Spare Tire ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
Spare Tire ?
Anybody not have the spare tire and housing on your car? I've been driving with a flat spare for years now. Can roadside service fix a flat? For a blow out I would get a tow. Any safety concerns from not having the spare at the rear? Just wondering.
68 Vetteman
68 Vetteman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 303
From: Lansdale 19446 PA
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '10-'11, '15, '19
I restored my 76 about 16 - 17 years ago and never installed the spare. I have have the spare tire tube and attaching hardware but left it in the garage.
Never had a problem.
Never had a problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
This has come up a few times before, and I WISH I could find the pictures of the guy who toured Europe while using his spare tire tub as a luggage compartment! He had a ton of tools and baggage and supplies laid out that looked like it would take a small truck to haul it all.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 195
Likes: 22
From: Ellenton, Florida
Spare tire
I removed the spare tire (38 years old) along with the spare tire carrier some time ago. I kept the fiberglass top of the carrier bolted on my car to provide some extra protection for the gas tank. There is no issues with doing this. I carry a tire plug kit in my glove box and also a small air compressor in the storage compartment behind the seat in case its needed. But I have only had two flat tires while driving in over 50 years so I'm not very concerned about it. LOL.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 829
Likes: 131
From: Spartanburg SC
I just can't bring myself to not have a spare. It's getting hard to find the 15 inch tires in stock. We take week-end trips to small mountain towns in NC, I would hate to have to buy a non matching tire just to get home. And have to wait for a day just to get one to the tire shop.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Agree!
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I just can't bring myself to not have a spare. It's getting hard to find the 15 inch tires in stock. We take week-end trips to small mountain towns in NC, I would hate to have to buy a non matching tire just to get home. And have to wait for a day just to get one to the tire shop.
Yeah, I just do not see the upside in not having the option of a spare. Weight? What does this weight savings benefit? And even if I didnt have the tire, Id never remove the carrier. Talk about looking like something is missing from the overall design in the back... just to see suspension parts and car undercarriage?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 951
Likes: 215
From: Foothills of the Adirondacks.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
I just can't bring myself to not have a spare. It's getting hard to find the 15 inch tires in stock. We take week-end trips to small mountain towns in NC, I would hate to have to buy a non matching tire just to get home. And have to wait for a day just to get one to the tire shop.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 570
Likes: 65
From: Sebastian,FL
My tub and tire were already gone when I bought mine. Knock on wood I have never been left in a bind without it although I have tried a few times to purchase the tub and lid but never seems to work out
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
I would think that removing weight in the spare area would be the worst possible place to remove weight. The weight of the spare and carrier is low and behind the rear axle and n eliminating it would probably upset the 50-50 weight balance. I bet handling with no spare and less than 1/4 tank of fuel would be squirrelly as well. (even worse with a big block)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 17
From: Iowa
I would think that removing weight in the spare area would be the worst possible place to remove weight. The weight of the spare and carrier is low and behind the rear axle and n eliminating it would probably upset the 50-50 weight balance. I bet handling with no spare and less than 1/4 tank of fuel would be squirrelly as well. (even worse with a big block)
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor WA
I've never had a spare, my vette didn't come with one, and I'm running 255/60R15s on front and 275/60R15s on rear so my thought process is why keep the spare tire tub if I can't even fit a real spare in there? I have debated keeping it as tool storage for road trips though.