You’re on the side of the I-95. It’s raining. Your kids are screaming in the back of your shiny new multi-purpose vehicle because a stray nail just ended your road trip vibes. You pull up the floor mats, crawl under the rear bumper, and realize something terrifying.
There is no Kia Carnival spare tire.
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It sounds like a bad joke, but for the vast majority of owners of the 2022 through 2025 (and now 2026) models, this is the reality. Most modern minivans—or "Unival" as Kia likes to market them—have ditched the heavy rubber for a bottle of goo and a prayer. If you grew up driving an old Sedona or a Town & Country, this feels like a betrayal. You expect a fifth wheel. Instead, you get a "Tire Mobility Kit."
Honestly, it’s a weight-saving measure to help meet fuel economy standards, but that doesn't help when you're stranded.
The Disappearing Act: Where Did the Kia Carnival Spare Tire Go?
The automotive industry is obsessed with MPG. Every pound counts. By removing a 40-pound steel rim and tire, Kia improves efficiency and opens up interior cargo space. In the Carnival, that "sink-into-the-floor" third-row seating requires a massive well in the rear. If a spare tire lived there, you wouldn't be able to stow those seats flush.
It’s a trade-off.
Most trims—the LX, EX, SX, and even the top-tier SX Prestige—come standard with a Tire Mobility Kit (TMK). This is basically a small air compressor and a canister of liquid sealant. You hook it up to your valve stem, and it injects a sticky mess into the tire while inflating it. It’s meant to get you to a shop, not to Disney World.
But here’s the kicker: The sealant only works for small punctures in the tread. If you hit a curb and tear the sidewall? That kit is a paperweight. You’re calling a tow truck.
Does Any Kia Carnival Have a Spare?
Wait. There is a weird exception. If you look at the build sheets for certain international markets or specific fleet configurations, some versions of the Carnival actually do have a mounting location. In some regions, a space-saver spare is tucked underneath the chassis, roughly mid-way back on the passenger side.
In the United States, however, you usually have to buy it yourself. Kia sells an "optional" spare tire kit through their parts department. It isn't cheap. You’re often looking at $300 to $500 just for the rim and the jack kit, and that usually doesn’t even include the actual rubber tire.
The Real-World Problem with Tire Mobility Kits
Let’s talk about the "Goo."
The sealant inside those kits is corrosive. Most tire shops hate it. If you use it, you might actually ruin your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor. Those sensors cost about $60 to $100 to replace. Plus, many technicians will refuse to patch a tire that has been filled with sealant because the glue prevents the patch from vulcanizing correctly.
So, by "fixing" your flat with the kit, you might be forcing yourself to buy a brand-new $250 tire instead of getting a $30 plug.
It's frustrating.
And don't even get me started on the expiration dates. That sealant has a shelf life, usually around four years. If you’re driving a 2022 Carnival and you haven't checked your kit, there’s a good chance the chemical has settled or expired. You’ll be pumping nothing but air into a hole that won't close.
How to Get a Real Spare for Your Carnival
If you’re like me and you don't trust a bottle of glue, you have three real options.
Option one: Buy the OEM Kit. Go to a site like Kia.Parts or your local dealer. Ask for the "Spare Tire Hardware Kit." This will include the foam organizer, the jack, the lug wrench, and the hold-down bolt. You will still need to go to a tire shop and buy a T155/90D18 (or similar, depending on your year) temporary spare tire to mount on that rim.
Option two: The Modern Spare. There is a company literally called Modern Spare. They make complete kits for vehicles like the Carnival that didn't come with one. Their kit includes a long-range space-saver tire that is actually rated for higher speeds and longer distances than the cheap ones dealers provide. It’s a "buy it and forget it" solution that sits in your trunk.
Option three: The Full-Size Gamble. You could buy a single full-size wheel and tire. The problem? It’s huge. It won't fit in any hidden compartment. You’ll have to strap it down in the cargo area, which eats up all that space you bought the minivan for in the first place.
Installation: Not as Simple as You’d Think
If you buy the kit, you have to find where to put it. In the 2022+ Carnival, the designated spot isn't under the car like an old SUV. It's often inside a side panel or requires you to sacrifice a bit of the "stow 'n go" depth.
Most owners end up tossing the spare in a dedicated carrying bag and keeping it behind the third row. It’s not elegant. But it's better than waiting three hours for a flatbed in the middle of Nebraska.
What About the 2025-2026 Hybrid Models?
The situation gets even tighter with the Carnival Hybrid.
Batteries take up space. A lot of it. In the hybrid version, the electrical components are packed into the areas where a spare tire might have otherwise lived. If you own the hybrid, your chances of retrofitting an OEM spare tire are nearly zero without losing significant floor space.
For hybrid owners, the best bet is a roadside assistance subscription like AAA or ensuring your insurance policy has "Sign and Drive" towing.
Why a Kia Carnival Spare Tire Matters for Resale
Think about the next person who buys your car.
When you go to trade in a vehicle, a savvy appraiser looks for the spare. If they see a complete spare tire kit instead of an empty plastic bin with a canister of expired goo, it shows you maintained the vehicle with a "safety-first" mindset. It’s a small detail, but in the private market, it’s a massive selling point. Families want security.
Nobody wants to tell their spouse they're stuck because the manufacturer wanted to save 0.2 miles per gallon.
Expert Tip: Check Your Tires Frequently
Since you probably don't have a spare, your best defense is a good offense.
The Kia Carnival is a heavy beast. It weighs nearly 5,000 pounds. That weight puts immense pressure on the sidewalls. I recommend checking your tire pressure every single month. Low pressure causes heat buildup. Heat buildup causes blowouts. A blowout is exactly the kind of "catastrophic failure" that a mobility kit cannot fix.
Practical Steps for Carnival Owners
Stop what you are doing and go check your cargo area. Open the side panels. See what's actually there.
If you find a black zippered bag with a compressor, you have no spare.
- Check the sealant date. If it’s over three years old, buy a replacement canister now.
- Buy a plug kit. Learn how to use a T-handle plug tool. It’s much cleaner than the sealant and can save a tire for a permanent repair later.
- Download the Kia Access App. Ensure your roadside assistance is active. Most new Kias come with 5 years/60,000 miles of roadside help.
- Consider an aftermarket spare. If you do a lot of long-distance driving through areas with poor cell service (National Parks, desert runs), the $400 investment is cheaper than a hotel room and a missed day of work.
The Kia Carnival spare tire might be a "ghost" part in the modern era, but you don't have to be a victim of weight-saving engineering. A little preparation goes a long way when you're hauling the most precious cargo you have.
Keep a tire pressure gauge in the glovebox. Check your tread depth. Don't let a small nail turn into a total nightmare.