Not long ago, virtually every single new car was sold with a spare tire, a jack and a small tool kit to allow owners to swap out a flat tire for the spare on the side of the road. That has changed ...

Inside product planning meetings, the spare tire has become an easy target for engineers chasing weight and cost reductions.

Q. I was stunned to discover that my new car doesn’t have a spare tire. Was I ripped off? A. Not really. As automakers strive to cut production costs and reduce vehicle weight to aid fuel economy, ...

Before you get a flat, know whether you have a spare tire and where it and your jack are located. Most spare tires cannot be driven at highway speeds and are just designed to get you to a tire shop.

A flat tire is always inconvenient and often dangerous, risking loss of control while driving or collision while performing a roadside repair. Adding to the drama is the reality that many recent cars ...