How A Collapsible Spare Tire Works, And How It Might Save The Spare Tire In EVs

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The Vredestein Space Master has been a favorite of European car companies for decades, and it might just save the spare tire from becoming extinct as companies transition to EVs and PHEVs. Why? Because it's both smaller and lighter than a traditional spare tire. It's not without its drawbacks, but I'd rather have a spare with treads like a Converse sneaker than not have one at all.
The most space efficient spare tire goes by many names: Collapsible spare tires, expandable spare tires, space saver spare, Vredestein Space Master, Collapsable spare, and many more. It's been a favorite of the European car companies like Mercedes, Maserati, Porsche (and of course Rivian in the R1S) but it's really Volkswagen and Audi that have pushed the tech forward by dropping it into high volume models like the Audi Q5, Volkswagen Touareg, and of course the Audi Q8 e-Tron. Yep, Audi makes the ONLY road-focused electric SUV with a spare tire. Outside the Q8 e-Tron you're looking at spares in off-road oriented SUVs like the Rivian R1S and Hummer SUV. (The R1S uses this same type however) With a footprint that's 40% smaller than the average spare tire and lighter as well, could the Space Master spare be the answer for EVs designed to road trip? I sure hope so.
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0:00 - Could this save the spare tire?
0:55 - How small is it?
1:19 - How light is it?
2:02 - How does it work?
4:11 - Yep, it deflates too!

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28 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 1,3 тыс.

@ChristianBehnke 10 месяцев назад

I'm impressed with how it collapses itself back down! I would have expected it needed a special process for that, but cool that it didn't.

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

after few years when the rubber dries, its not as beautiful, its trash

@botbot-dt9kg 10 месяцев назад

At first I thought it will need a pump to suck all the air out.

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

Yes, and when it does it invariably pulls the bead away from the rim, rendering the spare tire completely useless until a tire shop resets the bead.

@CombatSport777 10 месяцев назад

Same

@Eduardo_Espinoza 10 месяцев назад

I thought it had to be more heavy duty, since EV s are heavy

@karlInSanDiego 10 месяцев назад

If you lose that valve stem, they're available at all car and bike shops. It's called a schrader valve.

@chiemekaa 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for that. My anxiety on dropping or losing that valve stem would make me sacrifice the extra cargo room for a full-size spare.

@horsepowerandtalk1033 10 месяцев назад

The whole thing is, but the part that unscrews is the Schrader valve core. If you're not careful it will go flying, then it's off to the auto parts or tire store as well. Where I live good luck finding a bike shop.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

If you lose the valve I’m sure the shop that is repairing the flat tire will find you one to replace it. 🤦🏻‍♂️

@ghost307 10 месяцев назад

@@horsepowerandtalk1033 Any auto shop can sell you a couple to throw in the glove box.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

@@PMitchell106 LOL! If anyone is that concerned with removing and possibly losing a tiny valve they probably shouldn’t be jacking up a 5000 pound vehicle.

@dennisg.3364 10 месяцев назад

This is actually a great design. A big deal breaker for many shoppers is not having a spare tire.

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

They're flat out horrible. Heavy, awkward, and fail to take are half the time due to an unseated bead. I encounter these things on the regular and have to walk because it won't take are (without a high volume tank which few service vehicles carry).

@ButterfatFarms 10 месяцев назад

@@amzarnacht6710 be creative dig that can of Ozium and a lighter out of your center console and get busy setting that bead roadside. Works for a regular spare donut's bead that's come off the rim anyway. Whether it'll work with these folding tires or not I'm going to try anyway and find out! If I've got an air pump a can of Ozium or something else flammable and a lighter I ain't giving up.

@ButterfatFarms 10 месяцев назад

@@amzarnacht6710 the other less exciting way of setting the bead I've heard about is to have a ratchet strap with you and wrap it around the circumference of the tire and ratchet it down tight and add air.

@vulpo 10 месяцев назад

This, and maybe a pneumatic jack, would be perfect for the Cybertruck which has its own pressurized air pump built into the vehicle.

@ButterfatFarms 10 месяцев назад

@@vulpo patent protection only lasts so long and a pneumatic automotive jack isn't a very original idea at this point. Can't imagine there are any valid current patents for such that are practical and economical. A better idea is a pneumatic jack that has a refillable compressed air or gas cylinder to operate the jack. This can be provided with or used on any vehicle. It's already been patented, that patent has run its term and the idea is freely available to use. I've never seen anyone use it. Has anyone ever seen a self-operated self-contained pneumatic jack for sale?

@yazars 10 месяцев назад

I worry about how well the rubber would hold up after many years and whether it would be able to fold out successfully. I really hope a spare tire will be available for the next car that I buy

@AAutoBuyersGuide 10 месяцев назад

It doesn’t seem to be a problem, the first spate of this type was in 1969

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

The one in my 1976 Nova still works fine for temporary and slow-speed use.

