richscorvettes

I thought I saw a thread recently asking about using a space saver wheel and tire. As I recall these started to be used in Vettes in 76-77 or so and should have the clearance to clear the brake calipers. I wondered if any of you folks have used one of these units on your mid-years as a spare. If so, can you tell me which year and size you used? Thanks for your help.

Rich Lagasse

66427-450

it better be full diameter if you're going to use it on the rear.....or your posi unit will get very upset with you.

richscorvettes

Thanks for the response. I need a 25" diameter tire to match the tires I am using. I'm making an aluminum mount to replace the tire tub and I'm looking for something with a narrower tread width to gain some ground clearance. I also need to make sure to get a wheel which will clear the brake calipers.

Rich Lagasse

yooperod

I'm using a GM "donut" spare has 2 bolt patterns
it's the only thing that I have that will fit in the tub
of coarse my '64 has drum brakes.
If you want any measurements let me know
I'll pull it out

rod

richscorvettes

Rod,

Thanks for the information and offer. I'm not sure how your wheel would clear the brake caliper though. Do you know what year car the wheel came from?

Rich

Viet Nam Vett

Spare Tire????.......... I don't need no stinken Spare Tire..
:lol: :lol: :lol:

richscorvettes

Yeah, I hear ya! I was waiting for that one. :lol:

Rich

yooperod

Rich
Doesn't Fit
It's a code "rs" probably a '80 Impala (guess,not at work)
wheel 24" tall, fits drums ok
Just tried it on the '74 Will Not clear the calipers

rod

richscorvettes

Rod,

Thanks for taking the time to check it out. I appreciate it. :thumbs:

Someone said that the spare from a C4 would fit and I'll have to check that out.

Rich

Plasticman

Rich,

I was one who had wriiten in response to the other thread. The Search function does not appear to be working, so I could not retrieve the previous thread.

I am using a thin spare. and don't know what it came off of. It fits on my 62, and is 26" in dia. (which matches my rear tires). I was thinking it came off of a mid-80's Caddy or SUV. The other possiblity is a mid-80's Chevy Monte Carlo SS (has posi rear end and the standard tires are that dia. as well (215/65 R15's). I was also going to look at my 87 Vette spare and check to see if it was "close" (standard tires are 255/50-16 and are 26.1" in dia.).

My thin spare fits real nice in the 62's spare area (with room to spare).

If you need the actual size of my spare, I can dig it out of the trunk again. Let me know.

Hope this helps.
Plasticman

Daffy2

This subject is interesting to me because I don't run a spare - my current exhaust system precludes this - but I wouldn't mind having a spare to put on the back package shelf for long runs away from home (I would make a securing system so it wouldn't kill me in a crash). From a technical standpoint, how close do diameters have to be to avoid posi issues ? I have seen Corvettes with huge, heavy wheel and tire assemblies carried behind the seat with no restain mechanism and figured that was a disaster waiting to happen.

Daffy

yooperod

If you're unsure what the wheel came off of, the 2-3 letter code
next to the valve stem works very well with gm wheels
I use that a lot at work

rod

RestoVette

For a spare wheel and tire for a '65 that I restored a few years back, I bought a never-used spare tire/wheel off a wrecked '78 or '79 Corvette. It was a perfect fit over the hubs and in the tub of the '65, and the overall diameter of the tire was almost identical to the original '65 tires.


[Modified by RestoVette, 1:57 AM 2/27/2004]

RestoVette

Daffy wrote: From a technical standpoint, how close do diameters have to be to avoid posi issues ?


I remember having steering problems (pulling to one side) during acceleration on a '65 when the rear tires varied in air pressure more than 4-5 psi....so depending on how tight your posi is, a small variation in tire size could cause problems.

cbernhardt

Rich:
I am using a space saver spare from an '84 Corvette on Carol's 62. The rim size is 16" x 4" and the tire size is T155/80D16. The tire diameter is a little over 25". Here is a sketch showing the inside rim dimensions. Charles

Solid327

Can't help with a spare that will work but here's a link to a handy tire size calculator:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Plasticman

Rich,

Just checked my spare on the 62. It is a T155/80D16. measures (by circumference) to be 26" in dia.

The code near the valve stem is as follows: K485 9 30 RY

Now if someone can tell us what this code is from, we can identify where I got the spare from. I "assume" the K485 is a date code (made in April of 85), but please verify that as well. The "RY" is in larger letters than all of the others.

Good luck,
Plasticman

richscorvettes

Thanks everyone for the responses. I knew you folks would have the information I needed even on such a seemingly oddball question. :yesnod:

Looks like the T155/80D16 wheel/tire setup is the one to try. Thanks again.

Rich

yooperod

RY=
:Blazer S10/Jimmy S15 '83-03 4x2, 16x4 (compact spare)
:Blazer S10/Jimmy S15 '96-03 4x4, 16x4 (compact spare)
:Bonneville '82 16x4 (compact spare)
:Bonneville '83-86 16x4 (compact spare), 4-3/4" BC
:Camaro '81 16x4 (compact spare)
:Century '81 16x4 (compact spare)
:Cutlass '81-87 16x4 (compact spare)
:Cutlass '88 RWD, 16x4 (compact spare)
:Firebird '81 16x4 (compact spare)
:Grand Prix '82-87 16x4 (compact spare)
:Hombre '96-00 16x4 (compact spare)
:Malibu '81-83 16x4 (compact spare)
:Monte Carlo '81-87 16x4 (compact spare)
:Parisienne '82 16x4 (compact spare)
:Parisienne '83-86 16x4 (compact spare), 4-3/4" BC
:Regal '81-87 16x4 (compact spare)
:S10/S15/Sonoma '84-03 4x2, 16x4 (compact spare)
:S10/S15/Sonoma '96-03 4x4, 16x4 (compact spare)


rod

Edit: this wheel could also have a codes of
JJ
TBW
TV

when checking codes make sure you have the dia and width
as gm sometime uses the same code for different wheels
my "RS" is a 16" x 4"
but "RS" is also used on a 15 x 6"
Kinda like checking engine id codes

rod





[Modified by yooperod, 10:18 AM 2/26/2004]

Plasticman

Rod,

Thanks for the info! Looks like either the Monte Carlo or the SUV was where I got it from. But that size was available in many different vehicles that should make it easy to find.

This is a 16" X 4" rim (T155/80D16).

Please advise what ref. you used to give us that info. Looks like I need one of these references.

Rich,

I also have "in stock" a T125/80D16 that measures 24.1" in dia. (by circumferance measurement). This wheel has a code "RS" (16" X 4" wheel).

Good luck,
Plasticman


[Modified by Plasticman, 9:54 AM 2/26/2004]