Spare tyres are generally smaller in cars, such as the Kia Seltos (18-inch vs. 17-inch), for several reasons, such as cost-cutting, space-saving, and weight reduction.
1. Cost Cutting
This is the most important reason and can often be considered the only reason why spare wheels are often smaller.
Wheels are expensive to manufacture and add to the costs of the vehicle, often making it more expensive than the competition. If companies can help it, they often remove the spare wheel from the car and add a tyre puncture repair kit, and, to be frank, they are much more convenient than replacing a tyre.
However, for cars that come with a spare wheel, several manufacturers add a cheap replacement tyre so that you can drive your car to safety and then address the puncture.
2. Space Saving
For passenger vehicles, every inch of space matters because even an inch of more ground clearance can save you from repairs worth several thousand rupees.
Hence, to save space, for example, an 18-inch-wheel car often carries a 17-inch spare wheel.
3. Weight Reduction
Each inch of diameter not only costs more to produce and takes up more space to store, they also can increase the weight of the spare wheel. Smaller spare wheels are used to save on weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is better, a spare wheel or a puncture repair kit?
It depends on preference; those who can easily change a car wheel prefer a spare wheel, whereas new drivers prefer a puncture repair kit.
A spare wheel can provide a reliable driving experience even after a puncture or worse situations such as a tyre burst. However, they are difficult to change and add bulk and weight to the car. Further, in case of multiple tyre punctures, a spare wheel cannot solve all the problems. Also, with worn-out tyres, a new spare wheel can cause mis-levelling with the other 3 wheels.
However, a multi-use puncture repair kit is often a much better choice for all kinds of drivers, whether you are new or experienced. This is also my preference despite having a spare wheel. A kit can easily address multiple tyre punctures, and together with an inflator kit, it can pull you out of situations that a spare wheel cannot.
