A flat tire reveals very different outcomes depending on what the automaker stowed beneath the cargo floor. Some models carry a proper matching wheel, others a skinny donut, and a growing number rely on run-flats or a sealant kit instead. Here are twelve current models and what each actually keeps under the trunk floor.
1. Cadillac Escalade: Real Wheel, Real Relief
Among General Motors’ body-on-frame trucks and SUVs, the Escalade sits in the group where, per this GM Authority spare audit, “Full-size spares can be found.” That means a matching wheel and tire waits beneath the cargo area rather than a thin temporary substitute.
For a flat far from help, that is the best outcome on the list. The caveat is that the all-electric Escalade IQ is a different story, since it ships with an inflator kit, so the badge alone does not settle what is stowed below.
2. Chevrolet Silverado: Full-Size Spare, With an EV Exception
The GM Authority audit places the Silverado 1500 among the trucks that still carry a full-size spare. The electric Silverado EV is more selective, with the audit noting that only “WT and LT get spare tire,” as the trim-specific exception.
Shoppers choosing the electric truck should confirm the exact trim before signing, because the spare is trim-dependent there. The conventional gas Silverado keeps the simpler promise of a real wheel waiting underneath the bed.
3. Chevrolet Bolt: A Can of Air and Hope
Nothing resembling a wheel is stowed here. The GM Authority report states that “the Cadillac Escalade IQ and Chevy Bolt are both equipped with a tire inflator kit,” meaning a sealant-and-compressor setup in place of any spare.
A kit can plug a small tread puncture well enough to reach a shop, but a torn sidewall is beyond it. Owners of the Bolt who regularly drive long rural stretches may want roadside coverage or a purchased spare.
4. Chevrolet Corvette: Run-Flats Instead of a Spare
The Corvette skips both the spare and the inflator kit and takes a third route. In the words of the GM Authority tire rundown, “The Chevy Corvette rides on run-flat tires,” which can keep rolling for a limited distance after losing pressure.
The trade is cost and ride, since run-flats are pricier to replace and often firmer over bumps. The benefit is a trunk that stays free for luggage, and a flat that ends with a slow drive to a shop rather than a roadside wheel swap.
5. Land Rover Defender: The Traditional Tailgate Spare
The Defender 110 appears in a VehQ full-size spare list of SUVs that still give owners a proper wheel, the traditional kind mounted on the tailgate instead of tucked under a floor panel.
Being external, the spare costs no cargo volume and can be reached without unloading luggage. The drawback is weight on the rear door and exposure to weather and theft, which is why many buyers still fit a cover or lock.
6. Toyota RAV4: Spare on the GX Trim
Full-size spare coverage on the RAV4 applies to the GX, and the VehQ round-up is candid about the cost, saying the full-size spare “does take up a little extra room” while still leaving plenty of space and peace of mind.
Because the spare is listed for one trim rather than the whole lineup, buyers of other RAV4 versions should check the cargo floor on the actual car. For a family crossover, trading a sliver of space for a usable wheel is a defensible choice.
7. Mitsubishi Outlander: Listed Among the Full-Size Spares
The Outlander earns a place in the VehQ SUV roundup of models carrying a full-size spare, though the article offers no detail on the wheel’s size or mounting position.
That vagueness matters, since a matching wheel and a smaller spare behave very differently on the road. A quick look under the cargo floor at the dealership, or a check of the owner’s manual, confirms what is actually stowed before any long trip depends on it.
8. Land Rover Discovery: The Blanket Guarantee
The Discovery gets the strongest wording in its source. According to the VehQ list, “All Land Rover Discovery models are equipped with full-size spare tires,” with no trim carve-outs mentioned anywhere.
That removes the guesswork that applies to most others here. For buyers who tow, venture onto gravel or simply dislike gambling on a sealant kit, a guaranteed matching wheel is a genuine selling point, and it removes the need to compare trims or read fine print.
9. Subaru Forester: Only the Wilderness Keeps One
Subaru has largely moved away from the real spare, and Jalopnik’s spare breakdown reports that “the only new Subarus with full-size spares (as of the 2026 model year) are the Forester Wilderness” plus two Outback versions, the Onyx Edition XT and the Outback Wilderness.
Standard Foresters therefore do not follow the same rule, so the Wilderness badge is effectively the spare-tire option. Buyers who want a real wheel in the Forester range should treat that trim as the one to seek out.
10. Subaru WRX: Repair Kit, No Spare
Performance does not buy a spare wheel. Jalopnik’s tally says “the Subaru WRX, BRZ, Impreza, some Crosstrek Hybrid models, and Solterra EV all get tire repair kits.”
A sealant kit leaves the WRX owner stranded after a sidewall failure or a large puncture. Enthusiasts who drive on rough pavement or attend track days often buy a compact spare or a roadside plan as insurance, since a failed repair on a performance car can mean a long wait.
11. Subaru BRZ: Sports Coupe, Repair Kit Only
The BRZ shares the WRX’s fate. Jalopnik’s report groups the coupe with the Subarus that “all get tire repair kits” instead of any spare wheel, saving weight and trunk space in a small rear-drive body.
The trade favors lightness and cargo room over self-reliance. A flat that a sealant cannot fix means waiting for a tow, so owners planning long road trips may prefer to price out a spare in advance.
12. Chevrolet Traverse: Donut Under the Floor
The Traverse gets a temporary wheel. A Washington State fleet specification for the 2026 Traverse LT lists “T135/70R18 COMPACT SPARE-steel,” a steel donut narrower than the regular tire.
The source describes a single state-fleet configuration rather than every Traverse, so other trims may differ. A compact spare is meant for short, slow trips, generally limited to modest speeds and short distances until the proper tire is repaired or replaced. Checking the cargo-floor wheel before a road trip avoids surprises.
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