@fortheloveofnoise9298 10 месяцев назад

Just buy a full size tire for your car and keep it in the trunk, that is what I do.....even my 1998 Nissan Sentra fits a full sized spare tire under the trunk carpet fine

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

its not holding up really well and the pump takes an hour to inflate the tire, it took me an hour and 15min to change my tire, 15min to replace and hour to inflate, 2016 audi sq5, next time i will buy a real car

@david19897 10 месяцев назад

@@retrocompaq5212and flats happen like hardly ever so if it takes awhile it doesn't matter

@captmarko 10 месяцев назад

This is an amazing compromise. I can't consider vehicles without a spare, I have to drive for work quite a lot. Love the general concept of the miniature tire in the front compartment. Makes perfect sense.

@fortheloveofnoise9298 10 месяцев назад

just throw a spare in the trunk or mount it on the back

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

after some years its complete garbage like ev cars

@xsleep1 10 месяцев назад

So, when was the last time you had a flat? Or, how many times a year do you have a flat?

@ButterfatFarms 10 месяцев назад

@@xsleep1about 3 months ago.

@joshuatk59 10 месяцев назад

@@xsleep1about once every two years, the roads around my area are terrible and being in the UK we spend about 70% of our days driving in darkness for work.

@Notme-hm4vw 10 месяцев назад

Awesome video! My Cayenne has the same thing. I saw my spare and laughed thinking it was a joke. Had no idea it expanded like that. Thanks for sharing, could come in handy one day.

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

its will be a joke when you gonne have a flat tire in winter or rain and the pump will take an hour to inflate the tire, i have one in my sq5 and its complete garbage

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

You'll get to use it - ONCE. After that the bead will separate when it's deflated (unless it's done by a Porche/Merc/Audi certified service dept and even they'll screw it up half the time) and you'll be left carrying around 60lbs of dead weight for no reason.

@percyfaith11 10 месяцев назад

Owns a Cayenne with no idea how the spare works 🙄

@seanseoltoir 10 месяцев назад

Had a Cayenne Turbo... Instead of a spare tire, they decided to have a subwoofer and an air pump & can of fix-a-flat... Unfortunately, it had low profile tires, so the one time I had a flat on it, it busted a quarter-size hole out of the sidewall where I hit a pothole... No can of fix-a-flat is going to fix that... No spare tire would have helped either because it did the same to the front AND rear tires on that side... Luckily, I was only about 2.5 miles from my home and it was all 30-35 mph residential streets, so I just hobbled on home and lucked out with it not damaging the rims... I then bought a new set of regular profile tires and rims so that it would be more forgiving of potholes...

@ChrisXif1 10 месяцев назад

GM had collapseable Space Saver spares in the 1970s...my 1976 Trans Am had one that looked just like the one you're showing.

@ALMX5DP 10 месяцев назад

Oh interesting, just looked it up and saw a couple on eBay. Back then did they come with any kind of inflator or was it common just to solicit assistance from a gas station or similar if that was needed?

@divides_by_zero 10 месяцев назад

Came to say the same thing about my 1987 Trans Am. I think it had a single use can of compressed air to inflate it. I had no idea they shrink back down when you remove the air. I never had to use it. I just assumed it would require a trip to the dealership to make it small again.

@Meetoon733 10 месяцев назад

It seems like GM had a bunch of cool stuff in the past few decades and chose to just say "nah lets make stuff that sucks instead"

@yvesst-georges5985 10 месяцев назад

My 1977 Porsche 911 had a collapsible spare tire with high pressure cylinder to inflate it. The gas tank was shaped to house the tire without any waste of space. This is the past, not the future…

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

GM cars had them back in the late 1960’s. My 1976 Nova still has it.

@tracyalan7201 10 месяцев назад

I'm not a car guy but I found the tech for the collapsible tire to be interesting in terms of space saving, availability. It looks like a good option for the average driver just wanting to have the tire there, but it still is multiple steps to inflate/deflate as well as the normal installing/changing the tire, which means my wife who knows less than me would be lost. Fortunately, that's why we have Roadside service, cell phones and on-star for our vehicles that she gets stuck with either car. Good video. Mahalo.

@funnyfarm5555 10 месяцев назад

Nothing against your wife, but all my children and foster kids had to show me they could change a tire on their own before they were allowed to get their license. just a note about roadside service; some roadside assistance plans won't go to some locations like off a paved road.

@RaindoggTV 10 месяцев назад

I think you should have used the pump included so we can see how long it will actually take when we get a flat.

@pasad335 10 месяцев назад

He'd still be filming...

@STho205 4 месяца назад

It is a rather stupidly implemented system. It solves a problem that really doesn't exist. Look at that spare tire bay. It is plenty big enough to hold a fully inflated compact spare. The trunk itself is big enough to hold the blown standard tire too...because you aren't going to leave it beside the road are you. The deflated tire saves enough space to fit in the slow pump that you have to tolerate while it is raining and you are being sprayed by trucks on the highway for 30 minutes. Just lose all that stupid styrofoam in the spare bay and the tire and jack easily fit. Germans are notorious for overly complex engineering of unnecessary things on cars.

@evidencebased1 3 месяца назад

Yes, I was thinking that there was enough extra space for a non-inflating compact spare if you redesigned the space a bit. I wouldn’t want to use that small inflator out on the road without a trial first.

