The Classic Look
Early off-road vehicles mounted spare tires on the tailgate, and it wasn’t for aesthetics. It was mainly for accessibility, keeping departure angles high, and freeing up space in the cabin. But over the years, many automakers have moved SUV spare wheels back under the chassis, under the floor, or not give one at all.
A few holdouts still keep the spare mounted on the tailgate. One of them is the Land Rover Defender, and its spare stays there for function. It just so happens that it looks good, all while staying true to tradition.
Not Everyone is a Fan
Of course, some people wouldn’t like a tailgate-mounted spare. Some reasons for not liking that is the weight it puts on the door, the slightly obscured rearward visibility, and the higher cost of repair should the SUV be rear-ended. Still, some people like the Defender despite that. The aftermarket has offered spare delete kits.
It’s been popular enough that Land Rover is now offering the same straight from the factory. Yes, you heard that right: you can now choose the tailgate spare tire delete before you take delivery of your Defender. There’s no price for that delete kit yet, and it’s unknown whether the option will be offered outside Europe. We reckon it will be, but there’s no official word from Land Rover North America.
Land Rover
The Catch
For those interested, there is a bit of a catch here. Aside from the yet-to-be-determined price and stateside availability, the spare delete kit isn’t available on all Defender body styles, at least for now. According to Motor1, this is offered on the two-door 90 model, and it wasn’t mentioned whether the four-door 110 and three-row 130 will get this option down the line.
That said, dropping the spare does make the Defender 90 even more maneuverable. It wasn’t mentioned if the spare is simply relocated or thrown out altogether, but that’s something to keep in mind if you plan to hit the trails with it. Mind you, the spare delete doesn’t change the tailgate layout, so it’s still a swing-out affair like the standard 90, but at least it’s a little less bulky.
Land Rover
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