Spare tire optional for 2015 Acura TLX

Very few drivers experience flat tires

According to Acura research, very few drivers experience flat tires much less break out a jack and lug wrench to deal with one. For added weight consideration, trunk space and safety concerns, Acura has opted for a 24/7 roadside assist program and a can of “spare tire” in lieu of a conventional emergency spare tire.

Torque News drove all variants of the 2015 Acura TLX and found the car to be exceptional. Does your new TLX need a spare tire and jack? That’s a personal assessment.

This isn’t the first time Acura and other auto manufacturer’s have forgone the conventional spare tire in search for leaner curb weight and manufacturing costs.

In-fact, most sport-cars and some Acura products arrive sans spare tire. For example, looking to Acura’s best selling MDX SUV, we find the spare tire kit absent in the front wheel drive variant, yet present in the SH-AWD, the reasoning here holds water.

No spare tire kit

Those MDX owners venturing off-road will have a higher occurrence of major tire damage beyond the fast-fix capabilities of a self patching canned inflator. And, those venturing off road, may be out of cellphone reach or range of a local towing service.

So, for those TLX buyers with old-school tendencies and concerns, Acura offers a top quality spare tire and installation kit. The suggested MSRP of the kit is $369 plus dealer installation charge. Cost will vary by dealership and your negotiating skills.

Personally, Looking to the trunk of my Volvo S 80 T, I believe there’s a spare in there somewhere. But, in the decade of driving the car, I've never needed it. I believe that that’s the point Acura makes here. Today’s tire technology is superior to that of the past. Most tires are self sealing when it comes to picking up nails, screws, etc from the road. Yes, one can incur sidewall tire damage.(rarely) If it happens on the Freeway, it’s time to call a tow truck.

Safety First

Changing a tire roadside can be fatal. I've lost two friends doing so and have encountered a Highway Patrolman that lost a leg while being sideswiped standing next his unit on the Freeway.

By eliminating the option of changing a flat. Acura has removed the expressed liability of the act while promoting the safety of the consumer.
Is it worth it to most consumers today to break out the jack, lug wrench, remove the wheel and tire, remove the spare from the trunk kit, install the spare, tighten the lugs and drop the car back down to the road? Sure I've done it, but its been a decade since I've had to.