xs650

I'm leaving on a trip Thursday. just checked the donut (convenience spare) on my 96 I got last Novenber. It was flat and has a tread separation.

It's late at night so the tire stores are closed, how hard are new T155/70R17 "convenience" spares to find? Who carries them?

No spare isn't an option, I go places that are out of cell phone range.

I've already searched online and drawn a blank.

I'll start calling in the morning, but any advice on who to call will help. I'm 30 miles NE of Sacramento.


[Modified by xs650, 10:00 PM 3/30/2004]

linkschamp

Wow - talk about timing!! :crazy:

I just went through this for my son & his '92. I was lucky enough to find a (forum) member who had one at a great price!

Goodyear makes the OEM spare. Because tire stores (including their own) were destroying the spare when trying to mount it - (evidently because the rim is difficult to hold on most machines), Goodyear stopped selling the tire directly to consumers!

I got this directly from goodyear in two (2) seperate phone calls. I also checked again via email directly to Goodyear. Here was their response:

=======================================
From: goodyear_cr@goodyear.com on 03/16/2004 04:22 PM
Sent by: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Consumer Relations 728 1144 East Market Street Akron, OH 44316 Voice #: 800.321.2136 Fax #:
330.796.6829

Mr. B,

Thank you for contacting our website.
Unfortunately we do not have any stock on the convenience spare tire size T155/70R17 at this time and we do not have any production information at this time.

I apologize for any inconvenience you have faced in this matter.

Jodi Bean
Representative
Consumer Relations
======================================== =======

The only source from which I was able to find a new tire was directly thorugh a GM dealer. I was quoted a price of $175 from two (2) different dealers and neither could identify if it came mounted or not since it was a special-order item and their was no picture on their microfiche! GMParts Direct was also contacted and they informed me they do not carry tires.

In short, look on ebay or in the C4 Parts for Sale/Wanted. Some of the Corvette recycling yards had them for $65 plus $20-$25 S&H. The spares are different for different years - they also come in both nylon and radial in the same 17" size (for instance T155-70R/17 [radial] vs T155-70D/17 (nylon).

Here is a current ebay auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33746

Here are several email addresses from recylce yards that claimed to have spares:

1) PilotVette@aol.com
2) vettesacrossamerica@aol.com


NOTE: I make no claims of any kind for the ebay listing or email pointers!!

Hope this helps you... Good Luck & have a safe trip! :thumbs:




[Modified by linkschamp, 1:31 AM 3/31/2004]

65Z01

If you have another vehicle with a tire & wheel that will fit the Vette, just toss that under there for a temp measure.

linkschamp

Pretty sure that won't work - much to narrow to hold a normal size tire in the spare tub - his only choice would be to strap-down a spare under the hatch.

JasonL

Well, the tub should accomodate a 285... just hang the front of the tray on the lower setting of the front brackets. The full-size (flat) tire is meant to fit there.

linkschamp

According to the ('92) Owner's manual - you are correct - it says to store the deflated tire (flat) in there until you can get it repaired (ZR1's get placed in the hatch with luggage tie-downs).

But, we tried to put a 275-40/17 on a sawblade rim in there and even with the tub in the lower front brackets slots, could not get the latch-bolt started (the one under the license plate). Perhaps we did something wrong or an inflated tire won't fit because it won't compress like a flat tire... I would be interested to know if anyone is carrying a full-size tire in the tub as a spare! :smash:

xs650

Linkschamp, thanks for all the info.

Too bad it wan't what I wanted to hear :shocked:

Good news is the spare held air overnight, even it it does look like crap and have a small amount of tread separation, reaaly more like a crack on the edge of the tread.

I'll make a 1/2 hearted attempt to find one today, and if not just go with what I have.

Thanks

Dick

TA

Make a WTB thread in the C4 Parts for Sale section. I'm sure there are dozens (probably hundreds)of members with perfectly good spares sitting in their garages collecting dust. Mine's been sitting on the workbench for several years, but I'm holding onto it, just in case.

JSA 007

Hmm, let me check my spare....

:shocked: where'd it go!! :crazy:
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And I do have the donut just sitting in the garage collecting dust, but I doubt it works on a 96 :lol:
:) :cheers:

xs650

I scrubbed the spare good today and took a carefull look. What I thought was a major flaw in the tire was a groove where the tire had been pressed against a ridge on the bottom of the car. It doesn't look like anythintg more than a major cosmetic boo-boo.

A couple coats of Aerospace 303 and it went back under the car. When I get back from the Black Vette gathering in Laughlin, I thnk I'll cut a hole in the carrier to check tire pressure without lowering the carrier.

FWIW, I called some large tire stores in the area and they all confirmed the donuts were only available at a dealer, although one said he occasionally had used ones. Bummer. GMy not only put in a POS for a spare, the dealers have a monopoly on new replacements.

USA-VET

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33746

this is my ebay auction for the complete spare kit! :party:

HiRiser

Junkyard item, lots of junkyards in Sacramento! :cool:

joecaver

I think that the owners manual forgets to mention that the bolt also has a lower position. If you push up on the bolt a little and turn it 90 deg. it should drop into the lower slot. If you remove the license plate sometime you can see the bracket and the bolt and get an idea of what I'm describing.

84 Cherry

I just bought one a few weeks ago from a junkyard. It was $50 bucks but our dealer wanted an arm and a leg for the same thing.

bogus

do what I do... get a cheap compressor and a can of fix-a-flat.

Daffy

16" F-body one under mine......fits oon the car and underneath...cheap :seeya

scorp508

I've had a 255/50-16 BFG drag radial under the car before in the tub, but I haven't tried anything larger. I know about the Z's getting the tire bags for the 315s to toss into the hatch.

gh86E

I discovered my spare was rotten. Goodyear was the brand, so I went to a Goodyear store, and ordered a new one (complete on rim). It was a special order, (took a couple weeks), but was an exact replacement. Good thing, because I needed it a year later.