@justaskin8523 2 месяца назад

@@STho205 - your post about German complexity made me laugh. You're not wrong, and you're not wrong about that car having room for a standard "donut sized" spare! If I'm stuck on the side of the road with a flat, I really want a smooth tire change, even if it's raining or snowing. The less time my car is stuck on the side of the road, the less chance there is that I'll get rear-ended by another driver...or struck by a car while I'm trying to hang the spare on the wheel.

@STho205 2 месяца назад

@@justaskin8523 yep. The inflater is one more thing to fail after sitting unnoticed for years below your trunk. The one they supply takes about 15 minutes as it is cheap and slow.

@horsepowerandtalk1033 10 месяцев назад

The American Motors Gremlin had those back in the day. I used to show it to my Auto Tech class on our unit on tires and wheels. I think it came with a can of compressed air. That cap came on most of by bicycles a long, long, time ago. Don't stick you finger in there it might get stuck. So when your looking for that spare tire on all the cars without them, go look for the lug wrench, jack and handle. They may say they're saving weight, but they are saving themselves the expense of supplying that equipment and wasting a lot of your time and money and wrecking your trip.

@polyuniverse1908 10 месяцев назад

The 1973 Chevy Nova hatchback had a similar spare but it inflated with a cylinder of compressed air.

@MartintheTinman 10 месяцев назад

Yep, just an underhanded way to make more money

@anothercitizen4867 10 месяцев назад

1972 Hornet Sportabout had a collapsible as well. Never had to use it, though

@topher2495 10 месяцев назад

I live in the Arizona desert and have had flat tires three times in the last 6 years. Fortunately I factory ordered my Jeep Renegade with a spare which I would not be without in this area. None of the flats were fixafflat fixable.

@spacemanmat 10 месяцев назад

Yep, couldn’t imagine not having a spare in Australia. Far the too much of the continent are remote areas and lots with no mobile service and even if you did get hold of someone it could be hours to get roadside assistance.

@dongidongi 10 месяцев назад

That explains why the Chrysler Pacifica spare tire was able to fit in where the in car vaacum would fit otherwise, and also within the stow and go space for the 2nd row seats.

@MazichMusic 10 месяцев назад

My 2020 Touring L has the option.

@dongidongi 10 месяцев назад

@@MazichMusic I bought this on eBay. The 2019 Limited we have has the vacuum. So I just store it in one of the stow and go spaces.

@g7lethal 10 месяцев назад

my cousin had a car with one of these....he didnt know you had ti inflate it but he did make it to the shop! glad this video has been made

@petervarley3078 10 месяцев назад

I suspected that many owners would not be aware that the tire needed inflation and would install it as is. When you have a flat tire is a bad time to discover that the pump doesn't work for some reason so I'd rather have a regular (pre-inflated) compact spare.

@Draconis8888 10 месяцев назад

That was pretty cool! Any spare is better peace of mind than the fix-a-flat some EV companies give you.

@johnhiggs325 10 месяцев назад

That stuff won’t help in a lot of cases. It also leaves a terrible mess in the wheel that is tuff to clean out.

@randomvideosn0where 10 месяцев назад

I carry a plug kit and bicycle pump. Still not as good as a spare tire (especially if your rim is the problem) but much better odds than the goo in a can on larger punctures.

@yutakoh 10 месяцев назад

Neat spare tire! I can understand why Audi would rather have an extra 50 lbs set low the back vs up high in the front, even with then lower center of gravity that EVs inherently have. Great vid!

@tedbellWRV 10 месяцев назад

Glad to see this video. Those of us living in more remote areas (e.g. mountains of central Idaho), often do not have cell service on the road. Therefore, no spare can be a problem. We cancelled our Rivian R1/S order partly because the optional collapsible spare was "unavailable" until some future date that kept coming and going.

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

It's a TRUCK! Just throw it in the bed or buy an after market tire mount if you're rural. And if you ARE rural why are you buying an EV???

@tedbellWRV 10 месяцев назад

Actually, the R1/S is not a truck, it's an SUV. Besides the environmental benefits, we are interested in an EV because anyone with actual experience owning an EV, knows how inexpensive they are to own vs. an ICE. Even living in a small town in the mountains, 95% of our day-to-day trips are less than 10 miles. An EV is perfect. The spare tire is needed if we drive to the backcountry or a larger town - through cell dead zones.@@amzarnacht6710

@SwapPartLLC 10 месяцев назад

I would think an electric vehicle might not be a great choice for people living in remote areas. If you actually live on a mountain, I would think all the uphill driving would greatly reduce the range you could get on a charge.

@tedbellWRV 10 месяцев назад

@@SwapPartLLC Don't worry, once you own an EV someday, you will get first hand experience and you can learn how EVs work so well - even in small towns or the mountains.

@SwapPartLLC 10 месяцев назад

@@tedbellWRV If it works for you, that's great. I know nothing about them.

@J-Bibble 10 месяцев назад

Ingenious design but I can't imagine there is a single Audi owner who would ever be able to figure how to inflate, install and deflate it.

@mr.c6674 10 месяцев назад

You mean they either can't read the owner's manual, or they refuse to read the owner's manual like most people don't. That's on them, but I'm sure they will if stuck somewhere tow service will be slow or non-existant.

