temporary spare tire?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 236
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temporary spare tire?
When I bought my '78 the spare tire and tub were missing. I found a tub for sale but now I should try to find a spare. My manual says that the car came with a "temporary spare" size P195/80D15. Where would be a good place to find this item? Junk yard? I would like to get one with a new (or relatively new) tire. How have you all sourced this?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My original was totally shot when I dropped the tub this spring. I just went to a tire shop and bought a good used 195/70R/15, fit in the tub perfectly. Not NCRS, but on the side of the road, I'm not gonna be too worried about that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I don't carry a spare at all anymore. I store our luggage bags in the spare carrier. I do keep a can of tire sealer and pressurized air. We run many long distant road trips. Ie; 1500 to 3000 mile round trip cruises. Never had any issues. New tires and be vigal about air pressure. Al
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
For the OP. What size tire are you running now? What wheel? The spare tub for a '78 was different than '68-'77. This was so that a 255-60-15 flat could be carried in the tub. I would get a similar wheel to what you are running and a tire of the same size. I have these on mine. Four on the ground and one in the tub. No need for a hard to find compact spare for yours. You will need a jack and tools to change the flat also. Have you looked under the pass. side storage compartment liner for those? mike...
Last edited by mds3013; Jul 21, 2013 at 04:26 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
No, it's ok to use a smaller spare on the rear as long as you don't go fast or leave it on a long time. Many newer cars with posis have smaller spares. I think I remember the owner's manuals warning about exceeding 50 mph if you mount it on the rear.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,651
Likes: 3,110
From: Shamong, NJ
The only difference with the 78-82 Corvettes spare tire tub, is the hangers to mount the tub. The hangers were changed to allow the tub to hang lower, when the temporary spare was replaced by a flat P255/60R15.
The original Goodyear P195/80D15 "Temporary Use Tire", is no longer available, and I don't know that anyone makes a regular P195/80R15 road tire either. The OEM tire had a diameter of about 27.5". Either a P195/70R15 or a P20575R15 should work, as they both have diameters in the 27.1" to 27.4" range. Both sizes are currently available, from an assortment of tire makers.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
The 78 spare tire tub, is not different. The same tire tub was used in all 1968 to 1982 Corvettes.
The only difference with the 78-82 Corvettes spare tire tub, is the hangers to mount the tub. The hangers were changed to allow the tub to hang lower, when the temporary spare was replaced by a flat P255/60R15.
The original Goodyear P195/80D15 "Temporary Use Tire", is no longer available, and I don't know that anyone makes a regular P195/80R15 road tire either. The OEM tire had a diameter of about 27.5". Either a P195/70R15 or a P20575R15 should work, as they both have diameters in the 27.1" to 27.4" range. Both sizes are currently available, from an assortment of tire makers.
The only difference with the 78-82 Corvettes spare tire tub, is the hangers to mount the tub. The hangers were changed to allow the tub to hang lower, when the temporary spare was replaced by a flat P255/60R15.
The original Goodyear P195/80D15 "Temporary Use Tire", is no longer available, and I don't know that anyone makes a regular P195/80R15 road tire either. The OEM tire had a diameter of about 27.5". Either a P195/70R15 or a P20575R15 should work, as they both have diameters in the 27.1" to 27.4" range. Both sizes are currently available, from an assortment of tire makers.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 31
From: Pitman NJ
I may be wrong, but I thought that the gas tank increased from a 17 gallon in '77 to a 24 gallon in '78. To make up the difference in size, they went to the smaller spare tire. I never tried it on my '79, but I'm not sure a full sized tire will fit in the tub.
BTW, I pulled out my original spare tire, and filled it with air. It leaked all around tire bead.... so I just put it back up in there. If I have a problem, I'll just use my cell phone.
BTW, I pulled out my original spare tire, and filled it with air. It leaked all around tire bead.... so I just put it back up in there. If I have a problem, I'll just use my cell phone.
Last edited by blk79nj; Jul 21, 2013 at 09:01 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,651
Likes: 3,110
From: Shamong, NJ
The tank is bigger, but the rear of frame remained the same, as did the position of the underside of the tank. The size of the tank was increased on the top. Because of the 78-82's fastback body style, there was more space available above the tank, allowing GM to increase it's capacity.
The temporary spare was used, to help reduce weight. In the late 70's and early 80's, GM was doing all they could to reduce the car's weight, in an effort to improve fuel mileage.
Chevrolet was aware that cars like the 911 and Ferrari's, had no room to carry the full size wheel, if they had a flat. Chevy didn't want customers to have to put a muddy flat tire, in the interior, like Porsche owners did. They redesigned the spare tire tub's hanger hardware, to allow the tub to hang lower, if the 255/60 needed to be carried in the tub.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,352
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
I think the stock steel wheel and tire weighs about 50 pounds. At 70 years of age, I think I've only done a tire change using the spare 2 times in my life. Once when I had a blow out on my 65 Mustang on the freeway and once on the 95 Cadillac in a shopping center parking lot. I plan to just rely upon AAA.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 31
From: Pitman NJ
They did increase the size of the tank in 78, but that had nothing to do with the switch to the temporary spare.
The tank is bigger, but the rear of frame remained the same, as did the position of the underside of the tank. The size of the tank was increased on the top. Because of the 78-82's fastback body style, there was more space available above the tank, allowing GM to increase it's capacity.
The temporary spare was used, to help reduce weight. In the late 70's and early 80's, GM was doing all they could to reduce the car's weight, in an effort to improve fuel mileage.
Chevrolet was aware that cars like the 911 and Ferrari's, had no room to carry the full size wheel, if they had a flat. Chevy didn't want customers to have to put a muddy flat tire, in the interior, like Porsche owners did. They redesigned the spare tire tub's hanger hardware, to allow the tub to hang lower, if the 255/60 needed to be carried in the tub.
The tank is bigger, but the rear of frame remained the same, as did the position of the underside of the tank. The size of the tank was increased on the top. Because of the 78-82's fastback body style, there was more space available above the tank, allowing GM to increase it's capacity.
The temporary spare was used, to help reduce weight. In the late 70's and early 80's, GM was doing all they could to reduce the car's weight, in an effort to improve fuel mileage.
Chevrolet was aware that cars like the 911 and Ferrari's, had no room to carry the full size wheel, if they had a flat. Chevy didn't want customers to have to put a muddy flat tire, in the interior, like Porsche owners did. They redesigned the spare tire tub's hanger hardware, to allow the tub to hang lower, if the 255/60 needed to be carried in the tub.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Danville Illinois
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Just got back from the local tire dealer Friday, had him get me a spare ( biggest that would fit in my 75s 27" tub ).
Since i am running monster rear tires ( P275/60s ) i was looking to get something in the same tire dia which is 28.06 but it wont fit in the tub.
Have never had a flat in the vette, just being prepared i guess.
Since i am running monster rear tires ( P275/60s ) i was looking to get something in the same tire dia which is 28.06 but it wont fit in the tub.
Have never had a flat in the vette, just being prepared i guess.