Current Toyota specifications show that many 2025 and 2026 Toyota RAV4 models sold in the United States and Canada include a temporary spare tire. It is normally stored under the rear cargo floor with the jack and wheel tools. However, you should still inspect the specific vehicle because equipment can vary by market, configuration, and previous ownership.
Last updated: July 31, 2026 | Reviewed by: Editorial Team
Quick Answer
Yes. Current Toyota specifications show a temporary spare tire on 2025 and 2026 RAV4 models in the U.S. and Canada, including published plug-in hybrid examples. It is normally under the rear cargo floor. Inspect the actual vehicle because a used RAV4 may be missing its spare, jack, or tools.
Key Takeaways
- Most current North American RAV4 models use a temporary compact spare rather than a full-size matching wheel.
- The spare, jack, and tools are usually stored under the rear cargo floor.
- Toyota’s current U.S. and Canadian specifications identify temporary spare equipment on published 2025 and 2026 RAV4 models.
- A compact spare is for short emergency use and should be replaced with a repaired or full-size tire as soon as possible.
- Check the spare’s pressure and condition monthly and before a long trip.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5 minutes to inspect the cargo-floor compartment |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Flashlight, tire-pressure gauge, and owner’s manual |
| Cost | Free to inspect; replacement spare kits and missing tools vary in price |
Which Toyota RAV4 Models Have a Spare Tire?
Toyota’s current North American information gives a clearer answer than older general guides. Published specifications identify a spare or temporary spare on current RAV4 examples, although the exact tire size and equipment can differ by market and configuration.
| Model and Market | Published Spare-Tire Information | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4, U.S. | Toyota’s official comparison for the 2025 RAV4 LE lists a standard spare/temporary tire. | Inspect the cargo area, especially on a used vehicle. |
| 2026 RAV4, U.S. | Toyota’s current 2026 comparison specifications show a standard spare/temporary tire on the RAV4 model displayed. | Check the window sticker or build sheet for the vehicle being purchased. |
| 2026 RAV4, Canada | Toyota Canada’s specifications list temporary spare sizes including 165/80D17ST and 165/90D18ST, depending on configuration. | Confirm which temporary-spare size applies to the selected trim. |
| 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, Canada | Toyota Canada provides a dedicated current specification page for the plug-in hybrid lineup. | Review the selected model’s dynamically loaded specification table and inspect the cargo floor. |
Note: “Standard spare/temporary tire” normally means a compact emergency spare, not a full-size wheel and tire matching the four road wheels.
What Spare Tire Choices Do You Have for the RAV4?
RAV4 flat-tire equipment generally falls into three groups: a temporary compact spare, a tire repair kit, or an aftermarket spare tire kit. A compact spare is the common factory solution on many North American RAV4 models. It is suitable for reaching a safe repair location but is not intended for everyday driving.
A tire repair kit normally contains liquid sealant and an inflator. It can temporarily help with some small punctures through the tread. It generally cannot repair sidewall damage, a damaged wheel, a tire separated from its rim, multiple punctures, or a large cut. The sealant also has an expiration date and may be intended for one-time use.
| Option | Best For | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary compact spare | Short emergency drives to a tire shop | Restricted by the speed, distance, load, and use instructions printed on the tire and listed in the owner’s manual |
| Tire repair kit | Certain small tread punctures | Cannot repair many sidewall injuries, blowouts, damaged wheels, or large cuts |
| Aftermarket spare kit | Replacing missing factory equipment or adding a physical spare | Wheel, tire, brake, load, jack, and storage fitment must all be verified |
Adventure-focused trims may use all-terrain tires or different wheel packages, but that does not mean they include a full-size spare. Check the actual spare under the cargo floor rather than judging the setup from the four road wheels.
Pro Tip: Before a road trip, remove the cargo-floor panel and practice locating the spare, jack, wheel-nut wrench, and wheel-lock key if wheel locks are installed.
Why RAV4 Spare-Tire Equipment Can Vary
Spare-tire equipment can differ by model year, market, configuration, and powertrain. Specification pages from Canada, the United States, and other markets may describe equipment differently. Dealer inventory pages can also omit small items even when they are factory equipment.