@Argedis 10 месяцев назад

@@mr.c6674 A regular spare tire the same size as this tire when it's inflated could fit in that trunk area. No one wants to deal with a flat and then you have to deal with inflating a spare? Keep it simple. Just swap it and move on.

@Richey24 10 месяцев назад

Alex you're looking good my dude! And love these kinds of videos too. Really helps make the channel feel like an encyclopedia.

@Tinrs80 10 месяцев назад

Well Darn man.. I think this was neat to watch. Hope u do more " how it works " Videos. Seriously

@kolt9051 10 месяцев назад

Same! Every time Alex does one, I am super impressed on the topic he chose and his delivery

@brianerokicki8062 10 месяцев назад

great video, had this on my Macan but was afraid to use it because I figured the dealer would charge an arm and a leg to deflate and re-install. glad to know how easy it is to use. thank you

@quixomega 10 месяцев назад

I'd certainly rather have this than a fix a flat kit.

@justaskin8523 2 месяца назад

Fix a Flat can ruin a perfectly repairable tire. That stuff is nasty, or at least it used to be in the '90s. It would make it impossible to put a patch on the inside of a tire that only had a small nail hole. I don't know if Fix a Flat was ever improved.

@pjaxy 10 месяцев назад

I think they decided to put it in the trunk/boot and not the frunk/froot is for safety. The empty space in the frunk of EVs is one big reason that they do very well in crash tests.

@tezz_27_ 10 месяцев назад

Yeah I would assume this too, wheels have to be strong, having a big strong chunk of metal in the front would not be great in a crash test.

@Uncle_Spooky 2 месяца назад

The 1980s Porsche 928s I had used the same type of spare. The car came with a small air compressor just as they do today. Absolutely came in handy a couple times and was grateful for not having to lug around another full size wheel.

@baldheadlogic 10 месяцев назад

Alex always brings on the great information. Thank you Sir!

@michaelblankenship548 10 месяцев назад

My '01 Mercedes SLK-230 had one of these. I thought it was pretty cool. Actually had to use it once when the body shop failed to replace a damaged tire after an accident. It's funny how he talks about that valve core remover cap as if it's something new. Those have been around since forever.

@tomkato6400 10 месяцев назад

My 1987 Nissan 300ZX had the same kind of factory collapsible spare tire also. It also came with a pressurized can of air (with a Datsun label) to inflate the tire. I replaced the can with a foot pump so I don’t have to worry about the can running out of pressurized air.

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

i have an electric pump in mine and it takes an hour to inflate, cant imagine with a foot pump

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

@@retrocompaq5212Takes me three minutes. It's all in the quality of the pump. 1.5 cu/ft per minute, minimum. 12v direct to battery (not cigarette lighter plug)

@thebonermaker 10 месяцев назад

My 78 280z had the same thing. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever.

@user-ss3ud7pp7f 10 месяцев назад

Cool. I appreciate your detailed videos. They’re pretty good, especially when you did the new Prius review and explained where the 12v battery is on my Kia Niro. The local San Antonio Kia dealerships couldn’t tell me. Good videos as usual.

@kulgan96 10 месяцев назад

had to use my trusty spare yesterday. i always been advocating for spare tyre cause you got that wedding or plane you'r in the middle of nowhere and a big chunk of the tyre is missing. hope this catches on. great video

@nicksgarage2 10 месяцев назад

Chrysler started using these in 1970 on the Barracuda and Challenger because of the small trunks. Been used in various vehicles ever since. Chrysler Pacifica uses these.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

GM cars had them back in the late 1960’s too.

@Wised1000 10 месяцев назад

I agree an excellent option. I would most welcome having one in my EQS and CRV hybrid. The GLS still has a spare. Though flat tires are rare having one is a major hassle if all you have is some goo and a pump, paticularly in the winter somewhere in the sticks. Cars without spares don't even a jack nor tools to do the job either.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

Well, think about it. Why would they give you a jack and tools to change a tire if they didn’t give you a tire to change? That’s why their removal saves weight. It’s not just the wheel and tire weight but also the weight of the jack and tools. Most, if not all, manufacturers offer a donut spare, jack and tool kit as an optional accessory from your local dealer (or from online sellers). It can be added to your car if you have FONS. (Fear Of No Spare)

@pyronic120120 10 месяцев назад

@@NovaResource forget the "FONS", the main issue is that the goop and pupmp are very limited. In a world where tires are becoming more and more low profile, the chances of cracking a rim on a pothole for example is becoming much higher. A can of goop isn't going to save you. You'd have to go buy a spare anyways or get towed. cracking a rim isn't the only danger, what a bout a blow out? the goop isn't going to plug more than a small nail puncture, and honestly most tires will hold enough air to get you to the nearest tire shop to repair if you just re-inflate and don't remove the nail. Just make sure you drive low speeds.

@BlackFoxLovesYou 10 месяцев назад

This was so cool, thanks for the info and well made to the point video!!

@shwndh 10 месяцев назад

That was a very thorough review. Excellent job.

@ybemad 10 месяцев назад

Great video! I have not come across this type of spare before but will be looking for it in the future! Do you think there are any concerns of degradation along the creases as the tire sits around waiting to be used?

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

GM cars had them back in the late 1960’s. The one in my 1976 Nova is still good. I would only use it for short trips to go get the regular tire repaired.

