Why no spare wheel in the Kia Rio?!

Why is there no spare wheel or jack in the new Kia Rio? It costs €115 to replace puncture sealant cannister that is supplied instead - that is crazy!

John Murphy (Dublin)

Apr 2012 Filed under: tyres

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Expert answer

Hi John,

I'm afraid this is not something unique to the Kia Rio. Loads of new cars now come with this sealant kit instead of a spare wheel. Many motoring journalists in Ireland (ourselves included) are actively against this, but as car makers hope to reduce weight and cost this is the way it's going. It also frees up boot space - not that that matters to the hapless motorist stranded in the middle of nowhere with a hole in their tyre...

Final note - it's often not up to the Irish distributor to make the decision to offer a car with a spare wheel, but it's worth checking with a dealer before you put down a deposit if it's an option - and negotiate not to pay for it.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser
@Shane_O_D