Hdavis

Bikespace

AAA+, ask for a flatbed. I've also repaired (plug) and refilled tires, so you could carry the equipment to do that. I haven't tried fix-a-flat.

ronarndt

I have 20 inch rims on the back of my 68 convert, so I have a similar problem. I got a used 7 x 15 inch stock size rim on ebay and put a new inexpensive tire on it for a spare, just in case. The car will look funny and handle poorly, but I will at least be able to drive it home. I also tried to find one of those space saver skinny tires, but could not find one with the correct bolt circle.

stingr69

Best to have a spare with same OD as your rear tires as the limited slip differential clutches can be damaged by operating with two different tire diameters.

Easy Mike

Buy a 15" AZ rally wheel. Mount a tire on it. Put it in the spare carrier.

Mr D.

Visa or MasterCard always fixes what needs fixin.

7T1vette

Carry a cell phone and have collector car insurance that provides flat-bed towing. And this isn't a S-A reply. This is what you do.

BKarol

I also would recommend getting a spare. Just because you have collector car insurance don't expect your problems are solved. Lets say you are 75 miles from home and have a flat tire. Your collector agent is going to be hard pressed to find a flat bed to bring you home.

My brother waited over 2 hours at 10am one day when the clutch pedal broke on his 71 Chevelle, 502. He had Haggerty. Apparently they contract out to local towing companies just like AAA. But their network is not as big. In this case they didn’t have anyone nearby on their list, so he waited while they searched other nearby cities and towns for someone that could help.

CheezMoe

Tow rider on the insurance....call a rollback.....

C3 Stroker

That's what I do. For all my cars. Even though I have spares for my other cars. For an easy fix, such as maybe running over a nail, I've found that Fix-a-Flat works well.

80-Vette

This is the best answer. If the plug doesn't work call AAA.

7T1vette

When you call and a flat-bed tow arrives, you have them take you to the nearest place where you can get the tire repaired or replaced. Then you drive home....

OldCarBum

I plan to purchase a lightweight 17" narrow aluminum wheel with 4" backspace, mount a 27" diameter narrow tire and put it in the tire carrier.
I'll have reduced weight, the spare will fit all four corners, will have equal height for the posi rear end and I wont be stranded.
Where I live and drive I have limited cell service, so I could easily find myself in a canyon with no cell service, a flat tire and no way to call a tow.
Don't forget a jack and lug wrench.

The13Bats

I see many views on this question with no right one size fits all answer.

Im 54 owned many vettes and other cars and had one flat out driving since i was 16, i dont carry a spare, i have carried fix a flat but never used it,
In the 80s i daily drove an 81 to 100k miles never once dropped the spare.

Ive had cars towed for countless other reasons,
So i dont carry a spare alternator, spare carb, spare radiator, spare control arm, etc ( other things that left me stranded )

I bought my wife a kia soul like other newer cars it has no spare, just slime type sealer and an air pump, boy do people on the kia forum bitch about it.

I never liked the to me eye sore spare carrier on c3s, i like seeing the cool looking well detailed rear irs, its one thing that made me notice vettes in the first place,
I do respect its a purist must have, as are stock skinny bias ply tires.

I have zero issue calling a flat bed, insurance pays for it, my longest wait was when the 69 busted a rear trailing arm rod, the wait was about 1 hour, we waited in a taveren,
Longest haul over 100 miles, it wasnt a vette but the xterra, extra tow fees 25.00, plus driver tip, im good with that,

So for me i will just call the flatbed, which i would also do on the kia

derekderek

Carry the fixaflat and plugs. Usually works. If it doesn't, then use the phone. At worst, you wasted 5 bucks on the fixaflat. If front and rear tires are close diameter, you can carry a smaller tire and put it on the front. PITA, but every option in this thread is...except for waiting in a pub.

general ike

Well I have had a lot of flat tires in my life. Alot of bad roads and especially in my younger days, bad tires. I am almost 60 and I don't think I have changed out too many tires due to wear. I carry a spare, I think the rear of a Vette looks naked without the carrier.

Now in saying that it took me a while to clean up the jack and wrench and to get a date correct one is quite expensive, so maybe I would call a tow truck and ask to use their tools to not dirty mine!!!! Ike

The13Bats

Ike, i respect your felling on the carrier and heard it before,
Sorry, I still see it as an ugly afterthought must by gm,
First time i saw half axles spinning at 15 i was sold,
To this day i find it cool like hooker side pipes and bbs,
But i do understand its a must have for some and your comment about your jack and handle got me thinking,
If my Frankenstein 69 did get a flat no big deal i get it towed but im good with slapping a floor jack under there,
But not so fast with a pristine purist car, just removing the spare, jacking the car might cause it to loose cool points with ncrs so that would be an entirely different boat,
Even getting it towed could do damage from the hooks and tie downs...hum.

general ike

The truth is, Bats I would probably just tow it with a flatbed even though I in theory have what I need to change out the tire. I truly don't travel that far, at least I have not, so I would simply take it home on a flatbed and fix it there.

My car is in no way NCRS but I have worked quite hard cleaning her up so I would like to keep her as pristine as possible. My comment about the jack and handle were somewhat "tongue and check".
I like, this car at least, to be as correct as I can get it. Agreed not he nicest look for a spare but what else could GM do for a spare with early 70s technology.


Here what my cover looked like when I first got it and my repair.


OUCH


OUCH!!!

INSPECTION BY MY EXPERT

NOT BAD!!!


So here you go not exactly the same view:


WITH

WITHOUT


You do cover some cool looking metal back there, but the cover also gives the rear a slick blacked out look . HMMMM Half the year with it on and the other without?????? Ike .

The13Bats

The dog rocks, i love animals,

I didnt really take your jack comment serious or not but it got my mind engaged,

There are some guys on this thread who go as far as not driving their c3 and keeping it more a museum piece.

In my case lets say i buy a pristine restored ncrs dream of a 69 427 4 speed convertible, a very expensive and in this example perfect car in my world, i really would be nervious about a flat or a tow, i see cars at that level almost like art i shouldnt molest,
Lucky im not in that ballpark or even close .
But i dont think its wrong some guys wouldnt wanna mess up a nice original 45 plus yo part.

In your case your car does look better with the nice detailed carrier in place, i hope dog agrees, .

I forgot to mention i only like the carrier removed on side exhaust cars and only if the rear is well detailed,

Mark Otnes

I had AAA tow Rokke about 10 miles to the garage. They didn't use a flatbed. All the tires were fine, it was leaking gasoline. Anyway, no problems. He drove slowly and VERY respectfully. If I had a flat, I'd call AAA again, no hesitation.