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So this is what I've learned about my car after crawling around under it and experimenting for a few days: The 235-60R15 tire will fit in the spare tire carrier if it is fully deflated, and the front carrier bolts are backed out as far as possible. (About 3/4" is what I could get.) 11/16" (for the lock nut) and 3/4" (for the head) open end wrenches are what's required. Also in order to get the tire in the tub, I had to jack up the car and turn in the rear carrier bolt as far as it would go. Doing that, I can just barely get the tire in the tub. I also packed a large garbage bag. I'm thinking if I were to get a flat when I don't have the back of the car full of luggage, it would be easier to throw the tire in a bag and put it inside the car. Hope this helps someone.
Thanks for doing this experiment for us. That sounds like too much work to be reasonable. Both Vettes have (stock) 255/60R15 tires. Perhaps I could fit it? It's not worth it.
The standing rule in my house is that if you have a flat, drive on the rim to the nearest exit. If It's not safe to change a tire, don't. If it is safe to change a tire, there are lots of better options beyond a tow-truck at that point. If you are late for a meeting, call a Lyft instead! Just make sure you have your cell phone charged.
I appreciate that self-rescue may be required some places, but I don't go to those places, at least not in the Vette.
Originally Posted by Iceaxe
For all those saying they will just call Roadside Service or AAA let me tell you a little story....
Did you really stay at that local restaurant for 6 hours? Would your car not have been there in the morning?
Last edited by Bikespace; Jan 20, 2019 at 02:35 PM.
^^^yes I stayed with the car for 6 hours, there is a little more to the story.
It wasn't in the best part of town, the t-tops were on the work bench in the garage. I sent the wife home in Uber. Haggerty and the tow company kept calling and telling me they would be there in one hour.
If I had of known the end results beforehand I would have went down a different path. But the moral of the story is still the same. Roadside service might not always be as simple, quick and easy as advertised.
^^^yes I stayed with the car for 6 hours, there is a little more to the story.
It wasn't in the best part of town, the t-tops were on the work bench in the garage. I sent the wife home in Uber. Haggerty and the tow company kept calling and telling me they would be there in one hour.
If I had of known the end results beforehand I would have went down a different path. But the moral of the story is still the same. Roadside service might not always be as simple, quick and easy as advertised.
Thanks for the rest of the story! I can't poke holes in any of that.
drwet- I have 305/35ZR20 tires on the back of my 68 convert, so although I have a 15 in wheel and tire in the spare tire carrier, the take-off flat 20 inch wheel will never fit in the carrier. So far I have been lucky not to have a flat, but I think I will use the towing coverage on my Hagerty insurance, rather than trying to get that monster tire in the passenger side of the car. Corvette did not have a very good method for spare tire storage.
Corvette spare tire storage isn’t much worse than most pick-ups, just a little closer to the ground.
Just keep the factory spec spare in the carrier- Who cares if it’s not the same size as the other 4?
A spare is there to get you home safely and the stock spare fits the bill and it fits the car and the carrier.
Since our cars don’t have ABS or traction control, it really doesn’t matter for emergency use what the size is.
Now what to do with the flat that doesn’t fit the carrier is another story- A big plastic bag and put it in the car seems plausible enough. And if you have a passenger, call them an Uber.
Just my .02
All part of the adventure. I can't begin to count the number of times I have performed MUCH larger repairs on the side of the road. I have bled brakes in a Super 8 parking lot, changed a starter at the mall, used a coathanger to keep a muffler from dragging on the ground, changed a rocker stud by flashlight, swapped an alternator twice on the same trip, and countless other repairs too redneck to repeat. Of course I was younger then, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
All part of the adventure. I can't begin to count the number of times I have performed MUCH larger repairs on the side of the road. I have bled brakes in a Super 8 parking lot, changed a starter at the mall, used a coathanger to keep a muffler from dragging on the ground, changed a rocker stud by flashlight, swapped an alternator twice on the same trip, and countless other repairs too redneck to repeat. Of course I was younger then, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
DRWET
Thats the spirit!!
Fixed a lot of stuff in the middle of the ocean while sailing. Calling the Coast Guard is always the "tow of shame" if you can fix it!! heeeheee
Once put in a new clutch slave cylinder in my Z car on curb at Lee Circle in New Orleans!!
This thread has sure deviated. A nice diversion/way to break up the winter with some of our cars getting their annual beauty sleep. And, beautiful they are!
Glad that time has been kind to memories of cleverly and perseveringly overcoming what 99% of us view with terror or at least dread and would do/pay almost anything to avoid, especially during a long distance lakeside (Huron) weekend retreat getaway with a C3-hobby-supportive wife. I ascribe to the rule of thumb ratio that we C3’er hobbyists easily spend 3-4 hrs. of labor (of love) on our beautiful machines for every hour of driving bliss. Count me out on romanticizing one second of being boken down by the side of a rural road! Thst image sucks. But, respectfully (genuine) to each his own for who it is as much about the journy as the destination.... unless, aa in our case a beautiful lakeshore beckons (and, a craft brewery).
Dave
Last edited by Lakeside49; Jan 24, 2019 at 12:25 AM.
Many of the new Honda/Acura vehicles since 2015-16 are coming without any spare tire at all and also not equipped with run-flat (ZP) tires. What they are coming with is a Flat Tire Temporary Repair Kit. I suspect that other new vehicles out there may be coming with something similar. It is a kit similar to what Chevrolet included in the C5 Z06. These are currently showing up on eBay and soon will be showing up in salvage yards as well. Many tire stores such as Tire Rack sell similar kits as well, typically for under $50.
This is the one that came in my wife's new Acura...
Many of the new Honda/Acura vehicles since 2015-16 are coming without any spare tire at all and also not equipped with run-flat (ZP) tires. What they are coming with is a Flat Tire Temporary Repair Kit. I suspect that other new vehicles out there may be coming with something similar. It is a kit similar to what Chevrolet included in the C5 Z06. These are currently showing up on eBay and soon will be showing up in salvage yards as well. Many tire stores such as Tire Rack sell similar kits as well, typically for under $50.
This is the one that came in my wife's new Acura...
It is very complete with excellent instructions.
Good luck... GUSTO
So is this basically a glorified Fix-a-flat system? Does it inject a sealant into the tire and re-inflate it? If so, is the tire a throwaway after the sealant is injected? And how hard is it to clean from the rim?
That link requires a password, but I checked out some videos on YouTube that explain the workings of the Acura repair kit. Interesting concept. First I've heard of it. I would be interested in hearing from tire repair people. I know some of them hate the Fix-a-flat stuff because it makes such a mess. Call me a dinosaur, but I think I still like the idea of a spare tire.
