Does the RAV4 Hybrid have a spare tire? It depends on the model year. Older RAV4 Hybrids usually have a compact spare, while newer models often come with a tire repair kit instead.
When you first start driving your Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, you may start questioning if the vehicle has a spare tire or not. In most vehicles, it is customary to have a spare tire, however, RAV4 hybrids are designed to be more weight and space efficient, and because of that, not every vehicle is designed in the traditional ways. So, the question is; does the RAV4 Hybrid have a spare tire? The answer may not be as obvious as it seems.
In this article, we will be answering the question does the RAV4 Hybrid have a spare tire, what may be offered instead, and how the car’s design affects it’s answer to how it handles a flat tire. This article will also show you how to determine whether your car has a spare tire or a repair kit, and how this affects your driving experience.
Contents
The Spare Tire Changes in RAV4 Hybrids
Toyota has changed the RAV4 Hybrid’s tires and emergency repair setups over the years. RAV4s used to be outfitted with a spare tire located beneath the cargo floor. This is
considered an easy and helpful solution for a driver dealing with a potential flat situation.
More recently, with the rise in the popularity of hybrids, manufacturers, including Toyota, are trying to save weight and space to help with fuel economy. This has resulted in larger models of the RAV4 hybrids no longer carrying a spare tire. This fuel economy enhancement is part of a larger shift in the potential to save space and reduce weight in the automotive industry with hybrid and electric vehicles.
Older Models’ Traditional Spare Tire
If your RAV4 Hybrid is a later model (2016 to 2022), you may be equipped with a compact spare tire that is usually kept beneath the cargo floor. The spare is generally a smaller tire that can be considered a temporary tire to be used in cases of emergencies. Compact spares are intended to help you get to a tire shop or a place that can help you get your flat repaired, however, there are a lot of rules that come with them. They are not intended to be used for long trips or to drive high speeds with.
For instance, there are usually recommendations with the compact spares that limit the driver from going past 50 miles per hour, and from 50 to 70 miles of driving before the flat tire needs to be replaced for a full-size tire.
The compact spare tire gives good reassurance and is an immediate response to flat tires, negating concerns of waiting for assistance or a tow. However, there is a downside to compact spares. They take up cargo area and add unnecessary weight to the car a little bit decreasing gas mileage. Also, the compact tires are not built for sustained high-speed use as they are smaller and built to take more wear and tear. For those reasons, they should be used with caution.
Tire Repair Kits For Newer Models
The 2023 and onwards RAV4 Hybrid models do not come with a spare tire. Instead, they come with a tire repair kit including a sealant that fills holes and a mini tire air pump that will allow the driver to keep going for a little while. This is good enough for people to drive just until they reach a safe area to get the tire replaced.
A repair kit weighs less than a spare tire and takes up less space. This is particularly helpful in a hybrid vehicle such as the RAV4 hybrid as minimizing the space and weight in the vehicle is needed to optimize fuel efficiency and get the best hybrid performance. However, tire repair kits are not the best solution. They work for small punctures, but not for large holes or a rip in the sidewall. Also, the sealant in the kit is not good indefinitely and needs to get replaced regularly.
For drivers who are not accustomed to the repair kits, the repair kits can cause a lot of inconvenience. If the tire damage is out of the repair kits scope, drivers will have to depend on roadside assistance or a tow to get to a tire shop.
How to Find Out What Your RAV4 Hybrid Comes With
So how can you determine what RAV4 Hybrid has a spare tire or a repair kit? The answer depends a lot on model year, trim level, and, sometimes, the market the vehicle was sold in. For example, if you own a model from 2023 or 2024, you will most likely have a repair kit in place of the spare tire. However, the compact spare tire is still prevalent in older RAV4 Hybrids from 2016 to 2022.
To find out what you have, the best place to start is the cargo area of the vehicle. Open the trunk and lift the cargo floor to check for the presence of a spare tire. If you do find a tire, it is likely to be a compact spare, but do check the size and condition. If no spare is present, you should find the tire repair kit that is normally stored underneath the cargo floor or in one of the side compartments of the trunk.
