My 2024 A4 doesn't get a spare wheel: Possible solutions?

This is a very unfortunate trend and eventually many other manufacturers will follow suit.

BHPian lateralus112358 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The MY 2024 Audi cars apparently dont come with spare wheels anymore. Audi is providing an analog tyre inflator and a puncture repair kit (one which comes in a spray can and had to be sprayed into the tyre using the inflator air pressure). This also means there is a jack included with the car and the boot wheel space has some minor modifications which needs to be removed to make space for the spare tyre.

This is a very unfortunate trend and eventually many other manufacturers will follow suit.

Wanted to ask members how they are dealing with this? What do you do for the anxiety on long trips? Has anyone bought a spare wheel for Audi A4 specifically? How should one go about it? How much would it cost?

Here's what BHPian Hillman had to say on the matter:

Is it even legal now to not give a spare tyre?

The safety of having a spare tyre is satisfying in long trips, but frankly I've not changed tyre on the road in the last one and a half decade. I've had my share of puncture and used the puncture kit. I have been keeping a tyre inflator, a cutting plyer and puncture kit to plug the leak. Infact in my Daewoo Matrix, i had converted it to LPG and replaced the spare wheel with LPG toroidal tank, it is the shape of wheel, saved space.

I just fill air and move on. I fix the puncture when I have the time. That is no mess and labour on the road.

The nail itself will keep the air from leaking fast so you have more than an hour at hand usually to the next fill up. In long journey just check the tyre at every stop and top up if required. Some time the leak can even take more than a day to deflate too.

Serious tyre cuts are very rare.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Today’s times require us to know how to use the supplier compressor and liquid to fix the puncture. As well as knowing how to replace the flat tire with the spare, as a part of essential driving skills. Both skills are required.

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

I don’t know the situation in India, but in the west most manufacturers don’t provide a real spare anymore.

In many modern cars there is also no space for a spare anymore. So if you want to take a spare it ends up in the boot taking up precious cargo space.

On my Mini a spare was an option! The inflator kit comes as standard. How ridiculous can you get! Luckily the previous owner was like me and ticked the spare tire option box.

Most of those puncture fluids are terrible. It will work on small punctures, but it might still ruin the tire on the inside. Also, it is still an emergency repair. The puncture still needs to be repaired professionally. When you rock up at a tyre centre with a tyre full of puncture fluids they will tell you “scrap that tyre”. Too much hassle to clean it.

So far all of our six cars have spare tires. Another reason to buy and drive second hand, older, cars!

Here's what BHPian FGP had to say on the matter:

Unfortunately, since this year they've discontinued the space saver even though there is space in the boot well. All A4's prior to the 2024 model had it.

The size of the space saver is a peculiar 125/70/R19. Smaller rims won't fit in the wheel well in the boot due to the placement of the battery.

The Audi dealer quoted approximately Rs. 1.1L for the space saver, which is exorbitant. Apparently it's not readily available with them and isn't in stock with Audi India either at the moment. Couldn't source it locally despite several efforts.

Strangely couldn't find it on FCP Euro or Pelican Parts also. There are a couple of lesser known UK websites which don't have any shipping options for India, currently exploring options for shipping them to India.

Incase any one else has found them locally, please share details. Alternatively, if any A4 owner is looking to sell their space saver, please DM.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.