Automotive Spare Tire Carrier Market Size, CAGR & Forecast, 2025-2035

Hitch-mounted and swing-out designs push spare tire carrier demand past USD 2.79 billion by 2035

Radial Insights sizes the global automotive spare tire carrier market at USD 1.86 billion in 2025, rising to USD 1.94 billion in 2026 and USD 2.79 billion by 2035 at a 4.12% CAGR. Demand rests on two very different buyers: automakers that fit an underbody hoist or a rear-mounted bracket to roughly every body-on-frame pickup and SUV they build, and off-road owners who replace the factory part with a heavier swing-out unit that can carry a 35 to 37 inch tire.

The study covers factory and replacement underbody hoists and cable winches, tailgate and rear-door brackets, swing-out bumper carriers, hitch-mounted carriers, and roof or bed-mounted spare mounts for pickups, SUVs, vans, light commercial vehicles, motorhomes and towable trailers. It excludes the spare tire and wheel themselves, tire sealant and compressor kits, and wheel locks. Values are at manufacturer selling prices, and aftermarket sales are counted at the brand's wholesale price rather than the retail ticket.

Global vehicle output reached 96.4 million units in 2025, up 3.9% from 92.7 million in 2024 according to OICA, but the carrier market grows more slowly than output because many crossovers and nearly every battery electric car now ship with a sealant kit instead of a spare. That loss is offset by the rising mix of pickups and off-road SUVs, where a carrier is standard and the attachment rate stays close to 100%.

Hitch-Mounted Carriers form the fastest segment, at a 6.75% CAGR from 2025 to 2035, because owners of the 2025 and later Toyota 4Runner, Ford Bronco and Land Cruiser models want to move oversized spares off the tailgate without cutting the rear bumper. The Middle East is the fastest region at 5.00%, driven by desert-touring fleets and a large installed base of Land Cruiser, Patrol and pickup models that run full-size spares by default.

North America remains the largest regional market, with a 36.80% share in 2025, while Asia Pacific (APAC) follows at 33.40% and adds the most new revenue over the decade. Our forecast assumes no broad regulation forcing spare tires back into passenger cars, and it treats electric pickups and SUVs as carrier fitments only where the automaker offers a spare.

Swing-out and hitch-mounted carriers outgrow factory hoists by roughly 3 percentage points a year

We split the automotive spare tire carrier market across carrier type, vehicle type, material and sales channel. Growth rates differ widely: low-cost underbody hoists track pickup production, while heavy swing-out and hitch-mounted units follow off-road accessory spending, which has risen faster than new vehicle sales since 2020.

Underbody hoists keep the largest installed base, but hitch-mounted carriers grow at 6.75%

Underbody hoist and winch carriers sit under almost every full-size pickup and many body-on-frame SUVs, so they lead the carrier type dimension on volume. Their 3.40% CAGR mirrors pickup output and the steady replacement of corroded cable hoists in salt-belt states, a demand Dorman Products serves with its 924-series replacement units. Hitch-Mounted Carriers rise at 6.75% because they fit a 2-inch receiver without drilling, carry tires up to 37 inches, and can be moved between vehicles. Swing-out bumper carriers follow at 6.10%, tied to steel rear bumper sales for the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner. Tailgate and rear door mounted carriers grow 3.85% as automakers such as Toyota return to an exterior spare on the Land Cruiser FJ, and roof and bed-mounted carriers expand 5.20% on overland builds that free up the rear door.

Off-road 4x4 vehicles lift the vehicle type mix at a 6.40% CAGR

Pickup Trucks remain the core vehicle type and grow at 3.70%, close to the rate of light truck production in North America and Thailand. SUVs and Crossovers grow only 3.30% because crossovers built on car platforms increasingly delete the spare in favor of a sealant kit. Off-Road 4x4 Vehicles climb 6.40% as the Bronco, Wrangler, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Defender and Grenadier carry exterior spares and sell heavily into the accessory channel. Vans and Light Commercial Vehicles grow 4.05%, helped by fleet buyers who still specify a full spare, and RVs and Trailers grow 4.60% as recalls push builders toward stronger welded mounts.

