much cheaper.

and no, never just fix a flat.

on the other hand if all you do is stay in urban areas, emergency roadside insurance is probably cheaper and somebody else will tow, plug tire or whatever for you.

but you should be able to get a brand new tire and rim for WAY less than that. cheap jack from harbor freight will work at least once. make sure you know where to jack and that it will fit with car down on rim.

fix a flat is fine for short term repair of small holes in tread and hell, back in the day we relied on it for long term too. tire plugs are fairly easy to do yourself and they are a little more secure, but you need a small compressor too to fill tire back up if it has gone down too far.

They cost so damn much money but no longer include spare tires. Yes, I think it's stupid. No, I wouldn't shell out $1500. Even if I lose two days of work because I am getting my tire fixed, it wouldn't come to that much.

I'm too old to change flats any more!

I bought a 2026 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid. My old car, a 2007 CR-V had a spare tire and jack. The new car came with a tire repair kit which is a tire sealant and a compressor. I have AAA with a 200 mile towing range so if I get a flat, I'm always close enough to a town or city to get it fixed.

I have room for spare and jack. It is a Nissan Kicks.

I traded in a Honda CRV. Can't believe there is no room for a spare.

I have a full size spare . I bought it after market. It has saved me many times. I bent a rim in Glacier NP. and glad i had it.