No spare tire: the flat kit every Tesla should carry
By ReferCharge. Updated 2026-08-02.
Open the trunk of a new Tesla and there is no spare tire under the floor, no jack, and no repair kit. Most owners find this out the same week they find a nail. The good news: the gap costs about fifty dollars to close, and the kit fits in the underfloor cubby the spare would have lived in.
What Tesla Roadside actually covers
Summarized from Tesla's current US Roadside Assistance policy, available 24/7 through the Tesla app.
Flat tire
Tesla Roadside Assistance covers flat tire service for up to 50 miles of transport when the tire repair or replacement is completed through Tesla directly. You request it from the Roadside section of the Tesla app.
Breakdown
A warrantable breakdown that leaves the car undrivable is covered with transport of up to 500 miles to the nearest Service Center. A nail in the tread is not a breakdown, which is why the flat tire terms above are the ones that matter here.
What that leaves you with
Coverage gets you a tow, not a fixed tire on the spot. If the flat happens outside service hours, far from a Service Center, or on a trip, a plug kit and compressor can turn the same puncture into a 15 minute roadside fix.
The picks
Two items, both model-agnostic: the plug kit with a 12V compressor handles the flat, and the jack pads make any lift or jack safe around the battery pack.
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Lifting Jack Pads (4-Pack)
All modelsSlot these in before the lift touches the car so tire shops never crush the battery pack. Storage case included.
$12.99
Tire Repair Kit + Air Compressor
All modelsTeslas ship without a spare tire. A plug kit and 12V compressor turn a flat into a 15-minute fix.
$35.99
Common questions
Why do Teslas not come with a spare tire?
Tesla leaves the spare out, like many modern EVs. The floor under the trunk is battery and structure, a full-size spare costs range and cargo space, and most punctures are small tread holes that a repair handles. The tradeoff lands on you the day one happens.
Can I plug a Tesla tire myself?
For a simple puncture in the tread, yes, that is exactly what a plug kit is for. Sidewall damage, large cuts, or anything that makes the tire lose shape is not repairable at the roadside and needs the tow and a replacement.
Why a plug kit instead of a can of sealant?
Many Tesla tires are lined with acoustic foam. Liquid sealant soaks into that foam and makes a mess of the eventual proper repair, so a plug that fixes the hole from the outside is the cleaner tool for this car.
What are the jack pads for?
The battery pack spans most of the floor, and the safe lift points are four small reinforced pockets. Jack pads slot into those pockets so a shop lift or a jack pushes on the right spot instead of the pack. They cost about as much as a car wash and live in the trunk.
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