Flat tire at midnight, 50 km from home. You open the trunk. No jack. No wrench. Spare tire flat. The ₹500 roadside assistance becomes ₹3,000 towing bill.
Sellers sell cars without spare tires (“I’ll include it later”), missing jacks, incomplete toolkits. You discover this when you NEED them—not during inspection. That omission costs time, money, and safety.
Complete Toolkit Checklist
1. Spare tire:
- Full-size spare: Same size as regular tires (ideal)
- Space-saver (donut): Smaller, temporary (50-80 km max speed, 80 km max distance)
- Repair kit only: Some modern cars (no spare at all)
Check spare tire:
- Tread depth: Should have reasonable tread (not worn)
- Age: Check DOT code (if >10 years, replace)
- Inflation: Should be inflated (check with gauge)
- Most spare tires are FLAT from sitting unused
- Inflate to recommended PSI (usually 60 PSI for space-savers)
- Condition: No cracks, damage
2. Jack:
- Scissor jack (most common) or hydraulic jack
- Check: Present, not damaged
- Test (optional): Lift one corner of car slightly—verify jack works
3. Lug wrench:
- Cross wrench (X-shaped) or L-wrench
- Check: Fits your wheel nuts
- Test: Try loosening one wheel nut (while car on ground)—verify wrench fits and provides leverage
4. Wheel chocks (some cars):
- Prevent car rolling when jacked up
5. Warning triangle:
- Mandatory: Place behind car during roadside stop
- Legal requirement (Motor Vehicles Act)
6. First aid kit (optional but recommended):
- Bandages, antiseptic, basic medical supplies
7. Flashlight (often missing):
- For nighttime tire changes
8. Owner manual:
- Contains jack points diagram, tire change instructions
9. Towing hook (some cars):
- Screws into front/rear bumper for towing
Common Issues
1. Missing jack or wrench:
- Replacement cost: ₹1,500-4,000
- Demand: Seller provides before purchase OR deduct from price
2. Flat spare tire:
- Inflate: Free at petrol pump
- If punctured: Repair (₹200-500) or replace
3. Spare tire doesn’t match:
- Example: Car has 16″ wheels, spare is 15″
- Problem: Can’t use spare (different size)
- Demand: Correct spare tire OR discount (₹3,000-8,000)
4. Space-saver (donut) vs full-size:
- Space-saver limitations:
- Max speed: 50-80 km/h
- Max distance: 80 km
- Not for highway use
- Acceptable: If car originally came with space-saver
- Red flag: Full-size spare replaced with space-saver (seller cheaped out)
Testing Spare Tire Fitment
If possible:
- Remove spare from trunk
- Compare with regular wheel
- Should: Same size (or marked as space-saver if that’s OEM spec)
- Check: Bolt pattern matches (usually does, but verify)
Toolkit Storage
Check:
- All items stored in designated compartments (under trunk floor, side panels)
- Secure: Items don’t rattle when driving
- Complete: Nothing missing from toolkit
Real Case
2018 Hyundai Creta, ₹12,20,000
Buyer inspected spare:
- Found: Space-saver (donut)
- Original spec: Should have full-size spare
Asked seller: “Why space-saver instead of full-size?”
Seller: “I don’t know, came like this”
Investigation:
- Checked online: 2018 Creta came with full-size spare (OEM)
- Conclusion: Original spare damaged/sold, replaced with cheaper space-saver
Also found:
- Jack missing (toolkit incomplete)
Negotiation:
- Full-size spare: ₹5,000-8,000
- Jack: ₹2,000
- Demanded: ₹10,000 discount
Seller agreed: ₹8,000 off
Lesson: Check spare tire spec vs OEM—replacement with inferior spare common
No Spare Tire (Repair Kit Only)
Some modern cars:
- No spare tire (weight/space saving)
- Instead: Tire repair kit (sealant + compressor)
Check if car originally came with repair kit:
- Verify kit present and complete
- Check sealant expiry date
- Test compressor (plug into 12V socket)
Limitations:
- Can’t fix large punctures, sidewall damage
- Temporary fix only
If you prefer spare tire:
- Aftermarket spare + jack: ₹8,000-15,000 (your cost)
Conclusion
You don’t need the spare tire—until you do. Make sure it’s there and functional.
Protocol:
- Check spare tire (size, inflation, age, condition)
- Verify jack and lug wrench present
- Test wrench fits wheel nuts
- Confirm warning triangle included
- Check owner manual present
Decision:
- All items present and functional: Proceed
- Minor issues (spare tire flat, needs inflation): No discount (inflate for free)
- Missing jack/wrench: Negotiate ₹2,000-4,000
- Wrong spare tire or missing: Negotiate ₹5,000-10,000
Key Takeaways
✓ Spare tire often flat (inflate at petrol pump, free)
✓ Space-saver ≠ full-size (check OEM spec, common downgrade)
✓ Jack + wrench often missing (₹2-4K replacement)
✓ Warning triangle mandatory (legal requirement, ₹200-500)
✓ Test wrench fits wheel nuts (some aftermarket wrenches wrong size)
Related: Tire Truth & Wear Patterns
Complete pre-purchase inspection
Spare tire: You’ll never think about it—until it’s 2 AM and you need it.