Spare tire useless?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Spare tire useless?
Started a rear suspension rebuild today. Removed the spare tire and tub. It had a white letter, GR70-15, Firestone 500- flat of course. The prior owner told me he had never taken it down in 15 years. Now I see why so many guys dump the spare. I could not imagine anyone, laying under the car and getting that spare down and the flat back in on the side of the road. Utterly ridiculous. :crazy:
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Re: Spare tire useless? (R. Bruno)
some keep it because its supposed to be part of the rear end support...I mean if you get rear ended in a crash, its supposed to be good...or something like that. :hat
Daniel
Daniel
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,787
Likes: 0
From: My own state of mind
Re: Spare tire useless? (R. Bruno)
Don't know about the rest of you but I ended up using mine a few months after I bought it. I limped it to the next exit and got a new tire. I'd of ended up walking about 15 miles and then having to come back to the car, get the flat, take it back to the shop, replace the tire, and then drive back to put it back on. It probably saved me at least 2 hours.
Matt
Matt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,226
Likes: 399
From: Northern CA
Re: Spare tire useless? (R. Bruno)
Mine was a little tough the first time... but after I lubed the bolt and hinge and cleaned things up a bit... it was easy to get the spare down. (5-min.)
I've had to do it a number of times for exhaust, rear-end, and antenna repairs. No big deal now. With the sissors jack your looking at a 10-minute tire change. EASY. :)
I've had to do it a number of times for exhaust, rear-end, and antenna repairs. No big deal now. With the sissors jack your looking at a 10-minute tire change. EASY. :)
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Spare tire useless? (KENS78SILVERANNIV)
One more reason not to use your spare: If the spare is a different size from your flat (and most of us are running wider than stock tires that are taller or shorter than stock) and you put it on the rear you can ruin your posi rear end with 2 different size tires. I always travel with a cell phone and AAA card (upgraded to AAA+ after my last 45 mile towtruck ride). MJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Re: Spare tire useless? (rainman69)
I'd use mine...if I could find a way to fit a 255/60R15 in there. Any suggestions?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Re: Spare tire useless? (MNJack)
One more reason not to use your spare: If the spare is a different size from your flat (and most of us are running wider than stock tires that are taller or shorter than stock) and you put it on the rear you can ruin your posi rear end with 2 different size tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 925
Likes: 1
From: LT1 and LS5 Coupes... New Orleans, LA
Re: Spare tire useless? (KenSny)
Since it is only used as a "spare" why does it have to be the same size as your rolling tires? I don't think anyone really rotates 5 tires anymore....
The Posi clutches keep both wheels semi-locked with just enough friction loss to allow different wheel speeds when making a turn. Different size rear tires would have the clutches slipping for an extended period and would eventually overheat and wear the posi clutches if you had very far to drive on the spare.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Stony Plain AB.
Re: Spare tire useless? (Allan71)
I carry my spare tire in the compartment behind the passenger seat.
A can of tire inflate/sealant weighs alot less and is easier to get to in case of emergency. :)
A can of tire inflate/sealant weighs alot less and is easier to get to in case of emergency. :)