size options, even the 31-inch from the model Y. It matches the tire size and factory wheels and will even clear the large brakes. Designed to take up as little cargo space as possible, the repair kit comes in a space-saving storage case that's only six inches wide.

The kit also includes a custom low-profile scissor jack that features a ratcheting handle mechanism, giving sufficient leverage at the designated lift points. It's also better than trying to repair the tire with duct tape, which drivers have tried to do.

Tesla Offers Free Road Service

Tesla Roadside Assistance
YouTube channel John Chow dot Com

To counter the fact that Tesla owners do not get a spare tire, Tesla offers Tesla Roadside Assistance available 24/7 as long as their warranties are valid, so owners can easily get help with one quick phone call. As an added bonus, Tesla's tires do not experience dramatic cascade failures when they fail, so Roadside Assistance is more likely to be both prepared and effective when called.

That said, Roadside Assistance is also ready for the rare occasion that a tire suffers a complete blowout. Drivers have thus far spoken positively of the program, noting the Tesla employees' skill, practicality, professionalism, repair speed, and rapid response.

So, not having a spare tire is not really that big a deal any longer. Tesla saves money, offers more space in the car, reduces weight, and has wonderful roadside assistance.