Choose tyres for the distance that must be covered before the next opportunity to change them, not simply the length of the first stage. Soft tyres are a strong choice for a single stage or two short stages before service, when surface conditions make them suitable. Longer intervals favour a more durable option.
A spare wheel adds 20 kg. Removing it provides a weight-saving performance advantage, but leaves the car unable to replace a punctured tyre during the stage. Even with Wheel Replacement Ability at level 5, a wheel change costs 30 seconds.
For a competitive single-stage Daily Challenge, using Soft tyres and leaving the spare wheel behind is a deliberate high-performance strategy: a puncture and a 30-second wheel change can already ruin a strong leaderboard result. For longer events where reaching the finish matters more, the spare wheel can be worth carrying. Manage damage and tyre life according to the actual service schedule.