My Tesla Model Y Got a Flat, and Tesla Service Totally Left Me Hanging With No Help For 24 Hours Plus a HUGE Fee - Here’s My Advice To All Tesla Owners

Tesla vehicles lack many commonplace features that all mainstream vehicles come with. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come to mind, but this story will be about spare tires. In the Tesla Model Y group on Facebook, Tesla Model Y owner A.S. learned this week that his beloved vehicle has no spare tire. Sadly, A.S. also learned that Tesla does not offer meaningful support for customers who suffer a flat tire. Here’s what A.S. posted:

Been loving my Tesla since I bought it in November 2024 — but today hit a rough patch, literally.
Got a flat tire from a nail
Contacted Tesla Roadside Assistance
They want more than $600 for a single tire (OEM, Hankook iON EVO AS, barely a year old)
And the worst part — the earliest dispatch? 24 hours later.
Tesla may be leading in tech, but roadside support feels miles behind, especially for basic issues like a flat tire. No major shop around wants to touch it because “it’s a Tesla.”
Heading to a small local mechanic now to see if they can help — will update in comments how that goes. Lesson: Carry a backup plan for tire trouble. Tesla can leave you hanging.

As you can see, A.S. was left to deal with his flat tire on his own, using AAA, a local mechanic, or perhaps to try to effect a roadside repair himself. Had A.S. purchased literally any other top-selling vehicle in America, a spare tire would either have been standard or available to him when he purchased the vehicle. Tesla is the only brand with a top-selling vehicle that does not have a spare tire offering. Here’s a full list of America's top-sellers and the status of the spare tire at purchase.

A.S. also could have opted for a long list of electric vehicles with a spare tire. Many come with one, and others offer an option for a spare tire. Here is a detailed list of the electric vehicles for sale in America with a spare tire, along with the type of electric vehicle powertrain the vehicle has.

Under the post, A.S. dropped, nearly every comment was from an unsympathetic fellow owner or Tesla fan. Let’s take a look at some of the comments that were placed:
-J.D. - Miles behind what car manufacturer? Impressed Tesla even has that option. You picked up a nail in your tire. Patch it and take it to Discount Tire for a replacement. Or tow it and let them repair/replace it. Time to get AAA coverage.
-K.N. - I always carry a plug kit and an inflater. If the tire is in front, plug it, move it to the rear, and go to a local tire shop to get it patched. I had a nail near the sidewall about 2 years ago, plugged it, patched it, and 30k miles later it’s still doing fine.
-M.B. - A Plug kit and a compressor go a long way. Not a Tesla problem. It’s a car owner's problem, in my opinion.
-J.D. - I would have plugged and inflated that tire faster than you posted this.
-J.G. - A plug kit and inflator would get you going quicker than posting about it.
-W.T. - I carry a spare in my subtrunk. I have no patience for someone to come handle it for me.
-G.B - Just went through that, I called a local tow company, went to American Tire Depot, they had the exact same brand tire as the one that came from the factory, $396 after, way better than a $200 tow in town and $600 tire price.

Can A Tire Always Be Plugged Safely and Effectively?
As you can see, many owners suggest that A.S. simply plug the tire. The thing is, at night, in the rain or snow, when you’re elderly or pregnant, that may not be a viable option. Furthermore, if you have to drive to safety when you get a puncture that deflates the tire, the sidewall will be damaged. That negates a safe temporary plug.

Plugs are never considered a safe, permanent repair by those who repair tires professionally. Here’s a detailed story on why tires with nails in the outer tread block should never be plugged for any reason (other than to drive to the tire store for a new tire).

A.S. is certainly not alone in having trouble with a damaged tire. Many battery-electric vehicle owners find out the hard way that they have no spare tire when they damage a tire. Here’s a story that takes a look at the trouble another Tesla Model Y owner had when his tire was damaged, leaving him stranded for four days. Here is a report from a Cybertruck owner who found out the hard way that Tesla tire repairs can be extremely costly and take a lot of time.

One solution for those who wish to have a spare tire in their Tesla is to buy an aftermarket one from Modern Spare. 

Tires are the most expensive and time-consuming part of maintaining any battery-electric vehicle. They generally cost more to replace, and Tesla has a 6,250-mile or sooner rotation recommendation to achieve proper wear and full lifespan of the tire. If you are looking for a place to help you with Tires for your Tesla, here are some suggestions.

Do you wish that your Tesla came with a spare tire, at least a compact one as an option? Click the red Add New Comment link below and share your thoughts with us.

Do you wish that your Tesla came with a spare tire, at least a compact one as an option? Click the red Add New Comment link below and share your thoughts with us.
 

John Goreham is a long-standing member of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools. 

Image of Tesla service center tire repair area taken by John Goreham.