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running without spare

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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:09 PM
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Default running without spare

wondering how many of you have taken your spare off and noticed any changes in handeling.
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:17 PM
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I run mine, and Ive run without it, I didnt notice any real obvious feel in how the handled...


But i know I knocked off a valve stem once and shreded a new LF...

And once I lost the *** end of the car avoiding a large dog and spun it sideways and backwards off the highway and knocked the LR off the rim.

Both times it was real nice to drop the spare and put it on...saved about 200 bucks in tow fees.
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:25 PM
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Have always run w/o my spare tire/carrier, etc. Carry my AAA Card and cell phone.
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:25 PM
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Have been running without it for the past several years and not noticed any difference ......... always carry AAA in my wallet


CE-LT4 we lived in West Chester for 4 years back in the early 80's (at a place called summit house) very beautiful part of the country. Understand that there is a large vette specialty shop in the area now.

Last edited by Mr. Peabody; Nov 29, 2009 at 10:28 PM.
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
Have been running without it for the past several years and not noticed any difference ......... always carry AAA in my wallet


CE-LT4 we lived in West Chester for 4 years back in the early 80's (at a place called summit house) very beautiful part of the country. Understand that there is a large vette specialty shop in the area now.
Cool....Summit House is still here. The Corvette place is probably Couny Corvette. Very good folks there.
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by kimmer
wondering how many of you have taken your spare off and noticed any changes in handeling.
Keep in mind that the spare actually is a major componet in the safety of the C4 in a rear end collision. To remove it it should be replaced with a rear delete bar. Very HTF those spare delete kits these days.
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Goldcylon
Keep in mind that the spare actually is a major componet in the safety of the C4 in a rear end collision. To remove it it should be replaced with a rear delete bar. Very HTF those spare delete kits these days.
How heavy are those delete bars? Is it even worth it?
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmers
How heavy are those delete bars? Is it even worth it?

No idea, Unless your tracking the car keep the spare up in there
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 04:24 PM
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I'm probably lucky if mine holds air.
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 04:34 PM
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The new vettes dont even have a spare tire, all they get is a can of fix a flat.
I'd run the spare but take it out for drag strip use, but do what u want.
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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I removed mine on the LT4 Vette. There is no tire, no tire holder and no spare tire delete. The spare tire doesn't hold the air and I could not find a new tire besides, I cant use it on the front due to the C5 brake kit.

I do have my AAA Premier
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Goldcylon
Keep in mind that the spare actually is a major componet in the safety of the C4 in a rear end collision. To remove it it should be replaced with a rear delete bar. Very HTF those spare delete kits these days.
Very True. I purchased the deleate bar kit from Jeffvette several years ago. At the time he had several of them but they are now as hard to find as the original lightweight OEM plastic headlights
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
original lightweight OEM plastic headlights
are you looking for those?




Would driving without the spare tire delete bar affect the Vette's handling performance? Or is just a "rear end" safety feature?

I've seen rear ended Vettes, the spare tire didn't prevent a damn thing.
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by PLRX

I've seen rear ended Vettes, the spare tire didn't prevent a damn thing.
...Completely. These spare tire carriers are held-on with just a couple of tiny brackets, mounted with small bolts....these would 'shear-off' with any moderate impact. No (major) crash-worthy benefit at all, IMHO.....
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 02:20 AM
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In 12 years of ownership, I've never had a flat on my Vette. But if I were to take the spare out and leave it at home.....

When you have luck as bad as mine, you learn not to push it. And I guarantee my first flat would be during a snowstorm with gale force winds that came out of nowhere as I was passing through Chihuahuita on a Saturday night as my cell battery died. Of course, in that scenario, it's getting driven on the rim
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
In 12 years of ownership, I've never had a flat on my Vette. But if I were to take the spare out and leave it at home.....

When you have luck as bad as mine, you learn not to push it. And I guarantee my first flat would be during a snowstorm with gale force winds that came out of nowhere as I was passing through Chihuahuita on a Saturday night as my cell battery died. Of course, in that scenario, it's getting driven on the rim
And when the rim is ruined you can replace it with the wheels you always wanted, another win win situation!
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 09:39 AM
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Mine is 15 years old and won't hold air ! Carry the card !
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 10:37 AM
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I've pulled mine, and didn't notice any kind of difference other than looking a little cleaner. I intend to route
a dedicated transmission cooler with a built-on fan back there when I put the new trans in.
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 12:39 PM
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Pulled mine no difference
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Old Dec 1, 2009 | 12:53 PM
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I ran mine without a spare for a long time. Did not have any problems.
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