My spare is an old 6.70X15 that I would not trust to use - I've seen that some have used a temporary spare that would easily fit the '65s tire tub. My question is: What size temporary spare comes closest to the 27" OD (or thereabouts) of a 215-70R15 tire? What car did it come off of?

Thanks...


[Modified by jkmhb, 4:08 PM 1/26/2004]


[Modified by jkmhb, 4:56 PM 1/26/2004]

 

GREAT idea!.......I too would like to know what size fits...

:thumbs:

 

umm, if you have posi in da rear you might need to double tire change if using a spare with an OD much different from your four corners (i.e. if you get a flat in one of your rears you might need to move a good front tire back there and then put the smalle OD spare in front in place of the one you moved).

another thought - buy the Goldline-tire tub bolts (those are the longest of your three choices) to get the maximum amount of room, width-wise.

 

You might call a tire shop and ask them to back reference that 215 70r 15 to see what car it came off of . . . the more common the better - like a taurus for example would be great.

 

I take that back - seems the wheel fit would be most important too - we could find the right diameter and the wrong bolt pattern.

 

ctjackster - that's why I'm hoping to find a temporary spare that has the same diameter as the tires already on my car.

jimw2 - many GM cars share the bolt pattern with the Corvette. Some temporary spare rims are also dual bolt pattern. They often use 16" rims and are likely to clear the calipers as well.

 

GM uses a 5 on 4-3/4" bolt pattern. I considered pulling the spare from my old '89 firebird but never got around to it. The caliper issue is not a problem for my '63 with drum brakes. You may also need to carry spare lug nuts that work for the spare. The junk yard has to be full of these.

 

This issue was recently discussed somewhat concerning a C1 (same bolt pattern). Ref. thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=731368

The largest temp. spare I found was about 26" in diameter (which worked perfectly for me).

Plasticman


[Modified by Plasticman, 6:18 PM 1/26/2004]

 

Do you know what it was off of? :auto:

 

Corvette mags have done this - try full size 80s Chevy/pontiac or web search

With positraction, I would recommend the Kelly Springfield 195x75r15 (also comes WW) which is a 7.75x15 replacement.

 

I "thought" it was off a late 80's Caddy, but I don't trust my memory! Other vehicles to check are mid 80's Monte Carlo SS with the 215/65-15 tires which measure 26" dia. (with posi, they need the correct dia. tire for the rear), and SUV's (Blazer S-10/Jimmy).

I would also look at C4 Vettes, since the standard tire is 25.8" dia, the spare would need to be the same (at least that is my lousy reasoning). One of these days, I will check my 87's spare for air and then try it on the 62.

Good luck,
Plasticman

 

I saved the spare from my 83 olds 98 when I donated it. It fits my 62 perfectly and gives me a lot of extra storage space in the spare tire well.

 

I've got a T125/80D16 Uniroyal Hideaway that came from a late 80's or early 90's Fleetwood Caddy. The 16" rim has the dual bolt pattern others have mentioned. Only time it's been on the ground was when I tested it for fit.

I paid $15.00 for it after the Caddy's owner got a full-size spare and donated this one to a Thrift Shop. Check with a few tire shops, they usually have some of these laying around after people "trade up" to full sizes.

 

For your info concerning these thin spares:

The T125/80D16 is 24.25" dia. and a section width of 4.92"
The T155/80D16 is 26.0" dia. and a section width of 6.10"

Don't know if GM used a bigger size than the T155 (that was the largest that I could find in the bone yard.

Plasticman

 

I'm not sure of the size, but for the '65 I restored, I bought a never used spare tire/wheel from a wrecked '78 for about $25.........perfect fit over the rotors and in the tub, and almost exactly the same OD as the stock tires. Check C3's in your local Corvette wrecking yards. HTH.


[Modified by RestoVette, 5:02 AM 1/27/2004]

 

hey JK - you kept that side exhaust after all? I hope so, 'cause (aside from that tranny) we seem to own the same car (as I recall youmight have an L76?).

I guess I understand the desire to find an inexpensive spare substitute, if you don't have one that currently works for you. I myself don't see the point if you have a perfectly good spare (not your situation, JK I know) because I can't imagine any benefit to the 2" of increase "storage" space in the not so easily accessed tub. (yes I too store some tire-changing type tools in the tire's center too). My car is also in need of a correct OD spare, since it still has the replacement but original-sized spare in the tub and the bigger OD rubber on it now would prove a hassle if a rear flat (I have posi). But I am looking for a (used) single repro knock off for this purpose, one will turn up sooner or later, and I will put a matching OD, but perhaps not as wide, tire on it. Because I have one question for you:

How freakin RIDICULOUS would your pride and joy mid-year, with KOs or just nice wheel covers or perhaps TTs or Cragars (any looks great) look running home with a temp spare on it???? If you are like me and any of my cars, they have a built in "maximum distance from home" sensor that alerts the car to just that point where you have travelled as far from home as you will be going, and then the engine dies, or the lights stop working, or the tire goes flat.

But hey, maybe that's just me . . .

 

I have a reproduction ko on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMESSE%3AIT
:cheers:

 

thanks Sam - I saw that yesterday myself (cruisin the ebay at work, shhh) and it caught my eye, only thing is my KOs are not bolt ons and I prefer to locate another of the same variety. Watchin yours to see what a single will bring though, and good luck on it.

 

ctjackster - I still have the side exhaust, my car was originally an L79, now an (early) LT1 350. I'm still looking for an acceptable more quiet option for the side exhaust - as time and money permit.

 

that's cool, anything to enhance you personal enjoyment of the car, I say. good thing is you could fund much of your under car exhaust purchase by selling the side exhaust and covers (and rear panel, if a true side exhaust panel - the rear panels with the exhaust cut-outs are much more readily found.

or you could do it like I did with the Vintage Air I did not want on my car - I found a member who wanted Vintage Air and was wiling to give me all of the parts that were lost (and I would have to source) when the VA unit went on my car prior to purchase in exchange for all the VA pieces. Maybe you find a C2 member who has a nice, perhaps stainless undercar exhaust and looking to go side exhaust. Only variable to watch there (aside from quality issues) is the distance between the two of you - UPS costs would kill the value of doing the deal that way.