spare tire
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Bear Delaware
spare tire
I have an 89 C4 coupe
I was wondering if I can remove donut spare and replace with full size tire.
I know the spare tire holder can be lowered. Is there sufficient room to accept a full
size spare?
If so, has anyone done this and will it be bulging out too far?
Does anyone who has done this have any pictures?
Thanks ... Joe
I was wondering if I can remove donut spare and replace with full size tire.
I know the spare tire holder can be lowered. Is there sufficient room to accept a full
size spare?
If so, has anyone done this and will it be bulging out too far?
Does anyone who has done this have any pictures?
Thanks ... Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
I have an 89 C4 coupe
I was wondering if I can remove donut spare and replace with full size tire.
I know the spare tire holder can be lowered. Is there sufficient room to accept a full
size spare?
If so, has anyone done this and will it be bulging out too far?
Does anyone who has done this have any pictures?
Thanks ... Joe
I was wondering if I can remove donut spare and replace with full size tire.
I know the spare tire holder can be lowered. Is there sufficient room to accept a full
size spare?
If so, has anyone done this and will it be bulging out too far?
Does anyone who has done this have any pictures?
Thanks ... Joe
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Bear Delaware
89 C4 newbie
I think I'll leave it be as is.
I just don't understand when some forum members state the spare is there for protection on impact.
When I dropped the spare tire holder, everything seemed rather loose and not too stable. Am I missing any parts to keep things in a rigid stable intact stationary position?
Things that make a Vette owner go Hmmmmm.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
My 1985 original spare is still under the car. It looks fine with no dry rotting that I can see and the rim is in perfect untouched condition. Would it still be safe to use for a short distance run in case of a flat tire?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
When installed properly and tightened up, it does not move.
Can't say what you might be missing, but from your description something isn't right. Either missing parts or not installed correctly.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Bear Delaware
Thanks.... I'll have a mechanic check it out for me.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
No need for a mechanic, unless you would rather not get involved.
The 'tray' is suspended by two hooks in the rear, and one bolt
accessed in front (at the rear of the vette). The bolt size is the same as the lug nuts, so you can use the lug wrench to unscrew the bolt, and lower the tray.
With the bolt removed, the aft end of the tray will lower to the ground showing the spare, and possibly the jack. Just check the
tray mounting on the hooks, as there are two levels of adjustment
to accommodate a larger tire.
If all connections look OK, replace and tighten the bolt.
The 'tray' is suspended by two hooks in the rear, and one bolt
accessed in front (at the rear of the vette). The bolt size is the same as the lug nuts, so you can use the lug wrench to unscrew the bolt, and lower the tray.
With the bolt removed, the aft end of the tray will lower to the ground showing the spare, and possibly the jack. Just check the
tray mounting on the hooks, as there are two levels of adjustment
to accommodate a larger tire.
If all connections look OK, replace and tighten the bolt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 6
From: Texas
From an engineering point of view, the absence of the Spare Tire will increase, and help the rear crumble upon impact therefore greatly decreasing the odds of injury.
Most C4 Owners remove the Spare Tire completely.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Then why did GM put a brace in place of the spare when they added run flats? The spare tire delete option from the factory has this brace. I firmly believe that if it wasnt needed they would not have put it in.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Does your engineering theory coincide with the idea behind the now proven unsafe Corvair and Volkswagon Beetles of the 60's? In other words, the less those cars had in front of the driver, the more chance of serious injury to the driver. Shouldn't the same principle be applied to the rear of any car? Crumple zones in newer cars let the car absorb impact and do improve safety standards for sure, but there are always objects designed in to help take the impact. Crumple zones are merely folding points for the body. The idea of not having other substantial objects there to help absorb the impact doesn't make sense to me. I tend to think most C4 owners now remove the spares because of their age and the extra weight they may want to reduce.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
Removed the spare & related hardware last summer when I painted mine, and decided to leave it off.
Tire/rim was in such bad shape it couldn't be used if needed.
Less weight.
Incredible access to mufflers, rear end and fuel tank.
The only benefit to safety in a rear ender may be the weight of the tire/rim would help absorb a tiny bit of energy. If that becomes a factor, I'm having a real bad day.
I have AAA anyways.
Tire/rim was in such bad shape it couldn't be used if needed.
Less weight.
Incredible access to mufflers, rear end and fuel tank.
The only benefit to safety in a rear ender may be the weight of the tire/rim would help absorb a tiny bit of energy. If that becomes a factor, I'm having a real bad day.
I have AAA anyways.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 4
From: Hollister CA
Can anyone send me a pic of how the spare is supposed to be stored?
1989 coupe. My spare was crammed with jack and the rim is badly bent. I'm going to get another spare but want to make sure it gets out back correctly. I have a spring, bag of jack & tools and the spare tray. I assume the tire goes up against the gas tank? The bolt at the rear seems too long, but looks correct.
Thanks
1989 coupe. My spare was crammed with jack and the rim is badly bent. I'm going to get another spare but want to make sure it gets out back correctly. I have a spring, bag of jack & tools and the spare tray. I assume the tire goes up against the gas tank? The bolt at the rear seems too long, but looks correct.
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
Regarding the bolt being too long, you can see the bracket on the left that it is secured in. The "T" on the end of the bolt rides up in the valley at the top of this bracket. When you loosen the bolt to remove the spare, the "T" on the top end of the bolt allows you to move it up over this valley and lower down. To put it back together, you push up on the assembly with the tire in there, put the "T" back up in that valley in the bracket, then tighten it down.
I know I didn't explain that very well....(the pic on the right with the bracket removed was from a different post showing easier access to the tail light bulbs with this bracket removed)
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 4
From: Hollister CA
Thanks,
I thought the jack went in the storage bin as it has a sticker with a drawing showing how it's placed in there. That's where I put it. I could not find the jack and tools when I bought the car so I got a set from a parts car and put it in the bin. Now when I took the spare down, I found the bag with a jack and tools, but it didn't look like it belonged there.
There was also an L-shaped spring on top of the spare. It is fairly heavy gauge metal. I guess it's to hold something down or keep something from rattling?
I thought the jack went in the storage bin as it has a sticker with a drawing showing how it's placed in there. That's where I put it. I could not find the jack and tools when I bought the car so I got a set from a parts car and put it in the bin. Now when I took the spare down, I found the bag with a jack and tools, but it didn't look like it belonged there.
There was also an L-shaped spring on top of the spare. It is fairly heavy gauge metal. I guess it's to hold something down or keep something from rattling?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
Thanks,
I thought the jack went in the storage bin as it has a sticker with a drawing showing how it's placed in there. That's where I put it. I could not find the jack and tools when I bought the car so I got a set from a parts car and put it in the bin. Now when I took the spare down, I found the bag with a jack and tools, but it didn't look like it belonged there.
There was also an L-shaped spring on top of the spare. It is fairly heavy gauge metal. I guess it's to hold something down or keep something from rattling?
I thought the jack went in the storage bin as it has a sticker with a drawing showing how it's placed in there. That's where I put it. I could not find the jack and tools when I bought the car so I got a set from a parts car and put it in the bin. Now when I took the spare down, I found the bag with a jack and tools, but it didn't look like it belonged there.
There was also an L-shaped spring on top of the spare. It is fairly heavy gauge metal. I guess it's to hold something down or keep something from rattling?