What the hell?!?

Anybody else encounter this bullshit?
So, my wife bought a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid. Ok little car, but she loves it. She calls me one afternoon and says she got a flat tire clipping the curb at a gas station. I was working and she decides to call AAA for help. I say fine, that's why we have it, they can put on the spare, we'll deal with fixing the hole when I get off work. A few minutes later, she calls me back. She can't find the spare in the back. All she finds is a package containing fix-a-flat and a small compressor where the spare tire should be. I said "What?!?"
She then tells me that the tire has a gash in the sidewall. AAA shows up. They refuse to do anything about the flat, that they are not permitted to use fix-a-flat. I say "What the fuck?!?"
So, now I have to explain to my wife how to use fix-a-flat and a compressor, knowing that it may only work for a short time or not at all. She manages to get enough air into it to limp to a tire repair shop.
I go to pick her up. I am then informed that if this model Subaru gets a flat and needs a new tire (this one did because of the sidewall gash) YOU HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES! I say "What in the FUCK is happening?!? Has the world COMPLETELY lost its fucking mind?!"
What bothers me about this is 1) Why did Subaru do away with the time honored tradition of a spare fucking tire? I mean, I never thought to check the spare tire situation when we bought it. Why would I ? 2) Why does the NHTSB allow a can of fix-a-flat and a compressor to be a substitution for a simple spare tire? 3) In this age of oil consumption and excessive use of petroleum based products, it's INEXCUSABLE that 1 bad tire means all need replacing.

Had I know all of this, I never would have agreed to buy it. It's bullshit of the highest order. There, I've said my peace.

 

AWD systems need all 4 tires to be the same circumference. That's why you cant throw on one new tire.

 

Yeah, it's my own damn fault for not asking more questions when we bought it. Never had a hybrid before. It's not even a good hybrid, if such a thing exists. It clunks all the time going from hybrid to normal. Can't get used to it. They still include a jack and lug wrench, though.

 

Only Toyota and Honda have spare doughnut tire , others moved to fix a flat kit about 3-4 years ago for small cars and sub compact suvs.

 

@Kerch71
That’s total BULL$HIT !!!

What a $HIT SHOW - especially when it comes to safety of woman and possibly children stranded on the side of the road with no spare and AAA can’t help

I guess this is a lesson to all to know what ur vehicle has when it comes to emergency issues

I’d trade that subawhoooo in on a Toyota SUV
pronto!!

 

You mean buying a new tire in the same size isn't good enough? I just can't believe this. What's going to happen if you only buy 1 tire?

 

I have a Honda Insight without a spare. It has the fix a flat stuff. I have been reading about adding the civic spare.

 

Abnormal driveline wear.

 

My bosses 2015 Chevy Malibu is the same way. I couldn’t believe it when he told me there wasn’t a spare, just a can of fix a flat. Manufacturers are getting cheaper and the prices keep going up....

 

It’ll have better tread and more grip. The awd system might think the other tires are slipping in some situations.

 

@Kerch71 what did you end up doing? 4 new tires?

You have my attention because my wife and I like that Crosstrek.

 

My daughter has a '13 Chevy Malibu... mmphhh...uckk... sorry, I throw up in my mouth a little every time I say that... it has the fix-a-flat and compressor too. She has specific instructions not to use it unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

I bet you 1 million dollars I'd put 1 tire on it.

And they could kiss my behind.

But yeah, I bought a mustang one time that didnt have a spare. They said it was weight savings or something. Fix a flat and compressor was there.

 

The lack of a full-size size spare is the future reality based on reduced weight (fuel efficiency; we've been hauling dead weight around forever). Some self-evident truths that may not apply to the average Tundras.com member have also hastened the reality:

(1) Most driver/owners have no idea where their jack, lug wrench, and spare tire are located, let alone frequently check the spare's air pressure. If they have to change a flat, the spare is likely to be flat or near flat, and they will read the owner's manual on the side of the road to learn how to change a tire. They will then need a compressor or inflation can just to get it functional after they've changed it.