@uweschroeder 10 месяцев назад

They work for road tires. So for most people and vehicles this would be a good solution. I always wondered why spare tires are so rare on EV's - guess using all that space for a huge battery doesn't leave many options. I have a full spare tire and I wouldn't want anything else.

@MazichMusic 10 месяцев назад

My used 2020 Chrysler Pacifica has one of these spare tires located in the driver's side rear quarter panel, along with the tools and inflator/pump. According to the sticker, it was a $395 option.

@Aaphree 10 месяцев назад

My 2014 Mercedes and my 2018 Audi both have collapsible spares. I’m so used to donut spares that I was a bit confused when I checked them out, until I realized they were collapsible

@nowayjose596 10 месяцев назад

Would have been nice to see just how long it takes to inflate with the included pump bc that's extra time you'll be stranded on the side of the road (although you could start inflating it while you're getting the vehicle jacked up and the flat tire off).

@AAutoBuyersGuide 10 месяцев назад

It’s about 2-3 minutes longer

@skeptibleiyam1093 10 месяцев назад

@@AAutoBuyersGuide 2-3 minutes longer than how long? (Great video BTW)

@AdventureRocks 10 месяцев назад

That is really nifty. Thanks for sharing

@windsurfed1 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for making this video. I was wondering how a collapsible spare tire works. And I came across your video because of that, now I know how they work. I don’t have a spare tire in my 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. But I know they make a spare tire collapsible kit and a place to put it in the back and that’s what I’m going to have to buy. Thanks again!

@declanb6985 10 месяцев назад

Appreciate the video! Good to know info!

@wictimovgovonca320 10 месяцев назад

In 40 years I've needed a spare tire 4 times, or about one a decade. In all cases it was because of damage, and not excessive wear. Unfortunately on one of those occurrences, I could not use the spare. It was on a rusted solid lowering mechanism below my mini-van and I could not remove it. On subsequent vehicle purchases, I have ensured the spare was located on the interior. Luckily on that occasion, I broke down in front of a farm where they had a tire repair kit (nail through the tread) and compressor so I was able to get back on the road with my original.

@Static-MT 10 месяцев назад

Wow, this finally let me figure out what the deal was with the 1990s Acura NSX's weird spare tire! Very cool video!

@DerekRasina 10 месяцев назад

Very impressive! Thank you for sharing and yes it would be nice for others for follow suit.

@terrencekuruma3224 9 месяцев назад

Very great video. For people who may not be as knowledgeable about cars, I'd say this is very informative. The tread design may be different than ones you see on other spare tires because this one is can collapse, unlike other spare/normal tires that keep their general shape when off the rim. As for why they don't put the tire in the front, it's because of spacing. Just because there is no engine in the front, does not mean the other components are also gone. You still have windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, Air Conditioning and Heating, and possibly access to the drive motors up front, as well as cooling for the battery. I also think other EV manufactures don't include a spare to keep the overall weight down. Efficiency is one of the most important things when developing passenger vehicles, more so for an electric car. For a lot of people who want to buy EV's they check the mileage it can go in a single charge. Easiest way to get more distance is to make the car lighter.

@zipobob1 10 месяцев назад

That's interesting, never seen this type of spare tire before

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

They have been around since the late 1960’s.

@buycarblog 10 месяцев назад

Amazing video demonstration. At first, I though this was a GUNIWHEEL but this looks great. Thanks Alex for posting. This will definitely be an emerging market in the automotive space.

@BillDeanCycle 10 месяцев назад

awesome - never seen one work and had no idea it would recollapse

@smallg327 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for the excellent content, …. and where is the full sized tire stored in the vehicle - after installing the limited sized spare?

@robertshunter 10 месяцев назад

"Quite a while" might be considered a bit of an understatement, as my 2014 Audi Q7 came with one of these spares. Interestingly, it is also stowed in the orientation suggested, as the space within the wheel is used to mount the subwoofer for the sound system.

@seb. 10 месяцев назад

even Touaregs had these circa 2010.

@robertshunter 10 месяцев назад

@@seb. Yeah, same generation and platform.

@CrazyWeeMonkey 10 месяцев назад

Just went to check, my 2012 A6 has this too (as expected given the same MLB underpinnings). Neat!

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

They go back further than 2014 or even 2010. GM cars had them in the late 60’s. First Gen Camaros had them.

@robertshunter 10 месяцев назад

@@NovaResource Yep. Looks like the foldable spare tire concept started in aviation before it was adopted by the auto industry.

@Kevin27182 10 месяцев назад

One reason I see why not to put it in the front would be the high lift floor needed to get over. I guess they could do a big overhaul on the grill front area maybe make it a slot or something

@perryleenders1070 10 месяцев назад

Front crash and pedestrian standards might also be the reason the wheel is in the rear cargo area

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

@@perryleenders1070Yeah, because having a 49 pound tire up front is WAAAAAY more dangerous to pedestrians than a 400 pound engine block in the front of most regular cars. 🤦🏻‍♂️

@smashoklw 10 месяцев назад

My Dad had a '72 AMX with a collapsible spare. It used a single use compressed gas (co2???) cartridge to inflate. Nice idea although there was the question of where one would put the much larger flat tire in that itty bitty trunk. They were also known for not folding back down very easily. The issue with flat tire storage still remains but using a pump rather than a one shot canister to inflate sure makes more sense.

