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All the sleek tech and cutting-edge design in the world means little when you’re stranded on a remote road and wondering if anyone out there is willing to help. That kind of real-world vulnerability is exactly what makes stories like this stick. And while scrolling through the “Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club” group on Facebook, I came across a post from Clay Carr that brought that idea into sharp focus. It spoke volumes about what it means to belong to a community that has your back. So clay had destroyed his Tesla Model 3’s tire on a remote road, far from any help, and what happened next captured exactly why so many Tesla owners stick with the brand.
Here’s how Clay described it:
“I destroyed my tire on a rural road about 4 hours from the nearest service station this morning. Called up the only other Tesla owner I know in the area, and he loaned me a spare. The Tesla community remains the best.”
In this short post, Clay painted a picture of helplessness, hope, and ultimately, connection. Most drivers would be fumbling with roadside assistance apps, calling tow trucks, or bracing for a multi-hour wait. But Clay’s instinct of reaching out instead of panicking paid off.
A Culture of EV Owners Helping Each Other
For many Tesla owners, the lack of a spare tire has been a hot topic for years. Unlike traditional vehicles, Teslas don’t come equipped with one, largely due to space-saving design and weight considerations aimed at boosting efficiency. The problem is, when a tire isn’t just flat but destroyed, there are fewer options. Tire repair kits can’t fix serious damage, and that’s where the community stepped in to help.
The story doesn’t end with Clay’s tire though. What it really highlights is the growing culture of EV owners helping each other in ways that feel a lot like the early days of car culture, when people actually talked to each other at gas stations or pulled over to help someone on the shoulder. These days, you’re more likely to get honked at than helped. But in EV communities, especially among Tesla owners, that sense of connection still lingers.
That’s part of what makes owning a Tesla feel different. You’re not just buying a car. In a way, you’re buying into a network. Some have even explained that after weighing constant maintenance costs and fuel bills, they ultimately moved on from their BMW X5 and chose a 2025 Tesla Model 3 instead. This decision wasn’t just for savings, but because of the community that came with owning this car.
What the Community Had to Say
Under Clay’s post, several commenters chimed in, adding different shades to the story.
Rod Hancock raised a point many people outside the Tesla world have asked: “You pay that much for a car and it doesn’t even have a spare tire?” It’s a fair question. When someone drops $40,000 to $60,000 or more on a vehicle, basic expectations like a spare seem reasonable. Tesla has instead prioritized storage space, performance, and efficiency. The company bets that their roadside service network and mobile repair teams can fill that gap, but as Clay’s story shows, that assumption doesn’t always hold up in rural areas.
Then there was Ronfer Metric, who added a more practical note: “Many cars don’t have spares and they figure tires aren’t needed. I’m not sure on this as indeed a spare tire would get you out of trouble in the instance your wheel gets damaged. Any thoughts?” He brings up a crucial distinction. While a flat tire can sometimes be patched, a damaged wheel or sidewall tear is game over. That’s why many long-distance drivers carry aftermarket donut kits or full-size spares in the trunk. That’s even if it means sacrificing frunk space.
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Sergey Dudukin took the conversation in a different direction: “That’s why I never take Tesla for roadtrips. Lexus GX460 is so much better for long roadtrips.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue if your primary concern is rugged reliability and spare-carrying capacity. The GX460 is built like a tank. But it also guzzles gas. Meanwhile, Tesla owners often cite long-term satisfaction, like those who say switching to a Model 3 is their only regret because they didn’t do it sooner.
Beamer Wrld offered a simple, no-nonsense comment: “Get Triple A.” And that’s not bad advice. Roadside assistance services like AAA can tow you, help with flats, and offer peace of mind. But there’s something irreplaceable about a fellow owner pulling through for you in a moment of need. No service plan can replicate that human element.
Those That Still Step Up
And if you’re wondering whether this kind of road incident is common, it might surprise you to learn that tire issues are one of the more expensive risks that Tesla owners face. One driver recently shared their surprise at the cost of tire insurance on their Cybertruck compared to their Model X, and it paints a larger picture about how tire-related challenges are still very real, even in the EV world.
As for Clay, his story had a happy ending. He got back on the road thanks to that spare and hopefully paid it forward in some way, though knowing this community, he probably already has. His story is just one among many that show how the Tesla owner experience is about more than charging times or software updates. It’s about people who choose to step up.
And speaking of people, I think that’s what gets lost in most discussions about cars in general. We obsess over specs like range, 0-60 times, and full self-driving promises. But moments like this bring us back to what driving is really about: the people we rely on and the bonds we build along the way.
So as someone growing up in the middle of this automotive tech wave, it’s refreshing to see that the best part of car culture hasn’t gone extinct. Stories like this remind me that the heart of driving still beats strongest in the small moments where people simply help each other out.
Key Takeaways and Lessons:
- Always know your region’s service accessibility. If you drive in remote areas, consider carrying a spare or at least a patch kit and compressor. Not every emergency can be solved with a call.
- EV ownership is more than just tech. It’s about the community you join, especially when you see how often owners step up for one another.
- Tire failures are one of the most common roadside issues, and they don’t care how new your car is. Preventive planning matters, especially with vehicles that don’t come with spares by default.
- Tesla owners often become advocates, not just drivers. And long-term reliability stories are proof of that, like drivers with Model 3’s that have passed 200,000 miles and are still running on the original battery.
- Sometimes the best roadside assistance is another human being. It’s easy to get jaded about technology, but at the end of the day, kindness still outperforms algorithms.
Your Chance to Share
Have you ever been helped by a fellow car owner when you were stuck?
And do you think all cars should come with a spare tire again? Or is modern roadside service enough?
Don’t hesitate to drop your stories in the comments below, as your unexpected moments are exactly what keep us inspired.
Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.
Image Sources: The “Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club” public Facebook group and Tesla’s gallery, respectively.
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Source: torquenews.com