Aluminum gains on steel at a 6.20% CAGR as weight matters more

Steel still dominates because factory hoists and most bumper carriers use stamped or tubular steel, and it grows at 3.60%. Aluminum carriers grow 6.20% because a 37-inch tire and wheel can weigh more than 45 kg, and aluminum brackets help owners stay inside tailgate hinge and hitch tongue limits. Composite and other materials, including glass-filled nylon covers and hybrid steel and polymer brackets, grow 5.10%.

The aftermarket channel expands 5.90% a year, faster than OEM supply

OEM supply grows 3.45%, in line with light truck and SUV builds. The Aftermarket grows 5.90% because consolidated accessory groups such as RealTruck and Bestop now push carriers through national retail and e-commerce networks, and because each new off-road model generation triggers a wave of swing-out and hitch carrier launches within about 12 months of its release.

Market Trends

Exterior spares return on new off-road models from Toyota and Scout

Toyota held the world premiere of the Land Cruiser FJ in October 2025 and began Japanese sales in May 2026 with a rear-mounted spare tire that recalls earlier Land Cruisers, targeting 1,300 units a month in Japan from production in Thailand. In September 2026, Scout Motors showed a trail-ready Traveler concept with an exterior spare tire carrier and integrated fuel caddy. Each launch of this kind creates both an OEM fitment and a follow-on aftermarket of heavier carriers.

Electric vehicles split into spare-free cars and spare-carrying trucks

A February 2025 InsideEVs review found that the Ioniq 5 XRT and Blazer EV ship with only a sealant kit and compressor, while the Silverado EV, Hummer EV, F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and R1S and the Wrangler still offer a spare. Consumer Reports data cited in that review show about 50% of cars tested since 2020 carried a compact spare and about 10% a full-size spare. We expect battery packaging to keep removing carriers from electric crossovers through 2035, while electric pickups and SUVs keep an underbody or rear-mounted unit.

Accessory brands consolidate into a few large groups

RealTruck closed its largest acquisition, Vehicle Accessories Group, in March 2025, giving it 30 manufacturing plants in five countries and a deep Jeep and Bronco catalog. In August 2026, Bestop closed the purchase of ReadyLIFT, TeraFlex, Falcon, LOGIQ and Smittybilt, its eleventh acquisition. Two groups now control many of the best-known tire carrier brands, which tightens pricing but speeds national distribution.

Hitch-mounted swing-out carriers follow the new 4Runner

In January 2026, Wilco Offroad released the Hitchgate Switch for the sixth-generation 2025 and later Toyota 4Runner, a swing-out hitch carrier rated for tires up to 37 inches and a 7,500 lb towing capacity. RIGd Supply and Rigid Armor sell similar swing-out units for the 4Runner and Land Cruiser 250. Bolt-on hitch designs avoid bumper replacement, which is why this group grows faster than any other carrier type.

Restraints and Challenges

Spare tire deletion removes carriers from crossovers and electric cars

AAA found that 28% of 2017 model year vehicles had no spare tire and that it helps more than 450,000 members a year whose car lacks one. The share of spare-free vehicles has risen since then as automakers chase weight and battery space. Each deletion removes a hoist or a well bracket, which caps OEM carrier growth in the SUVs and Crossovers segment at about 3.30% a year.

Recalls raise validation costs for carriers and mounts

Weak welds and loose fasteners have triggered several US safety recalls. Winnebago recalled 107 2025 Minnie Winnie and Spirit motorhomes in January 2025 (NHTSA campaign 25V007) because spare tire carrier bolts could loosen and the carrier could detach; the NHTSA recall report sets out the defect. In March 2026, Escape Trailer recalled 324 trailers (26V132) for improper welds on the spare carrier and issued a do-not-drive advisory. These cases push builders toward more testing and stronger mounts.

Wrong-spare recalls show how complex fitment has become

Kia recalled 45 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles in October 2025 (25V745) for carrying the wrong spare, and Nissan recalled 4,655 2026 Rogue crossovers in December 2025 (25V912) for a wrong-size spare under FMVSS 110. Carriers must match more wheel sizes and tire diameters than a decade ago, which adds part numbers and raises inventory costs for OEM suppliers.

