You are 200 kilometres from home on a Sunday afternoon. The road is quiet, the music is good, and the battery is sitting at a comfortable 60%. Then, you hear it.

Thud-thud-thud.

The tyre pressure warning light flashes on the dashboard. You pull over to the shoulder, pop the boot (or the “frunk”), lift the floor mat to grab the spare tyre, and find… nothing.

Just a small plastic bottle of goo and a 12-volt air compressor.

Welcome to the modern EV ownership experience. In the quest to save weight and maximise range, manufacturers have almost universally deleted the humble spare tyre. For many first-time Australian buyers, this realization only hits them when they are stranded on the side of the road.

At EV Evolution, we believe preparation is the antidote to panic. Here is the reality of dealing with an EV puncture in Australia, and how you can prepare for the one thing missing from your boot.

🚫 Why Did the Spare Tyre Disappear?

It wasn’t an accident. The spare tyre was a casualty of the “Range War.”

• Weight: A full-size spare wheel and jack can weigh 25-30kg. Removing it improves the car’s efficiency and range slightly.
• Space: Electric vehicles need somewhere to put the massive battery pack. Often, the “well” in the boot where a spare tyre used to sit is now occupied by high-voltage cabling or a rear electric motor.

The result? Almost every popular EV in Australia—from the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Atto 3 to the Hyundai Ioniq 5—comes standard with a Tyre Repair Kit instead of a spare.

🛠️ The “Goo” Kit: Does It Actually Work?

The standard kit consists of a bottle of liquid sealant and a small compressor.

• How it works: You screw the bottle into the compressor, plug it into the 12V socket (cigarette lighter), and pump the sealant into the tyre. It coats the inside of the tyre to plug the hole.
• The Reality: It works for small punctures (like a nail) in the tread. It does not work for sidewall tears or blowouts.
• The Downside: Most tyre shops hate it. The sealant makes a mess inside the tyre, often meaning the tyre cannot be professionally repaired later and must be thrown away. It is a “get home” solution, not a permanent fix.

📞 Plan A: Roadside Assistance

If you have a flat tyre in an EV, your first call should usually be to Roadside Assistance, not the goo bottle.

Most new EVs in Australia come with comprehensive roadside cover (often 5-7 years).

• Tesla: Will tow you up to 80km to the nearest Service Centre or tyre shop.
• Kia/Hyundai/BYD/MG: Generally offer towing to the nearest authorised dealer or repairer.

The Catch: On a Sunday in regional Australia, “towing to a tyre shop” might mean towing you to a shop that is closed until Monday morning. And because EVs often use specific, expensive tyres (with foam inserts for noise reduction), a small country tyre shop might not have your size in stock.

🛡️ EV Evolution Angle: Building Your “Plan B”

If you rely on your EV for regional touring or daily work, relying on a tow truck isn’t enough. You need to take control.

1. The “Space Saver” Upgrade

While the car doesn’t come with one, you can often buy one.

Companies like Road Hero or Cyber Metals in Australia sell dedicated “Space Saver” spare wheel kits for EVs like the Tesla Model 3, BYD Atto 3, and MG4. They come in a carry bag with a jack and wrench.

• The Trade-off: It eats up boot space. But for a long road trip, throwing a spare wheel in the boot is the ultimate insurance policy.

2. The Plug Kit (Better than Goo)

For $20 at Supercheap Auto or Repco, you can buy a tyre plug kit (the ones with the rubber strips and reaming tool).

• Why it’s better: It creates a mechanical seal without filling your tyre with liquid mess. It is harder to do (requires some muscle), but it is a more robust fix that lets you drive to a tyre shop safely.

3. Know Your Tyres

EVs are heavy. You cannot just slap a cheap $100 tyre on them. Ensure any replacement tyre has the correct Load Rating (e.g., 108W). Using a standard tyre on a heavy EV is dangerous and illegal.

🤖 Join the Evolution: Is Your Car on the “No Spare” List?

Are you assuming your new SUV has a spare because it’s a “big car”? You might be wrong. The Chery E5 is one of the rare unicorns that actually includes a full-size spare, while the massive Kia EV9 does not.

Don’t find out on the side of the highway.

At EV Evolution, we have trained our AI-Powered Chatbot on the standard equipment lists of every EV in Australia.

Ask the Chatbot today:

• “Which electric SUVs in Australia still come with a spare tyre as standard?”
• “Does the BYD Atto 3 have a space under the floor for a spare wheel?”
• “Where can I buy a space-saver spare kit for a Tesla Model Y in Melbourne?”

About EV Evolution

EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.