C5 Spare Tire Kit...Finally Available
06-14-2017, 04:23 PM
#42
Did anyone end up pulling the trigger on this? I'm looking at replacing the tires on my car and the non run flats are about half the price.
I called the company and asked about the jack being low enough and the kit sliding around in the car. The guy I talked to said that his C5 is lowered all the way on stock bolts and the jack fits under it with the tire being flat. He said that the the operating range on the jack is 3 7/8" to 15 1/8" inch which seems to be plenty for my car. I'll post pics up shortly when he gets back to me on their solution for securing the kit in the trunk of the car. Apparently it involves placing a small cargo bar in the back and attaching the kit to the cargo bar.
I called the company and asked about the jack being low enough and the kit sliding around in the car. The guy I talked to said that his C5 is lowered all the way on stock bolts and the jack fits under it with the tire being flat. He said that the the operating range on the jack is 3 7/8" to 15 1/8" inch which seems to be plenty for my car. I'll post pics up shortly when he gets back to me on their solution for securing the kit in the trunk of the car. Apparently it involves placing a small cargo bar in the back and attaching the kit to the cargo bar.
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Chicago7 (11-17-2022)
06-14-2017, 04:26 PM
#43
Le Mans Master
Did anyone end up pulling the trigger on this? I'm looking at replacing the tires on my car and the non run flats are about half the price.
I called the company and asked about the jack being low enough and the kit sliding around in the car. The guy I talked to said that his C5 is lowered all the way on stock bolts and the jack fits under it with the tire being flat. He said that the the operating range on the jack is 3 7/8" to 15 1/8" inch which seems to be plenty for my car. I'll post pics up shortly when he gets back to me on their solution for securing the kit in the trunk of the car. Apparently it involves placing a small cargo bar in the back and attaching the kit to the cargo bar.
I called the company and asked about the jack being low enough and the kit sliding around in the car. The guy I talked to said that his C5 is lowered all the way on stock bolts and the jack fits under it with the tire being flat. He said that the the operating range on the jack is 3 7/8" to 15 1/8" inch which seems to be plenty for my car. I'll post pics up shortly when he gets back to me on their solution for securing the kit in the trunk of the car. Apparently it involves placing a small cargo bar in the back and attaching the kit to the cargo bar.
06-14-2017, 06:16 PM
#44
I have slime in my car now but that will only help in a few rare circumstances.
In my two previous flats on other cars slime wouldn't of worked, only a spare tire or tow. 1.) I hit a rock that had just fallen in a canyon which bent and cracked the rim so that it wouldn't hold air (surprisingly the tire was still good). 2.) I had a blowout where the tire actually shredded.
To be honest I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if I hadn't had those experiences. Getting stranded in the vette or putting it on Joe Blow's tow truck isn't an experience that I eagerly await :/.
In my two previous flats on other cars slime wouldn't of worked, only a spare tire or tow. 1.) I hit a rock that had just fallen in a canyon which bent and cracked the rim so that it wouldn't hold air (surprisingly the tire was still good). 2.) I had a blowout where the tire actually shredded.
To be honest I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if I hadn't had those experiences. Getting stranded in the vette or putting it on Joe Blow's tow truck isn't an experience that I eagerly await :/.
06-14-2017, 06:23 PM
#45
Le Mans Master
I have slime in my car now but that will only help in a few rare circumstances.
In my two previous flats on other cars slime wouldn't of worked, only a spare tire or tow. 1.) I hit a rock that had just fallen in a canyon which bent and cracked the rim so that it wouldn't hold air (surprisingly the tire was still good). 2.) I had a blowout where the tire actually shredded.
To be honest I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if I hadn't had those experiences. Getting stranded in the vette or putting it on Joe Blow's tow truck isn't an experience that I eagerly await :/.
In my two previous flats on other cars slime wouldn't of worked, only a spare tire or tow. 1.) I hit a rock that had just fallen in a canyon which bent and cracked the rim so that it wouldn't hold air (surprisingly the tire was still good). 2.) I had a blowout where the tire actually shredded.
To be honest I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if I hadn't had those experiences. Getting stranded in the vette or putting it on Joe Blow's tow truck isn't an experience that I eagerly await :/.
06-14-2017, 07:31 PM
#46
Just make sure the spare tire kit will work for you. I seriously doubt if I could get that jack under my car with a flat tire. Also when we take road trips the trunk is full and there really is no room for a spare, even a small one. We have taken the C5 on several trips over 1500 miles and one over 3000 miles.
Last edited by corvette_enthusiast; 06-14-2017 at 07:32 PM.
06-14-2017, 10:41 PM
#47
Le Mans Master
Yeah, like I said it makes sense for me based on my past experiences so it's worth giving up the small amount of storage space in the trunk. With the jack I don't think you'd have a problem fitting it under your car. My car has a couple inches of clearances past the 3 7/8" that they mentioned so I don't see an issue with it. If I end up buying it I'll post a review up.
06-14-2017, 11:36 PM
#48
What is the clearance with a flat tire? That is the important question. How would you like to be on a trip with a flat and discover then that the system does not work.
As I mentioned though my car has several inches of clearance to the jacking point past the 3 7/8" that the jack requires. I don't see it being a problem if the tire is flat. The guy also mentioned that they tested it on his lowered C5 when it had a flat tire
06-15-2017, 12:03 AM
#49
I tried that jack not on my Vette but on my Viper....would not lift it high enough to change a tire. Plus, this model is the Chinese copy of the USA model no longer made. When lifting a car like a Vette, this jack is pretty much lifting half the vehicle up. Make sure you keep the all thread lubed or it will get galled up.
If you ever have to get a low profile scissor jack under a flat tired Vette, just drive the flat tire onto a small board, flat rock, etc.
Hell, you can even carry a deflated wheelbarrow innertube to put under the flat tire. Inflate it with your 12 volt compressor to give you more height than if the tire was full of air. A deflated wheelbarrow innertube takes up very little space and can stuffed into any nook or cranny to save room.
If you ever have to get a low profile scissor jack under a flat tired Vette, just drive the flat tire onto a small board, flat rock, etc.
Hell, you can even carry a deflated wheelbarrow innertube to put under the flat tire. Inflate it with your 12 volt compressor to give you more height than if the tire was full of air. A deflated wheelbarrow innertube takes up very little space and can stuffed into any nook or cranny to save room.
06-15-2017, 09:24 AM
#50
Le Mans Master
If I end up ordering the kit I'll give it a test run before I set out on the open road with it. If it doesn't work for whatever a reason I'll return it.
As I mentioned though my car has several inches of clearance to the jacking point past the 3 7/8" that the jack requires. I don't see it being a problem if the tire is flat. The guy also mentioned that they tested it on his lowered C5 when it had a flat tire
As I mentioned though my car has several inches of clearance to the jacking point past the 3 7/8" that the jack requires. I don't see it being a problem if the tire is flat. The guy also mentioned that they tested it on his lowered C5 when it had a flat tire
Good luck.