Load limits on tailgates and hitches cap oversized tire upgrades

A 37-inch mud-terrain tire on a steel wheel can exceed 50 kg, and rear door hinges on many SUVs were not designed for that load. Owners who exceed the limits report hinge cracks and door sag, which is why many brands limit tire size or require a bumper-mounted swing-out. Hitch carriers also reduce departure angle and use up tongue weight, so they are not a fit for every buyer.

Growth Drivers

Off-road SUV sales keep exterior spare carriers in high demand

Ford sold a record 146,007 Bronco SUVs in the US in 2025, up 33.7%, plus 134,493 Bronco Sport crossovers, and Ranger sales rose 53.6% to 70,960 units. Every Bronco leaves the factory with a tailgate-mounted spare, and a large share of owners later fit a bumper or hitch carrier for a larger tire. Toyota's new 4Runner and Land Cruiser FJ add more of the same demand in the US, Japan, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. We estimate that body-on-frame off-road SUV growth adds about +0.9 percentage points to the market's annual growth rate, and it is the main reason the Off-Road 4x4 Vehicles segment grows at 6.40%.

Pickup production keeps the underbody hoist base growing

US light vehicle sales reached 16.2 million units in 2025, up 2.4% according to NADA, and Ford alone sold 801,525 F-Series trucks. Almost every full-size and midsize pickup carries its spare on an underbody cable hoist. Thailand, the main export hub for one-ton pickups such as the Hilux, D-Max and Ranger, adds steady volume for Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East and Africa. S&P Global Mobility puts 2025 North American light vehicle output at 15.24 million units and European output at 16.9 million. We estimate that the replacement of corroded cable hoists and the steady pickup build rate together account for roughly 1.6 points of the 4.12% CAGR, with Dorman Products and OE parts programs from GM, Ford and Mopar serving replacement demand in the salt belt.

Accessory spending lifts the aftermarket channel

SEMA's 2025 Market Report found that US consumers spent about USD 52.65 billion on accessories and modifications in 2024, and that pickups make up about one-third of that spending. Tire carriers rank among the first upgrades owners make after fitting larger tires, because a factory hoist or tailgate bracket cannot hold the new size. Consolidation at RealTruck and Bestop puts brands such as Rugged Ridge, Smittybilt and TeraFlex in front of national retailers. We estimate the aftermarket shift lifts market growth by around 1.1% a year compared with a market that depended only on factory fitment.

Opportunities

Carriers designed for electric pickups and SUVs

Electric pickups and SUVs carry heavy battery packs low in the chassis, which leaves less room for underbody hoists. Suppliers that design compact rear or bed-mounted carriers for models such as the Rivian R1S, Silverado EV and Scout Traveler can win early OEM and accessory programs before the segment scales.

Lighter aluminum swing-outs for global overland buyers

Overland touring is growing in Australia, the Gulf states and South Africa. Aluminum swing-outs that cut 30% to 40% of bracket weight help owners stay inside hinge and axle load limits, and they suit the 6.20% growth rate we expect for aluminum carriers.

North America leads with a 36.80% share while the Middle East grows fastest at 5.00%

Asia Pacific (APAC)

Asia Pacific (APAC) accounts for a 33.40% share, or USD 621.2 million in 2025, and reaches USD 1,007.1 million by 2035 at a 4.95% CAGR, the largest absolute gain of any region. Thailand builds most of the region's one-ton pickups, and Toyota plans 1,300 Land Cruiser FJ sales a month in Japan from Thai production that started in May 2026. Australia adds a strong aftermarket for steel and aluminum rear bar carriers, led by ARB and Ironman 4x4 style overland builds.

North America

North America holds a 36.80% share of the 2025 market, worth USD 684.5 million, and grows at 3.50% a year to USD 965.5 million by 2035. The US sold 16.2 million light vehicles in 2025, and pickups make up about one-third of US accessory spending tracked by SEMA. North America also leads swing-out and hitch carrier demand because of the Bronco, Wrangler and 4Runner, while Canada and the northern US states drive the replacement of corroded underbody hoists.

Europe

Europe holds a 17.60% share, about USD 327.4 million in 2025, and grows at 3.25% to USD 450.7 million in 2035, the slowest rate of any region. Europe built about 16.9 million light vehicles in 2025, but most are compact cars and crossovers that ship with a repair kit instead of a spare. Demand in Europe comes mainly from the Land Rover Defender, Ineos Grenadier, Mercedes G-Class and commercial vans, along with towed caravans that still carry a full spare.