(2) Most female and male drivers these days are not well suited for changing a tire on the shoulder of a busy interstate highway. You have to be smart enough and careful enough to get and stay way out of harm's way. You have to be strong enough to loosen the lug nuts installed with impact guns and to lift a tire out of the trunk, or, in the case of Tundra, drag it out of the bottom of the chassis.

I always keep a can of fix-a-flat in my vehicles just to avoid changing tires on the road. At least the new OEM versions allow you to select only air to inflate, or air and goo to inflate and stop the leak. In the Tundra, I should probably keep two. But, that won't help me with a large road hazard puncture or blow-out. If I'm alert, hopefully I can avoid those.

My wife has AAA; she's smart, but I doubt she could figure out that inflation can and compressor if she needed. Run flat tires may be a good idea, but expensive. Last resort for a woman, drive it to the nearest tire store with the wheels sparking.

 

Eh, not so fast. Might want to read this first @Kerch71 http://4x4abc.com/4WD101/diffautoAWD_AWD.html

 

Man, I recently roated the tires on my wife's Rav4. I had a hell of a time trying to figure
out where to jack the rear. On the front it's obvious because you can see the frame. Not so on the rear. Neither the owners manual or Google were any help. I eventually gave up and just lifted the control arm. Still not sure if that's ok.

Point being, you're right. But even the owners manual was no help. It's a lot easier working on my Tundra.

 

My daughter's Hyundai Elantra came with only a crappy air compressor that plugs into the lighter and a can of tire Goo that attaches to the compressor line. After using it once, I bought her a donut and tire changing tools. There was luckily a spot for it under the carpet in the trunk.

 

New Challengers do not have spare tires, or at least the Hell Cat doesn’t.

 

He should’ve given her the free tow to the tire shop at least.

 

So, I ended up putting on 4 new tires (godammit). What I failed to mention is that the original tires were about 30 days old. You can't convince me that 30 days of wear is going to fuck up the AWD system if 1 tire is changed. I don't buy it, but my wife wanted to go with Subaru's recommendation. Can't argue with the boss.
As far as the Crosstrek, I don't like it. It's too small, the factory radio is absolute garbage, the "carpeting" is cheap felt that won't come clean, there's no light in the cargo area, it constantly beeps at you.....ok, I'll stop there. We're looking at 4Runners. Subaru was a bad choice and I'll never own another. Appreciate everyone's feedback.

 

I knew it!!! Why would Subaru recommend 4 new tires if they were only 30 days old?! The Crosstrek is a true AWD system and doesn't require 4 new tires.
Crazy world. Someone should sell tickets.

 

They wanted to take your money.

There is some truth to the situation.

I sell tires for a living.
If the tires are that new I would sell you one tire alone BUT only after telling you that Subaru recommends 4 tires at once and that it can damage the drivetrain by replacing less than 4 matching tires.

If you replace 1 with the same exact thing and the other tires are within 4/32's of new you're probably okay.

Sorry about your situation.

Hyundai and Kia started deleting spares about 10 years ago now. Federal CAFE Laws have pushed manufacturers toward more MPG and the easiest way to increase fuel efficiency is to remove weight.

 

Worst came to worst for something like that, and the tire shop refusing to replace 1 tire and insisting on all four. I would remove the wheel and bring it down there separately. Get the tire mounted and balanced, return home and install myself LOL. Even though replacing all four tires that are 30 days old, because one tire is bad, is complete BS.

I would probably lose my shit.

 

No way I would have replaced 30 day old tires. Period

 

I'm guessing the shop charged her a disposal fee for all 4 tires. Check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace because I guarantee they're trying to sell them.

 

Yeah, lesson learned I guess. Expensive damn lesson though.

 

My guess is it's one of those pervasive factoids that just wasn't updated as AWD technology progressed.