We have always had a spare. Since we travel off the main roads most of the time the only time we have had a blow out was over an hour from the nearest town on a Sunday. At that time we had Good Sam and they had a body out there to change the tire. He didn't have the correct tools and if I had not been carrying my tools we would not have been able to change the tire. That said we always carry a mounted spare in the USA and in Mexico an additional unmounted spare. We have had TWO tire failures while traveling in Mexico but the local tire shops preform incredible repairs. So in a nut shell we carry a spare & the tools.
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico