Hello. I bought a 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE. The package I got for blind spot monitoring also comes with 16 inch wheels. I noticed it doesn’t come with a spare tire, but comes with the well where one would go filled with foam. Only comes with the goo that I’m always warned won’t work and could ruin the wheel. Would it be worth buying a spare? i had to use the donut twice in 7 years. I have contradicting statements on if a full sized one would fit without it decreasing trunk space by making the floor go up, which I don’t want.
i am having trouble finding a donut. The dealership asked for $1000+ which is crazy. I found websites like modernspare but it only offers 17 inch. It states that it is measuring differently or something and that it’ll work with my car that has 16” 17”, and 18”. Can I trust that it won’t ruin my car if it comes with 16 and put a 17”? I don’t see how I could go to a junkyard if the entire year Corolla doesn’t come with spare. Unless there is for a similar car with similar size?
The thicker the sidewall, the better off you are when you encounter a pothole. 6 years ago, my now-wife and I were both driving 2017 Mustangs on the Interstate. She has 18" wheels, I have 17" wheels. We both hit the same pothole. Her sidewall blew out; mine didn't. Neither of our cars have spare tires. I waited with my wife alongside the highway until a tow truck arrived.
The only time I would have possibly needed a spare was when my tire went critically low (like 14 PSI) I put my hazards on, went 20 MPH in a 35 MPH zone to get air put back in my tire. It was a 4-lane road with an open median. It's pretty sparsely traveled for the available capacity. The only thing my car came with in lieu of a spare tire is an exceptionally dumb "emergency inflation kit", despite there being a room for a donut in the trunk. Can't do much inflating if you puncture the sidewall.
Engineers and, more importantly, the bean counters don't want to be bothered by something that wastes 30 pounds "unnecessarily," but they don't charge you slightly less for the car. I considered adding a spare tire to my Mustang after my wife's fiasco, but when I saw that price (also around $1,000) I said in their dreams. I'll take that chance at that price.
I don't think you really need it. I drove both my Mustang and my old Ranger for 5 years through an industrial area on my way to and from work, and I was fine. 2 times in 7 years needing the spare isn't frequent at all.
