No spare tire: the flat kit every Tesla should carry
By ReferCharge. Updated 2026-08-17.
Teslas have no spare, jack or repair kit. Carry a plug kit with a 12V compressor and jack pads; a plug only gets a small tread puncture to a tire shop.
Dealing with a flat now? What to do with a Tesla flat tire, step by step.
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 up to 50 miles of transport when tire repair or replacement is completed through Tesla. Request it from the Roadside section of the Tesla app.
Breakdown
A warrantable undrivable breakdown gets up to 500 miles of transport to the nearest Service Center. A nail in the tread is not a breakdown.
What that leaves you with
Coverage gets you a tow, not a fixed tire. A plug kit and compressor can get a small tread puncture holding air to reach a tire shop, not as a permanent fix.
What we carry
Two items, both model-agnostic, and both living in our own trunk: the plug kit with a 12V compressor handles the flat, and the jack pads make any lift or jack safe around the battery pack.
Every pick below was bought with our own money and fitted to a 2023 Model 3 and a 2024 Model Y, with the newer generations checked on a friend's 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y. How we pick.
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Hand picked, owner tested
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
Hand picked, owner tested
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, and a full-size spare costs range and cargo space. Most punctures are small tread holes a repair handles.
Can I plug a Tesla tire myself?
For a simple tread puncture, often yes. It is temporary, so have a shop do the proper internal fix soon after. Sidewall damage, large cuts or a tire that loses shape need a tow and 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 live in the trunk and weigh next to nothing.
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