Used vehicles create another variable. A RAV4 may have left the factory with a temporary spare but no longer have it because a previous owner removed the tire, jack, wrench, retaining hardware, or cargo-floor insert.
| RAV4 Situation | What You Should Do |
|---|---|
| Buying a new RAV4 in Canada | Review Toyota Canada’s specifications and confirm the temporary-spare size for the selected configuration. |
| Buying a new RAV4 in the U.S. | Read the window sticker or build sheet and inspect beneath the rear cargo floor before signing. |
| Buying a used RAV4 | Check for the spare, retaining hardware, jack, wheel-nut wrench, towing eyelet if equipped, and wheel-lock key if locks are installed. |
| Buying a RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid or an older RAV4 Prime | Use the specification page and owner’s manual for the exact model year and market, then inspect the cargo-floor compartment. |
Why a Spare Tire Is Useful in a RAV4
A spare tire can help you leave an unsafe roadside location and reach a repair facility after a flat. It is especially valuable on rural roads, during nighttime travel, in poor weather, or anywhere roadside assistance may take a long time to arrive.
A compact spare can also handle damage that a sealant kit cannot, including many sidewall cuts and blowouts. However, the spare itself must be inflated and in usable condition.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends checking all tires, including the spare, at least once a month while they are cold. “Cold” generally means the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours.
A spare tire is useful only when it is properly inflated, undamaged, and accompanied by the correct jack and wheel tools.
Should You Buy a Modern Spare Tire Kit for a RAV4?
An aftermarket spare tire kit can be useful if your RAV4 lacks a spare or if you bought a used model with missing equipment. The kit must fit the exact model year, drivetrain, wheel package, brake hardware, load requirements, jack points, and cargo-floor space.
Do not rely only on a generic “fits Toyota RAV4” description. Confirm the following before buying:
- Wheel fitment: The bolt pattern, center opening, offset, and brake clearance must be correct.
- Tire diameter: The temporary spare must be approved for the vehicle and should not create an excessive rolling-diameter difference.
- Load rating: The tire and wheel must support the required vehicle load.
- Tools: The jack and wrench must fit the RAV4’s approved lifting points and wheel nuts.
- Storage: The tire, tools, and retaining hardware must fit securely under the cargo floor or in another safe mounting location.
If the road-wheel size has been changed from stock, ask a qualified tire shop to confirm the spare’s fitment. On an all-wheel-drive RAV4, use a mismatched temporary spare only as instructed and replace it with the repaired full-size tire as soon as possible.
How to Check Whether Your RAV4 Has a Spare Tire
- Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake and open the rear liftgate.
- Remove loose cargo. Clear anything covering the rear cargo-floor panel.
- Lift the cargo floor. Look for a compact tire secured in the recessed storage well.
- Check the tools. Confirm that the jack, jack handle, wheel-nut wrench, retaining hardware, and other model-specific tools are present.
- Look for optional items. Check for a wheel-lock key if the vehicle has locking wheel nuts and a towing eyelet if the manual lists one.
- Read the tire label. Note the required cold pressure and any speed or use restrictions printed on the temporary spare.
- Measure the pressure. Use an accurate gauge while the tire is cold.
- Inspect the condition. Look for cracks, bulges, cuts, corrosion, damaged valve parts, or other deterioration.
- Check the date code. Have an older spare inspected by a qualified tire professional even when it has never been used.
- Read the owner’s manual. Review the model-specific flat-tire, lifting, wheel-changing, and compact-spare instructions.
For a new vehicle, compare what you find with the window sticker or build sheet. For a used vehicle, missing equipment does not necessarily mean the RAV4 was manufactured without a spare.
Safe Use Rules for a RAV4 Temporary Spare
A temporary spare is intended to help you reach a safe repair location. It should not replace a full-size road tire for normal driving.
- Follow the speed and distance instructions printed on the spare and listed in the owner’s manual.
- Avoid hard acceleration, abrupt braking, fast cornering, sudden lane changes, potholes, and rough roads.
- Do not drive off-road with the compact spare installed.
- Do not carry unnecessary heavy cargo while using the spare.
- Repair or replace the damaged full-size tire as soon as possible.
- Be aware that some driver-assistance or tire-pressure functions may behave differently while a temporary spare is installed.
- Check the compact spare’s pressure monthly and before long trips.
Warning: Do not tow a trailer while a compact spare is installed. Toyota’s RAV4 Prime owner guidance specifically warns against towing with the compact spare in use. Replace the damaged road tire before resuming towing.
Do not assume every compact spare has the same maximum speed or permitted distance. The label on your spare and the owner’s manual for your exact RAV4 are the final authorities.
What to Do if Your RAV4 Has No Usable Spare
If a tire loses air while driving, hold the steering wheel firmly, slow down gradually, and move to a safe location away from traffic. Stop on a hard, level surface when possible, switch on the hazard lights, set the parking brake, and shift into Park.
