spare tire

American  

noun

1. a tire used or kept available as an emergency replacement on a vehicle.

2. Informal. excess fat around the waistline.

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spare tire Idioms  

1. Fat around one's middle, as in He's determined to lose ten pounds and that spare tire he's acquired. This expression transfers the term for an extra tire carried in cars in case of a flat tire to excess fat around the waist. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of spare tire

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

No more flatbed, which Joe conceded was mostly pointless with the bulky spare tire filling it up.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2025

In response, Honda’s customer service told Newlander that “the reason why the spare tire isn’t included on our new electric vehicles is actually a safety concern.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2023

He said the truck’s left front tire, which was a spare tire, blew out before impact.

From Washington Times • Mar. 18, 2022

They would send a team to Mr. Spiegel’s wrecked plane, 70 miles away, and have them collect an engine and a spare tire and return to Torun.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2021

The inside of the van was filthy and we sat on a greasy spare tire, which slid from side to side as the van rumbled its way to Pretoria.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela