Spare Tire Replacement
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: chicago il
Spare Tire Replacement
Hi all. I want to replace my aging spare tire for my 79 C3. I remember reading where a lot of you just removed your spare tire. I plan on some road trips this summer and would like a spare handy. Problem is that it seems impossible to get the original size 195/80/15. According to this site, www.ejelta.com, the next reasonable tire size is 205/75/15. It looks like the diameter is 1.08 percent different to the 225/70/15 mounted tires. (The original spare was .48 percent different in diameter.) Do you guys think going with the new tire (205/75/15) will hurt anything at only 1.08 percent difference? If you think it will be OK, do you think it will fit in the spare tire bay? Thanks for any thoughts. (BTW, I searched the forum but didn't find any posts about this.)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
wow too many numbers and %.... i have a 77 and was able to compress the spare tire carrier to fit the space saver spare you have...by the way my local Firestone dealer said he can get that size as a replacement tire.... any way, at the same time my buddy with a 79 got one of my used 8" alloy rims and we were able to make his carrier "bigger to fit it"...so there is lots of room in the spare tire carrier, i would be more worried about how much bigger you can go on the spare tire steel rim, and the tire dealer can give you guidance on that? the circumference on the spare tire only really matters on your rear wheels because of the limitied slip differential so measure/compare the circumference of your tires....and remember you can always replace a flat rear tire by moving a tire from the front to the back and put the spare on the front if you had too.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: chicago il
Wow, well if your tire guy said he could still get that size, then I will continue my quest to find the original size. And good idea about taking a tire from the front to put in the rear. Had not thought about that. Thanks. (Is there anyone else who was able to get the original sized spare?)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by 79C3
Hi all. I want to replace my aging spare tire for my 79 C3. I remember reading where a lot of you just removed your spare tire. I plan on some road trips this summer and would like a spare handy. Problem is that it seems impossible to get the original size 195/80/15. According to this site, www.ejelta.com, the next reasonable tire size is 205/75/15. It looks like the diameter is 1.08 percent different to the 225/70/15 mounted tires. (The original spare was .48 percent different in diameter.) Do you guys think going with the new tire (205/75/15) will hurt anything at only 1.08 percent difference? If you think it will be OK, do you think it will fit in the spare tire bay? Thanks for any thoughts. (BTW, I searched the forum but didn't find any posts about this.)
205/75/15 40,000 mile warranty(Heh) for $38.48 from Firestone replacing my original Goodyear. In my opinion,if nothing else,that spare protects your gas tank. I would run it on the front regardless.The only flat I ever had I fixed on the car with a tire plug/glue kit.Worked fine till I could get a real fix.All you need then is air.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by DropTopBigBlock
i couldn't get one of those to fit in the carrier on my '71.
