1990 Spare tire?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 36
Likes: 7
From: Texas DFW
1990 Spare tire?
I've had my 1990 for about 4 months now and I realized that I should check up on my spare in the back to see if it's in good order. It was quite dirty, but everything was as it should be thankfully.
However, I'm not sure how much I trust a 34 going on 35 year old tire as my back-up. Any ideas where to get a new spare? couldn't I take it to a tire shop and have them replace the rubber with new rubber?
However, I'm not sure how much I trust a 34 going on 35 year old tire as my back-up. Any ideas where to get a new spare? couldn't I take it to a tire shop and have them replace the rubber with new rubber?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,480
Likes: 1,231
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,084
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
A 90 is probably a T155/70-17. I bought a Continental in this size for my 92 early this summer in anticipation of an 8,500 mile 14 day trip. My tire guy had to order it in, but it was in local warehouse stock, I had it the next afternoon. $150. I didn't worry about having to run a couple thousand miles on the 32 year old spare if I had a problem with a road tire.
I always get a kick out of the "I carry a plug kit and a pump." comments. This is probably viable if you come out of your motel room in the morning to a flat. But if it looses air while running highway speeds, by the time you notice there's a handling problem and get to safety to inspect it, the sidewalls are probably going to be pretty messed up from running with low/no pressure. A "plug kit" isn't going to fix the sidewall damage. If you're trying to keep to an itinerary, you're going to need a serviceable spare.
I always get a kick out of the "I carry a plug kit and a pump." comments. This is probably viable if you come out of your motel room in the morning to a flat. But if it looses air while running highway speeds, by the time you notice there's a handling problem and get to safety to inspect it, the sidewalls are probably going to be pretty messed up from running with low/no pressure. A "plug kit" isn't going to fix the sidewall damage. If you're trying to keep to an itinerary, you're going to need a serviceable spare.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
I took mine to Discount tire and they special ordered me a replacement spare. Remember the rule 50/50 that's 50 miles and no more 50mph. Just enough to limp home or limp to a garage. As others stated it won't be in stock. GC
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 1,328
From: LeClaire Iowa
That makes sense as Discount tire and Tire rack are both owned by the same company and I know tire rack has it. I bought my Continental on Ebay. It was only 6 months old. That was maybe 4 years ago. Dan