A sealant-and-inflator kit may temporarily help when a small nail or screw has punctured the tread. Do not use the kit as a universal repair.
Call roadside assistance or arrange a tow when:
- The tire has sidewall damage.
- The tire has blown out or separated from the wheel.
- The wheel is bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
- The cut or puncture is too large for the repair kit.
- More than one tire is flat.
- The sealant has expired or the compressor does not work.
- The vehicle is in an unsafe location for a roadside repair.
Note: Liquid sealant can affect a tire-pressure warning valve or transmitter. Tell the tire technician when sealant has been used so the tire, wheel, and sensor can be inspected correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Toyota RAV4 models come with spare tires?
Many current North American RAV4 models come with a temporary spare tire. Toyota’s published 2025 and 2026 information identifies standard spare or temporary-spare equipment on current examples. Check under the rear cargo floor because used vehicles may be missing factory equipment.
Does a 2025 Toyota RAV4 have a spare tire?
Toyota’s official U.S. comparison information lists a standard spare/temporary tire on the compared 2025 RAV4 LE. Inspect the individual vehicle, particularly when buying used, to make sure the spare and tools are still present.
Does a 2026 Toyota RAV4 have a spare tire?
Toyota’s current U.S. comparison specifications show a standard spare/temporary tire on the displayed 2026 RAV4. Toyota Canada also lists temporary spare tires in its 2026 RAV4 specifications, with the tire size depending on configuration.
Does the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid have a spare tire?
Published North American specifications have included temporary spare equipment on RAV4 plug-in hybrid examples. Check the specification page and owner’s manual for the exact model year and market, then inspect beneath the rear cargo floor.
Is the RAV4 spare tire full-size?
Usually not. Current RAV4 spare equipment is generally described as a temporary or space-saver spare. It is narrower than the normal road tires and is intended only for short emergency use.
Where is the spare tire in a Toyota RAV4?
In many recent RAV4 models, the spare is stored beneath the rear cargo floor. Lift the floor panel and check for the secured spare, jack, wheel-nut wrench, and other tools listed in the owner’s manual.
How far can I drive on a RAV4 temporary spare?
Drive only far enough to reach a safe tire-repair location. Follow the limit printed on the temporary spare and the instructions in the owner’s manual. Do not assume that a general mileage limit found online applies to every RAV4 spare.
Can I tow with a RAV4 compact spare installed?
No. Toyota owner guidance warns against towing while a compact spare is installed. Repair or replace the damaged full-size tire before towing again.
Can I replace the temporary spare with a full-size spare?
Sometimes, but the wheel, tire diameter, load rating, brake clearance, and storage space must all be correct. A full-size wheel may not fit beneath the cargo floor. Ask a qualified tire professional to verify the setup.
What should I do if my RAV4 has a flat tire but no spare?
Move to a safe location first. Use a repair kit only for damage the kit is designed to handle. Call roadside assistance or arrange a tow for a blowout, sidewall damage, wheel damage, a large cut, multiple flat tires, or an unsafe roadside location.
What year did Toyota remove the spare tire from the back of the RAV4?
Toyota relocated the exterior rear-mounted spare for the fourth-generation RAV4 introduced for the 2013 model year. The side-hinged rear door was replaced by a roof-hinged liftgate, and the space-saver spare moved beneath the cargo floor.
Sources
- Toyota U.S. 2026 RAV4 comparison specifications — supports current U.S. spare/temporary-tire availability.
- Toyota Canada 2026 RAV4 specifications — supports Canadian temporary-spare equipment and listed sizes.
- Toyota Canada 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid specifications — supports current plug-in hybrid configuration checks.
- Toyota U.S. 2025 RAV4 comparison — supports standard spare/temporary-tire equipment on the compared 2025 RAV4 LE.
- Toyota 2013 RAV4 launch announcement — documents the move from a rear-door spare to under-floor storage.
- NHTSA TireWise guidance — supports monthly cold-pressure checks for all tires, including the spare.
Conclusion
Many current Toyota RAV4 models include a temporary compact spare beneath the rear cargo floor. Official Toyota information identifies spare or temporary-spare equipment on published 2025 and 2026 RAV4 examples in the United States and Canada.
Do not rely only on the model name or an online listing. Lift the cargo floor and confirm that the spare, retaining hardware, jack, wheel-nut wrench, and any required optional tools are present. Check the spare’s pressure and condition monthly, and follow the tire label and owner’s manual whenever it must be used.
