In other words, reducing the car's total weight increases fuel economy. "Automotive engineers are constantly finding ways to improve a vehicle's efficiency, and weight reduction is a major factor in helping vehicles achieve better fuel economy." "The main benefit of equipping a vehicle with a tire mending kit over a temporary spare tire is the nearly 25-pound weight savings cost was never a significant decision factor for Hyundai," Tinson says. Michele Tinson, a Hyundai representative, explained the car company's strategy via email. Hyundai includes a tire mobility kit instead of spares in many of its cars. Hyundai is often pinpointed as one of the automakers leading this trend, but it says it is a matter of weight savings, not cost savings. Considering the automakers get these supplies at a lower cost, it's unlikely they're saving any more than $100 per vehicle. Here's why: It costs about $100 to buy your own spare at a tire shop or at the dealership, and the proper jack and wrench will cost a bit more. It's hard to argue that supplying run-flat tires saves automaker moneys, but what about when they put traditional tires on those cars and still don't provide a spare? That could be nothing more than the automaker wanting to save a buck. They have to replaced once they're damaged, and they are more expensive and harder to find than regular tires.
#SPACE SAVER SPARE TIRE DRIVERS#
Run-flats are designed to drive up to 50 miles (80.4 kilometers) after being punctured - below a top speed of 50 mph (80.47 kph) - until drivers can reach a safe location. Other automakers use run-flats, too, but BMW has become known for leading the charge.
That's because BMWs are typically equipped with run-flat tires, which feature a stiff sidewall or internal reinforcement. If you've purchased a new BMW in the past few years, chances are it doesn't have a spare tire.
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