@johnelegant1727 10 месяцев назад

Thanks Alex. Excellent video. Could you please provides us some more details for those of us with non-VW group SUV’s might be able to see if we could purchase a system like this an use it on our own SUV? Thanks.

@t.d.5804 10 месяцев назад

Had this collapsible spare tire 50 years ago in my Opel Diplomat. Its life time was limited, replacing it and the pressure bottle was expensive. There is enough room in an EV, but nobody needs a spare tire anymore. People dont know how to change a tire, or they are just too lazy. That liquid glue stuff is enough. I do have a 10$€ rubber plug which is easy to install, plus a compressor, it doesnt clog the TPMS or the anti noise foam in EV tires.. Had to use it 3 times the last 10 years. Easier that changing the wheel. But most other people just call the AAA/ADAC/road assistance, they dont touch a nut. Also a spare wheel plus all the tools are expensive, companies save weight and money.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

🎯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

@dzcav3 10 месяцев назад

Vehicle without spare tire = stupid. I've had many flats over the years, and always changed them myself and continued on my way with minimal delay.

@bowez9 10 месяцев назад

Roadside assistant can take several hours to show up even when in town. But if you bought an EV you don't value your time.

@laura-ann.0726 10 месяцев назад

In the Western US and Canada, you do in fact need a spare tire. There are tens of thousands of miles of roads in remote areas (Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, etc.) where there is no cell service. You get a flat out there in any of these cell phone dead zones, without a spare tire, and you might wait many hours for anyone to come along at all, then more hours for a tow truck to show up. I had a flat on I-5, at the Weed Airport last May. I put on my spare, and we were ready to go in 45 minutes (a younger person could have changed that tire in 20 minutes, but I'm 67 years old and not as up to tasks like this as I once was). If I hadn't had that spare, it might have taken 2 or 3 hours for a AAA tow truck from Yreka to show up, and we would have lost at least 4 or 5 hours total.

@chunkychuck 10 месяцев назад

According to an old Car & Driver article, the first vehicle with a collapsible spare was the 1967 Pontiac Firebird! ("Do You Care About Your Spare?", May 1, 2003)

@williamwebberjr8045 10 месяцев назад

Wow, thank you for this informative video.

@janes-e378 10 месяцев назад

Amazing. I have never seen anything like this before..what a brilliant idea 💡

@user-vs7ec1wz5d 10 месяцев назад

An excellent option for a spare tire. I think we will start to see more in the future.

@retrocompaq5212 10 месяцев назад

no its not, i have one, it take and hour to inflate when the pump is few years old

@user-vs7ec1wz5d 10 месяцев назад

@@retrocompaq5212 I am sorry you are having problems with your old spare tire inflator. Have you tried contacting the inflator manufacturer or dealership where you purchased your vehicle. Because the inflator is absolutely necessary it should have a lifetime warranty. Can you fit a full- size spare into the compact spare tire spot?

@amzarnacht6710 10 месяцев назад

God I hope not. These things are absolute garbage. They're ONE USE only. After that you need a professional tire shop to ensure it's functional for future use.

@phalanx3803 10 месяцев назад

@@user-vs7ec1wz5d yea warranty ain't gonna fix it then a there when you on the side of the road trying to inflate the tire.

@prozz5664 10 месяцев назад

This technology has been out for some time. What nobody talks about is what do you do with the tire and wheel that you pull off the vehicle. If you have luggage or anything in the trunk, it won't fit. Having worked for a European manufacturer in the past, customers always came in with their tire and wheel strapped to the back of the car with the trunk open. We always had a good laugh!

@dirkheubel2899 10 месяцев назад

That was my first thought to, where the hell would you put the spare tyre. Not a good idea as far as I'm concerned.

@davelloyd- 10 месяцев назад

that's an excellent point

@machfive916 10 месяцев назад

Outstanding solution (and video)!

@ENTJ47 10 месяцев назад

This needs to be the STANDARD on all spare tires

@Argedis 10 месяцев назад

No it doesn't. More nonsense to deal with. Just include a regular 'donut' at the very least. Even Alex admitted it takes forever to fill up with the included pump. Do you want to stay on the side of the road longer?

@RChyshkevych 10 месяцев назад

I sure hope more vehicles do this

@andrewk8636 10 месяцев назад

More complex for no reason. In a very compact car it'd make more sense but then the tire would be smaller anyway. Notice how much room they had around that tire? They could've fit a full size one just fine

@krisg822 10 месяцев назад

@@andrewk8636 'for no reason' = money.

@2012hinn 10 месяцев назад

I was also wondering why EV cars don’t have their spare tires in the front since they can already make space for a frunk… the Citroen DS used to squeeze a spare tire in with the engine up front

@MuitoDaora 10 месяцев назад

Cut costs. They still could put below the boot but now call it an extra space.

@crackedemerald4930 10 месяцев назад

One commenter said it was for better safety, as wheels are hard and big empty spaces are crumply

@TheJensss 10 месяцев назад

I want a spare tire in my car!. I still remember the time when a simple tool box was included with the car, and the car was made to be durable and user repairable.

