spare tire
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 112
From: ocean springs mississippi
spare tire
if i was going to buy an extra tire/wheel to use as a spare...should i get an 18 or 19? can you use an 18 on the back (gears/diff,ect...)? will a 19 fit on the front (width)?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
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From: Austin Texas
You'll have to carry two spares. Since front and rear are different diameters, different widths and different offsets. The wrong size wheel at any corner will cause lots of problems with A/H and T/C.
Then there's the problem of having 50+#'s of weight floating around in the hatch area, kind of like an un-guided missile.
Stay with the run flats.
Then there's the problem of having 50+#'s of weight floating around in the hatch area, kind of like an un-guided missile.
Stay with the run flats.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I've used a GTO spare. At only 26 pounds, it's lighter than the bride's luggage. The center diameter will need increased about .030 to fit the hub and can easily be done with a flap wheel on a drill.
There is clearance for the front caliper with base brakes, but I haven't tested it with my F55/Z51 brakes yet. Someone else may chime in with that answer.
It's just a spare to get you to a place where you can get your bad tire fixed/replaced, so the AH/TC issue is moot. Also the tire diameter is slightly larger (1/4") than a standard front and about 3/4" shorter than a rear.
I've hauled lots of stuff in my car and never concerned about "missiles" except the ones over 5' long that fit between the seats. Between the 3" curb at the front and the protection of the tall seat and semi-intelligent loading of individual items, nothing ever floats around.
There is clearance for the front caliper with base brakes, but I haven't tested it with my F55/Z51 brakes yet. Someone else may chime in with that answer.
It's just a spare to get you to a place where you can get your bad tire fixed/replaced, so the AH/TC issue is moot. Also the tire diameter is slightly larger (1/4") than a standard front and about 3/4" shorter than a rear.
I've hauled lots of stuff in my car and never concerned about "missiles" except the ones over 5' long that fit between the seats. Between the 3" curb at the front and the protection of the tall seat and semi-intelligent loading of individual items, nothing ever floats around.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Springfield MO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I've used a GTO spare. At only 26 pounds, it's lighter than the bride's luggage. The center diameter will need increased about .030 to fit the hub and can easily be done with a flap wheel on a drill.
There is clearance for the front caliper with base brakes, but I haven't tested it with my F55/Z51 brakes yet. Someone else may chime in with that answer.
It's just a spare to get you to a place where you can get your bad tire fixed/replaced, so the AH/TC issue is moot. Also the tire diameter is slightly larger (1/4") than a standard front and about 3/4" shorter than a rear.
I've hauled lots of stuff in my car and never concerned about "missiles" except the ones over 5' long that fit between the seats. Between the 3" curb at the front and the protection of the tall seat and semi-intelligent loading of individual items, nothing ever floats around.
There is clearance for the front caliper with base brakes, but I haven't tested it with my F55/Z51 brakes yet. Someone else may chime in with that answer.
It's just a spare to get you to a place where you can get your bad tire fixed/replaced, so the AH/TC issue is moot. Also the tire diameter is slightly larger (1/4") than a standard front and about 3/4" shorter than a rear.
I've hauled lots of stuff in my car and never concerned about "missiles" except the ones over 5' long that fit between the seats. Between the 3" curb at the front and the protection of the tall seat and semi-intelligent loading of individual items, nothing ever floats around.
Run flats tires are a much better solution I think.
Last edited by torquetube; Oct 12, 2010 at 01:21 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I've noticed that under sudden, maximum braking, unsecured items in the trunk are launched onto the dashboard. It can happen so fast you don't even perceive their motion - it's like they were teleported there, loudly.
Run flats tires are a much better solution I think.
Run flats tires are a much better solution I think.
I'd bet that the OP doesn't have runflats, else he wouldn't ask the question.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,419
Likes: 200
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
I would be concerned about damaging the differential if the spare is not the same diameter as the tire being replaced.
Since I no longer use runflats I picked up a tire repair kit and a foot pump from Advance Auto that fit in the rear compartment.
Since I no longer use runflats I picked up a tire repair kit and a foot pump from Advance Auto that fit in the rear compartment.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
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From: West coast CA
A GTO spare is 26" dia. x 6" wide. There is not enough space for an object of that size to move from the rear compartment to the front. Obviously, an extended road trip/vacation usually requires putting many objects in the hatch area with no real way to secure tham in place. Smaller objects that could fit through the opening, fall under the "semi-intelligent loading of individual items" classification.
I'd bet that the OP doesn't have runflats, else he wouldn't ask the question.
I'd bet that the OP doesn't have runflats, else he wouldn't ask the question.
Whatever perceived advantage there might be to running non-run-flat tires goes out the window if you also plan on schlepping around a spare that's the wrong diameter as well as the necessary lifting equipment.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
A couple of years ago, I T-Boned a mindless geezer who pulled out in front of me. I was very glad not to have anything heavy in the trunk.
In a 20G crash, a 30 lb spare tire would hit like 600 lbs. I wouldn't count on the seatbacks to stop it.
In a 20G crash, a 30 lb spare tire would hit like 600 lbs. I wouldn't count on the seatbacks to stop it.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
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From: Feverish All Over
You can never deny the laws of physics 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
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From: West coast CA
Oh yeah, in a crash, it would be bad. The C6 doesn't really have a good solution to the problem of being hit by debris from the rear compartment in an accident, unfortunately.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
We just use soft duffles for luggage, and try to avoid any more accidents.
When I T-Boned that guy I was probably down to about 25 mph but it still hurt and of course fired the airbag. In the trunk I had a semi-soft gear bag that weighs about 25 lbs, and a couple of shotguns in soft cases. All of it stayed behind the seats, but that's a pretty light load and a low speed impact.