Referencing your vehicle’s owner’s manual is also a great option as it should outline the equipment that was included with the specific trim and model year along with any optional accessories if applicable. If you are still uncertain, your vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) can be used to obtain this information from a Toyota dealership.
The Trade-offs: Spark Tire vs Tire Repair Kit
The trade-off involves more convenience vs weight and space efficiency.
On one side, a spare tire is more traditional and seen as a better and more comforting option, especially for those who tend to stress a bit more when on the highway and in the middle of a flat tire situation. It is a full sized spare. On the other side, it comes with more drawbacks as well. It takes up crucial cargo space, adds extra weight to the vehicle, and is less efficient in terms of fuel economy. To add, compact spares are not designed for long term use as they are seen as more temporary solutions.
However, a tire repair kit is far more efficient with respect to weight and space, making it ideal with respect to fuel economy and storage capacity in a hybrid vehicle. Repair kits handle minor punctures just fine, and they occupy a lot less room than a spare tire. The main downside, however, is that they cannot repair all kinds of tire damage, and it does force the driver to depend on a sealant with a shelf life (though ultimately, all sealants tend to dry out).
Caring for Your Spare Tire or Repair Kit
If your RAV4 Hybrid contains a spare tire, it is prudent to maintain the spare tire periodically and ensure it is in good shape with the proper air pressure. Compact spares tend to lose air more often than regular spares, and it is wise to check the spare tire every season to make sure it is in good working order in the event of an emergency. When checking the spare tire, make sure to look out for any damage to the tire, especially signs of cracks or material wear.
If your car has a tire repair kit, that should be inspected periodically as well. Go over the expiration date on the sealant, and replace it as necessary. The repair kit should be easily accessible, so check that it is not stored improperly, and is not buried under other stuff in the trunk. Know how to use the kit before you actually need it, so you aren’t trying to figure it out in an emergency.
Things to Think about for Owners of Hybrid Vehicles
If you own a hybrid vehicle like the RAV4, there are some other things that need to be kept in mind with your spare tire, or repair kit. Hybrid vehicles have extra components, like the battery pack, which could take up some of the available space. This is part of the reason why for a spare tire, or a repair kit, Toyota may not opt to include a full spare tire, as it can save on space and weight, which are two crucial things for hybrid vehicles.
Also, since hybrid vehicles have electric motors and internal combustion engines power different wheels, they have to account for tire size and diameter. If you have to use a compact spare, and it has a different diameter than the other tires, it can have an impact on the performance and handling of the vehicle. This is even more important if your RAV4 Hybrid is an all wheel drive.
RAV4 Hybrid Without a Spare Tire
If you find that your RAV4 Hybrid does not come with a spare tire, and you would like to have one, you can look for aftermarket options. There are some companies that make compact spare tire kits that are designed for hybrid vehicles like the RAV4. Most of these kits come with a spare tire, a jack, and all the tools you need to change a tire.
If you are someone that is likely to drive for an extended period of time in a rural area where there is not likely to be access to a tire repair shop (or if you drive in tough conditions where you are likely to get a flat tire), then getting an aftermarket spare tire is a good idea. Just remember that spare tires do take up room in the trunk and can add more weight to the car which can result in lower fuel efficiency.
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Final Thoughts
So, does the RAV4 Hybrid have a spare tire? The answer relies on the year, trim, and location of the RAV4 Hybrid in question. Older RAV4 Hybrid models will more often than not have a compact spare lying underneath the trunk floor, while more recent models will have a tire repair kit instead. There are pros and cons to each, but a repair kit can be more optimal to have in a lightweight and compact sense, though it does have its restrictions, while a spare tire is a sure form of backup.
As the owner of a RAV4 Hybrid, it is important to take the time to familiarize yourself with the systems that came with the vehicle’s specification, and more importantly, take the time to learn how you can maintain that. When you are faced with a sudden emergency situation on the roadside, you will know how to react to a flat tire.
If grouping and strapping a spare tire is something that you want more than a repair kit, If not, you can always check the aftermarket for an added, spare tire in your arsenal for an unexpected flat tire situation in your journeys ahead.
