Continental tire

[4] Early European sports cars had their spare tire attached to the back of the automobile, since their trunk or storage space was often minimal.

[6] Using the Lincoln Zephyr chassis that was chopped and channeled, stylist Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie, designed a convertible with a long hood and a spare tire mounted to the rear to reinforce the image of a low speedy automobile.

[12] For the 1957 model year, the Thunderbird's trunk was stretched 5 inches (127 mm) to allow the spare tire back inside, although the continental mounting was still optional.

The two-passenger Nash Metropolitan's rear-mounted spare tire was more convenient because the trunk was accessible by folding down the seatback on the early (1954 through 1958) models.

[15] The large-sized 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was the top-of-the-line model and included what Ford described a "Dream Car Spare Tire Carrier" among its many standard features.

Manufacturers included continental tire mounts for their perceived "distinctiveness" and to increase luggage space in the trunk, such as on all the 1954 Nash Custom models.

[20] Automotive historians also use this term to describe a nonfunctional circular bulge stamped into the trunk lid to give the impression of a spare tire.

[27] Other cars that incorporated versions of a simulated spare tire bulge include a squared stylized suggestion of a Continental kit on the 1964 Imperials.

[28] The 1982 through 1987 Lincoln "Bustleback" four-door sedan design prominently featured the Continental model name as part of the circular trunk lid bump.

[33] Continental kits and trunk lid add-on spare tire trim were also made popular by the garish pimpmobile era of the 1970s and featured in "Super Fly" movies.

For example, in the Houston hip-hop culture, "slabs" feature a rear-mounted wheel "cut in half and enclosed in a fiberglass casing.

[37] Numerous compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) models include an external rear-mounted spare tire from the factory, with no attempt to stylize it, just protect it from weather and theft.

[39] The externally rear-mounted tire appears on Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles to facilitate easy access when off-road.