@ronbridegroom8428 10 месяцев назад

Very informative video. thanks

@cnfusd 10 месяцев назад

Good job Audi! Love that, so impressed how it collapses back into itself without any work.

@krisg822 10 месяцев назад

yea....as opposed to a normal already inflated spare wheel, that takes literally few minutes to swap.

@meeder78 10 месяцев назад

The Vredestein Spacemaster has been available for couple of decades. It would certainly be nice if they would be in more widespread use.

@isaacpalmquist9202 10 месяцев назад

Would never drive a vehicle without a spare that is wild. Thanks for video

@1943rafaelpq 10 месяцев назад

Excellent video. Congratulations!

@FFWrench 10 месяцев назад

My 80 Trans Am has a spare like that. I think all 70-81 Firebirds and Camaros had them. They used a CO2 cylinder to fill it quickly. This was required due to having a tiny trunk and having a limited slip axle that requires identical tire sizes in the drive axle. Old tech comes back to modern day.

@wbl4ever 10 месяцев назад

My 92 Camaro had this style of tire. Never had to use it.

@galaxiedance3135 10 месяцев назад

I have a Rogue, needed to use the spare tire I had a flat in the worst imaginable spot at night in a rain storm but I could pull over. Actually a nice Transport Truck pulled over and provided a shelter for me! Working in an auto center for 5 years, I was done in just a few minutes. it's AWD and the spare is slightly different than the regular tire in diameter. It makes an alarm come on how the transfer case will over heat... pull over... After a while it would stop showing it. I had to drive and stop, drive and stop, all the way home. Didn't know if I would damage something. Any difference in diameter messes up AWD systems.

@DirtE30 10 месяцев назад

Alex… great video as per usual. Do you happen to work at or run a machine shop? Noticing the CNC in the background as well as hands that say you use them on the regular.

@cwescapexlt4x4 10 месяцев назад

great demo!

@rightlanehog3151 10 месяцев назад

Alex, If the OEM wheels and tires weren't so gargantuan in the first place, this fuss would not be necessary. 🤨

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

Modern car wheel size is done for a reason. A larger wheel and tire has fewer revolutions per mile. That means the larger wheel and tire is spinning slower for the same speed as a smaller wheel and tire. Another reason is brakes. Heavier and more powerful cars need larger brakes. Larger brakes require more space inside the wheel and therefor larger wheels.

@rightlanehog3151 10 месяцев назад

@@NovaResource A few years ago I was at the car show in the Porsche display. Their street cars on sale to the public had larger rims than their race cars which had far more sidewall. I concluded that grossly oversized rims are a fashion statement .

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

@@rightlanehog3151 I don’t disagree they are a fashion statement but that’s not the sole reason. Also, in racing, there are rules and regulations that participants must follow. Rules that limit things like brake, wheel and tire size. Street cars have no such rules. So, just because the racing car had smaller wheels than the street car, that doesn’t mean the racing team wouldn’t use larger ones if they were allowed.

@rightlanehog3151 10 месяцев назад

@@NovaResource When you can put your fist through the gap between the rotor and the inside of the rim, the rim is too big. 😉 The new GR Corolla is a good example of sensible balance in this area.

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

@@rightlanehog3151 Front or rear brakes? Many cars you can do that at the rear because they are smaller rotors. Or maybe you just have small fists. Either way, it’s only your opinion that they are too big.

@frankcoffey 10 месяцев назад

Not me man, I’m calling for roadside assistance. My tire changing days are over.

@Superfastjellyfish669 10 месяцев назад

This video was great and very informative

@davinlaroche3029 10 месяцев назад

My 2005 C230 and 2011 GLK had one, and it is one of the coolest things I've ever watched.

@r5LgxTbQ 10 месяцев назад

I'd imagine most people these days will just call AAA for a tow for the once-in-a-decade roadside flat. Spares were a bigger deal when people didn't have cellphones.

@shamanthjilla 10 месяцев назад

As someone who started driving AFTER the smartphone era started, I didn’t understand why so many people complain about lack of a spare tire

@nicksgarage2 10 месяцев назад

@@shamanthjilla No spare tire means you're stuck or can only go where the tow truck takes you. With a spare tire, you can go where you need to. Imagine getting a flat in the middle of the night.

@Argedis 10 месяцев назад

@@nicksgarage2 Exactly. I'm not waiting for AAA especially when they can easily take an hour or longer to get to you.

@MTNRanger 10 месяцев назад

Another benefit of putting a collapsible spare in the frunk, would be not having to empty the cargo area to access the spare when you are on a long trip.

@Garcia.... 10 месяцев назад

😮 I want one!!! Thanks for the post!

@wildside1680 10 месяцев назад

I have been in the automotive industry for years, from being a mechanic, to owning a shop, and running a towing business, the collapsible spare has been around for over 10 years. It's more common then you think. Many manufacturers have implemented them, but they also require a extra cost, they need to include a pump. So many just went back to the compact spare, or included a "Fix a flat" Kit with slime and compressor, vs the collapsible spare.

