Acura_Girl_Forever

I'm thinking about upgrading to a 2014 MDX and went into the dealership today to look at it in person and test drive it. I'm interested in purchasing a FWD with Tech Package. The sales guy told me a spare tire only comes with the AWD model. I find it very strange that a vehicle that costs this much money does not come with a spare. Is this typical for SUVs? (it's my first SUV)

YZ450

I just purchased an 14 MDX Tech for my wife. We didn't have a need for the AWD system as we're currently located in Central Florida and my wife can care less about performance, she just wanted a new MDX with Tech to move the kids around.

Solution: I purchased the spare tire kit online for $200.00 plus shipping (06421-TZ5-A10) and a T165/90R-17 Kumho Spare Tire T121 for $72.00 + shipping from TireRack and paid about $20.00 to my local shop for installation, everything for about $350.00. The Kumho tire is a bit taller than OEM (stock spare is 165/80R- 17) but fits perfectly under the car and it's actually closer to the stock 19" diameter than the OEM spare. Now I've a real spare tire under the car + the Acura pump tire assistance or whatever they called it as a backup.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Acura_girl, if you shopped around, you'll notice that MOST auto manufactures are dropping the spare tire. yes, even in more expensive luxury makes than the MDX.

it's typical of weight savings and fuel economy standards set by our government.

Acura_Girl_Forever

Thank you for the info! I'll look into that.

ATCRich

I have to agree that I really like having a spare tire (guess I'm old school)! This weight savings thing is crazy....you'd think there are a lot better ways to achieve that.

RL06tech

Many high end vehicles do not include spare tires these days, it reduces weight, increases fuel economy and makes for a fatter wallet for the company. Flat tires are very uncommon, personally, Ive had one flat in the last 20 years that required me to use the spare. Notwithstanding, I'd would buy a spare nevertheless, there is no worse feeling than being stranded in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone connection. I consider it 300 bucks (for a cheap run of the mill spare) worth of piece of mind.

Acura_Girl_Forever

Well I found it odd because the 2014 MDX all wheel versions come with a spare tire but the non all wheel versions do not have a spare tire. The 2014 all wheel models weigh more than the non all wheel models because of the all wheel system. I just did not understand why Acura would remove the spare from the lighter weight vehicle.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

It's more about cost than about excess weight.

Without the spare tire and associated hardware, the FWD MDX buyers can enjoy a lower MSRP with respect to those equipped with a spare tire.

doug_999

Well BMW does this but their cars are equipped with Run Flats (except on the M models).

I for one was stranded not once, but TWICE in my old M5. Not fun. My car (X6) currently has both run-flats and a spare (that's how scarred I was )

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

The heavy-ass Run Flats will cause serious degradation in handling performance, when compared to their conventional counterparts.

If you already have a spare on your X6, why not also swap out all the Run Flats with the much-lighter conventional tires. That will significantly bump up the handling performance of your SUV.

doug_999

Short answer - because the car is leased and if it comes with run-flats, it has to be returned with run-flats.

Long answer - run flats cause a degradation in ride, not necessarily handling. Just because a tire is a run-flat does not mean it handles worse than its counterpart. There are so many factors that come into play that you just can't make a statement like that.

Long long answer...My X6 has something called Adaptive Drive. It also has 19" wheels not the optional 20" wheels. The ride is very very nice - as nice as our new MDX with 19s? No. But it will crush it in the handling department Either way, it would be pretty hard for me to get stranded with these babies

I guess my point is, I'm surprised that Acura does not put a spare on the FWD MDX when the car does not have run-flats. I can see that in a BMW M (where you know what you are getting), but in a regular car, that just seems like a cost saving measure.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

my 2010 challenger srt8 did not come with a spare nor runflats

weight and cost savings.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

just a little air pump

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

the AWD version gets a spare due to the fact it is equipped with a higher towing capacity if one decides to tow.

the RLX doesn't get a spare.

doug_999

Well on the BMW M series, the exhaust routes through where the spare would go and on the SRT8 series the brakes are too big for a donut spare. On the high perf cars like these I can see the sacrifices and the owners are well aware of what they are getting into. But to kill it on a family car and not put run-flats on, that's not cool. Especially when there really is no reason other than the two you pointed out.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

your words are falling on deaf ears as auto manufactures have already decided on the spare tires fate.
which is to axe it.

the only time i need a spare is when i go on road trips.
i pack a full sized aluminum jack and a full sized extra rim with tire.

p.s. my acura brakes are just as big as the SRT's.
(i have a 2006 TL that came equipped with Brembo's from the factory) and my donut(which is made to fit with the offset and width) fits perfectly fine.
but I never carry it. if I do get a flat during a regular commute, I just call my insurance company to tow me back to my house. it's inconvenient, but I get everything solved that day.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

coming back from a road trip!
and had gotten a flat an hour away from my house. good thing traffic was at a stand still.



took me all of 10 mins with a full sized jack and full sized spare.

nj2pa2nc

my brother's Volvo had run-flats. He hit a pothole one night which destroyed one of his tires. With no spare-he had to have the car towed, had to special order another run-flat tire. It cost him over $1,000 in the end.
Now for a friendly reminder for those with spare tires-check the tire pressure so if you need to use it you do not find it low on air or flat.

sbkim

Had flat tire only 3000 miles into owning MDX. Luckily, we have AWD and spare tire so roadside assistance took care of this for us.

doug_999

Agreed - my point is, don't axe it without at least providing run-flats.

Now that's an impressive jack

Well that's apparently not the case with the SRT donut

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

at non-existent spare for the SRT.
thanks for the laugh!

Jotas

In my 21+ years driving I've only experienced two flats in my life. One when I was young and more interested in going "out" to take care of it while I was attempting to go "out", and the other more recently closer to home. So maybe a spare is over rated and a lot of vehicles even non luxury now come with no spares, but will come with run flats built-in to the price of the vehicle.

Still, I look at spares and run-flats as insurance no matter the cost or cost of performance.

Edward'TLS

Yes it does, because Run Flats are damn heavy in weight when compared to the same but non-Run-flat tires.

Unsprung weight is an important factor in determining acceleration/handling performance. This is exactly why dedicated drivers are willing to pay big $$$ for ultra-light-weight wheels and light-weight tires, especially in track and race events.

jimihaha

Hi, was wondering about the Roadside Assistance... Did you get charged for it?

doug_999

Once again, there is so much more to it. And honestly, if it were that simple, something tells me the Corvette would not come with run-flats.....

Edward'TLS

If your vehicle is packed with 460hp and 460lb-ft of torque, like the 3.8sec, 1.03g, V8 Corvette; then you will have absolutely no worry about handling performance, no matter how heavy your wheel/tire combo is.

Otherwise, go light-weight with wheels and with tires for better handling performance.