Latin America

Latin America represents a 5.20% share, worth USD 96.7 million in 2025, and rises to USD 148.8 million by 2035 at a 4.40% CAGR. Brazil and Argentina produce midsize pickups such as the Hilux, Ranger and S10 for regional markets, each with an underbody hoist. Rough rural roads in Latin America keep full-size spares standard on work trucks, and Mexico supplies large volumes of full-size pickups to the US.

Middle East

The Middle East holds a 4.30% share, or USD 80.0 million in 2025, and is the fastest region at 5.00% a year, reaching USD 130.3 million by 2035. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the largest markets for the Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol and full-size pickups, and desert touring makes a full spare on a rear or roof carrier close to standard practice in the Middle East.

Africa

Africa accounts for a 2.70% share, about USD 50.2 million in 2025, rising to USD 78.0 million by 2035 at a 4.50% CAGR. South Africa builds the Hilux, Ranger and D-Max for local sale and export, and safari and mining fleets in Africa often carry two spares on rear swing-out or roof carriers.

Recent Developments

• In September 2026, Scout Motors showed a trail-ready Traveler SUV concept with an exterior spare tire carrier and integrated fuel caddy.

• In August 2026, Bestop closed its acquisition of ReadyLIFT, TeraFlex, Falcon, LOGIQ and Smittybilt, its eleventh acquisition, bringing several leading Jeep tire carrier brands under one owner.

• In May 2026, Toyota began Japanese sales of the Land Cruiser FJ with a rear-mounted spare tire, built in Thailand with a target of 1,300 units a month.

• In March 2026, Escape Trailer recalled 324 2025 model year trailers (NHTSA 26V132) because improper welds could let the spare tire carrier separate.

• In January 2026, Wilco Offroad released the Hitchgate Switch swing-out hitch carrier for the 2025 and later Toyota 4Runner, rated for tires up to 37 inches.

• In March 2025, RealTruck closed its acquisition of Vehicle Accessories Group, its largest deal to date, reaching 30 plants in five countries.

Accessory groups and OE parts programs split a fragmented spare tire carrier market

The automotive spare tire carrier market has two layers. Factory hoists and brackets come from automakers' tier suppliers and are sold for replacement through OE parts programs and independent brands. The aftermarket for heavier carriers is crowded with specialist brands, many of which now sit inside two large accessory groups. No single company holds a dominant share across both layers.

OE and replacement hoist suppliers

GM Genuine Parts, Ford Motorcraft and Mopar supply factory underbody hoists and Wrangler carriers through dealer parts channels. Dorman Products is the best-known independent source for replacement spare tire hoists on GM, Ford and Ram pickups through its 924-series line, sold through national parts retailers. Replacement demand is steady because cable hoists corrode and seize in road-salt regions, often within 8 to 10 years.

Consolidated accessory groups

RealTruck owns Rugged Ridge, known for the Spartacus HD tire carrier for the Jeep Wrangler JL and a bed-mounted carrier for the Gladiator, and it expanded further with Vehicle Accessories Group in March 2025. Bestop now owns Smittybilt, maker of the XRC Gen3 and XRC Atlas tire carriers, and TeraFlex, known for Jeep suspension and heavy-duty carrier hardware. Together these groups give retailers a single source for carriers, bumpers and lift kits.

Off-road specialists

AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) sells the RX rear bumper with an integrated tire carrier for the Wrangler JL. ARB supplies rear bar carriers for Toyota, Ford and Nissan models across Australia, the Middle East and Africa. Westin offers XTS swing-out carriers for the Bronco and Wrangler, Rough Country sells Bronco tailgate reinforcement and spare relocation kits at value prices, and Road Armor markets the Stealth rear tire carrier.

Hitch-mounted and new-platform innovators

Wilco Offroad, RIGd Supply and Rigid Armor focus on swing-out carriers for the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser 250, the platforms driving hitch-mounted growth. Overland Vehicle Systems previewed its Pivot hitch carrier at SEMA 2025. These firms move fast on new model launches and often reach the market within months of a vehicle's debut, which lets them take share from larger groups on fresh platforms.