@Mannie many cars still have full sized spares (most trucks and full sized sedans). Guy I work with just bought a jeep. Full sized tire hanging off the back. But if you buy an econ-o-box car you are going to get the lightweight tire... as 99.99% of the time you do not need it. They do it to reduce weight and get the MPG up... Think about this you are hauling around a tire you do not not normally use. How much does a tire weigh? How much gas do you use to haul it around. You haul it around for that small amount of time you do need it.