@naveenthemachine 10 месяцев назад

Wouldn’t a collapsible spare work in the average gas car? Why don’t other gas cars adopt this?

@L.L 10 месяцев назад

They do use it already for ICE car for some companies

@ALMX5DP 10 месяцев назад

@@L.Lyup I think VAG has used this type of spare for a while. Edit, yup Alex mentioned that at 0:28

@naveenthemachine 10 месяцев назад

I wonder why average cars don’t come with this? Are they more expensive than a regular spare?

@ALMX5DP 10 месяцев назад

@@naveenthemachineI’d imagine they are a bit more costly and require a pump and other bits to go along with it unlike a traditional spare.

@AAutoBuyersGuide 10 месяцев назад

Re:watch at 0:28 😉

@peterwilliams4734 10 месяцев назад

I would rather use the space to carry a full sized spare to swap and go keeping the same safety all 4 wheels have then to put on a spare that is not safe at all. Safety first right. You can't pass registration with a wheel that's different to the rest so why would it be okay to put one on to use as a spare? No thanks. If I had a car like that I would ditch that spare and carry a proper tire. This new idea of compromising safety to have more space is backwards thinking and I will have no part of it. IF having more space is a big problem then manufactures need to make the car taller wider or longer maybe all three instead of putting peoples lives at risk.

@StevenZephyc 3 месяца назад

Wdym a spare tire and rim are always made less durable than a normal tire and rim for a long time. They're always meant for an emergency and not an extra tire you can just swap and go.

@jessezass 10 месяцев назад

Wow the resurgence of '80's technology. My ex wife's 1980 Pontiac Sunbird had this same kind of collapsible spare tire in the trunk. As a mechanic I can tell you I never trusted it and never used it but if you're in the middle of nowhere and this is all you've got it's better than nothing.

@bitterNDsweet 6 месяцев назад

Cool spare, I need it! Kind of funny to see someone being sincerely excited over an original schrader valve cap. When I was a kid, these were all like this. Except made of brass or bronze.

@djp1234 10 месяцев назад

I can just see that rubber getting old and cracking when you try to inflate it in the future.

@ALMX5DP 10 месяцев назад

Just like with any spare, periodically checking it for signs of wear or degradation is key.

@scott8919 10 месяцев назад

A tire is supposed to be replaced every six years anyways due to exactly that.

@renoallstate4573 10 месяцев назад

I inflated a spare tire like this that was from a 30 year old junk Cadillac and it seemed to be just fine, not saying I'd go on the highway with it but I would have used it if needled

@NovaResource 10 месяцев назад

Not a problem with the one in my 1976 Nova. I don’t use it to drive cross country. Just to get me to a shop they can repair the flat.

@emmettturner9452 10 месяцев назад

The valve stem caps with built-in core removers are quite common. A lot of people put them on normal wheels, especially if they frequently do their own tire changes. Pretty common for off-road, adventure, dual-sport, and track bikes too.

@krisg822 10 месяцев назад

extremely common for farmers, i remember we had that in 1990, and i am pretty sure those things are way way older than that.

@schwuzi 10 месяцев назад

@@krisg822 We have at least one on all of our machines and trailers.

@krisg822 10 месяцев назад

@@schwuzi we had only those, bcoz that is what the tires came with....well not tires to be specific, the tubes that went into the tires.

@freshgino 10 месяцев назад

Also, I think there are reasons why they don’t want to put the tires in the front, perhaps gettingnin the way of a crumple zone from doing its job? Plus the frunk is becoming very important since its kinda of a security box (its harder to get than the trunk which only have glass protecting it) i’d keep my laptop, in the frunk for example.

@Rareparrot 10 месяцев назад

thanks. very interesting. first time viewer - subscribed. when expanded does this tyre have the same diameter as a normal tyre? I have heard if you mismatch tyre sizes you can do damage if mismatched tyres on an all wheel drive ?

@FIGHTTHECABLE 10 месяцев назад

Wow, that is some insane engineering of a wheel.

@Soothsayer210 10 месяцев назад

Nice info. thx. Could you do a video on Aptera Solar Electric too please?

@rudetoy8264 10 месяцев назад

Michelin X Tweel probably best suited for your spare as it’s half the weight, doesn’t need air pump, valve stem to loose, and puncture proof

@DruMcDoo 10 месяцев назад

Great idea and yes would be great for all cars. Having car with no spare I use a gun puncture repare kit. Basically you have round file on T handle to roughen hole having eased out projectile, then with the gun shaped tool force 1 inch long solid rubber plug in hole before cutting off excess on outside. Works really on most holes as long as they are not massive. Plug is temporary fix however last well until you can get it fixed ASAP. The great thing is wheel removal is not necessary so great at night when in best clothes. Would check tyre pressure every day until proper fix and instructions say keep speed low. Some kits are better than others. Some use glue, and with some the plug is like a champagne cork with the top being on the iside so really safe.

@kristianhermann5971 10 месяцев назад

Neat - thanks! - a spare is certainly better than no spare

@fsj197811 10 месяцев назад

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

@davelloyd- 10 месяцев назад

Interesting. I would like to have seen the inflated tyre compared to the one on the car. Is it still smaller or does it match once inflated? The most amazing thing to me was that it was a reversible process