Goodbye spare tire?  Maybe…

As the cost of manufacturing cars increases, automakers are looking for ways to reduce costs where they can.

One way that they are looking to save money is by not including a spare tire.

This is becoming a common trend as they are finding many benefits.  As a result of not including a spare tire, cars are lighter and have better fuel economy.  This is being done because there are fewer cases of flat tires these days as technology improves.

Instead of including a spare tire, some companies are including fix-a-flat kits or run-flat tires.  The newly redesigned Hyundai Elantra is one of the latest cars that does not include a spare tire.  Hyundai is able to save $22 per car and $4.4 million on the 200,000 Elantras that they plan to make this year.

Many other companies are also following suit and experiencing the same money-saving benefits.  The decision to not include a spare tire is also based on the fact that most people use roadside assistance in the event of a flat.

While there are many benefits to not including a spare tire, there are also some concerns.  Many people do not like the idea that spare tires are not included in cars.  Automakers are also not required to include them because it is not considered standard safety equipment.

It is hard to say if all automakers will adopt this for the future, but right now it something to keep in mind the next time you are shopping for a car.

What are your thoughts on this issue?  Leave your comments below.