Transport Ministry’s New Rules: Spare Tyres No Longer Needed In Most Cars

A quiet regulatory change from 2020 has started to reshape how new cars are built. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to allow passenger cars in the M1 category with tubeless tyres and a tyre repair kit to skip carrying a spare wheel. Cars fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) are also covered under this exemption.

The rule applies to vehicles manufactured after 1 October 2020 and aligns India’s standards with those in many European markets. Four years later, the impact is visible: several new models now come without a fifth wheel.

Why the Shift Away From the Spare Tyre

There are three main reasons behind this change. First, tyre technology has improved significantly. Modern tubeless tyres have stronger sidewalls and are less likely to deflate suddenly. Combined with TPMS, they alert drivers early to slow leaks or pressure drops.

For minor punctures, a sealant and compressor kit can fix the issue long enough to reach a service centre without needing to change a tyre on the roadside. Second, the move frees up space and reduces weight.

Removing the spare wheel adds litres of boot space and trims kilograms, allowing manufacturers to lower boot floors, package hybrid batteries or simply make compact cars roomier. Third, efficiency improves. Lighter vehicles deliver slightly better fuel economy, and for electric cars, that translates into a few extra kilometres of range.

You Can Still Carry One If You Want

The regulation does not ban spares altogether. It only removes the mandatory requirement for cars that meet the stated conditions. Some manufacturers still offer a spare wheel on higher variants or as an optional accessory, especially for models with low-profile tyres or uncommon sizes.

Many new cars have boot wells designed to hold a compact space-saver wheel even if the standard setup includes only a sealant and compressor. The new rule gives manufacturers flexibility while leaving the choice open for buyers who prefer having a spare.

How Drivers Can Adapt

For most city driving, the repair kit and TPMS combination will be enough. But it does require a bit of preparation. Sealant tubes have expiry dates and need replacing after use. Drivers should familiarise themselves with how to connect the compressor to the tyre valve before they are stranded in rain or heat.

Checking TPMS alerts regularly helps detect slow leaks before they become bigger problems. On long highway trips or journeys through remote regions, carrying a spare tyre or pre-mounted wheel remains a sensible precaution. The rules simply mean new cars no longer have to ship with one.

From Proposal To Reality

The transition to this rule was gradual. The draft notification first appeared in early 2020 and went through the Central Motor Vehicles Rules technical committee before being finalised and published in July that year.

Carmakers took time to incorporate the change because model-year updates and consumer habits move slowly. Over the last year, more new launches have visibly adopted the setup, prompting renewed attention to a rule that quietly modernised tyre standards. Now, 11 mass market cars no longer offer spare wheels.

A Simple Trade-Off For Convenience

The only real caution lies in understanding the limits of a sealant kit. It can handle small punctures but not a cut sidewall or bent rim. Used correctly, it offers a quick and clean fix that replaces the old, messy roadside tyre change.

For most drivers, that trade-off, less boot clutter, easier maintenance, and a lighter car, is worth it. The rule simply acknowledges what modern tyre technology already makes possible