Spare tire question?

[mbp1979]

I'm curious what everyone else is doing with there spare tires if there leaving them back there or removing them when they put new wheels on say in 26 inch or 24 inch? I'm debating removing mine since the pan hard bar is touch it and its really not going to help me with 26 inch wheels. What's everyone else's thoughts on this?

 

[OR VietVet]

Then, IMO, you need to carry a spare inside the back. I personally don't want to be stranded anywhere without a spare but I also know that lots of times people just call AAA for a tow.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I'm curious what everyone else is doing with there spare tires if there leaving them back there or removing them when they put new wheels on say in 26 inch or 24 inch? I'm debating removing mine since the pan hard bar is touch it and its really not going to help me with 26 inch wheels. What's everyone else's thoughts on this?

If you know the diameter of you 24/26" tire, just get the appropriate diameter tire with your spare.

 

[GreyStone]

Run Flats Baby!!!

 

[mbp1979]

I'm just wondering I think I'm going to just remove it.

 

[swathdiver]

I'm curious what everyone else is doing with there spare tires if there leaving them back there or removing them when they put new wheels on say in 26 inch or 24 inch? I'm debating removing mine since the pan hard bar is touch it and its really not going to help me with 26 inch wheels. What's everyone else's thoughts on this?

You don't need it until you do. My hoist bit the dust a few years ago so we beached the spare for a few weeks while waiting for a new one. The truck sure does like the weight back there, was a lot bumpier without the spare aboard. Mine has LT tires and while three of them have been punctured, the leaks were slow enough to not need the spare. We also carry an onboard air compressor. If your new tires and wheels are still 31.5" or 32" inches tall, the spare will still work well with the axles and suspension till you get it replaced.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I don't carry a spare for most of my driving, as I had to remove it, in order to install the Gibson Extreme cat-back dual exhaust system. Yes, it is a risk, but one that I am willing to take. For long trips, when I typically tow a small trailer, I take the spare with me.

My rationale and willingness to roll the dice on not carry a spare is that I never used a spare the spare for the 5+ years that I had my 1997 Yukon (RIP). But, as Swathdiver states above, you don't need it, until you do.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I don't carry a spare for most of my driving, as I had to remove it, in order to install the Gibson Extreme cat-back dual exhaust system. Yes, it is a risk, but one that I am willing to take. For long trips, when I typically tow a small trailer, I take the spare with me.

My rationale and willingness to roll the dice on not carry a spare is that I never used a spare the spare for the 5+ years that I had my 1997 Yukon (RIP). But, as Swathdiver states above, you don't need it, until you do.

Once I blew out my spare, while I was using it. 100 miles from home. Fun times.

 

[OR VietVet]

I used to brag about never having a flat tire of any kind.Then about a month after the last time I did so I was on my way to an appointment and went to climb in my Tahoe and the lf tire was flat. I swapped out the spare, PITA. Next day took it to a Local Les Schwab here in the PNW and they always fix flats for free. It worked. I needed tires about 6 months later and I bought a set from them.

 

[swathdiver]

Bad tie rod took out a tire on my wife's van. Remembered that several years ago, when we bought the van, we also bought a matching wheel and took one of the old tires and put it on the wheel so we'd have a full size spare. Well, we put the spare on to keep the van up and running while the new tires were being shipped. If this had been in the garage, that would have been ok too. All of our cars, even my truck, are equipped with air compressors and tire plug kits in addition to the spare tires.

Many manufacturers these days, Kia comes to mind, delete the spare or make it an option.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Bad tie rod took out a tire on my wife's van. Remembered that several years ago, when we bought the van, we also bought a matching wheel and took one of the old tires and put it on the wheel so we'd have a full size spare. Well, we put the spare on to keep the van up and running while the new tires were being shipped. If this had been in the garage, that would have been ok too. All of our cars, even my truck, are equipped with air compressors and tire plug kits in addition to the spare tires.

Many manufacturers these days, Kia comes to mind, delete the spare or make it an option.

Here's tire kits from Infiniti and Kia. They had the spare tire deleted.

@swathdiver you might have this in your Montana--

 

[swathdiver]

View attachment 246164

That's the hose that came with our Montanas, all three of them. Curious as to why GM did not put this in the bigger wagons but did so on the minivans.

 

[Tonyrodz]

That's the hose that came with our Montanas, all three of them. Curious as to why GM did not put this in the bigger wagons but did so on the minivans.

Great question.

 

[mbp1979]

Thanks for the input I'm going to try and find one of the transport wheels and keep as a spare if I can find one.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Thanks for the input I'm going to try and find one of the transport wheels and keep as a spare if I can find one.

Good luck people want stupid money for them.

 

[GreyStone]

Here's tire kits from Infiniti and Kia. They had the spare tire deleted.View attachment 246161 View attachment 246162 View attachment 246163
@swathdiver you might have this in your Montana--View attachment 246164

I think Dodge Challengers and a lot of BMW's also come with no spare and just a liquid sealannt and compressor "flat kit".

 

[sealandsky]

Good topic... I understand that with my factory 22" wheels and extra large front Brembo calipers, the spare will only fit on the rear wheels. So I'm trying to figure out if carrying around the spare has much value. The vehicle has 1 jack so unless I also carry around a jack stand I don't see how I can jack the front, remove a flat front tire, swap the jack to the rear to remove a good rear tire - Re-jack the front install on front, then re-jack the rear to install the spare. I'm starting to think my Onstar service is the way to go...

 

[wjburken]

Good topic... I understand that with my factory 22" wheels and extra large front Brembo calipers, the spare will only fit on the rear wheels. So I'm trying to figure out if carrying around the spare has much value. The vehicle has 1 jack so unless I also carry around a jack stand I don't see how I can jack the front, remove a flat front tire, swap the jack to the rear to remove a good rear tire - Re-jack the front install on front, then re-jack the rear to install the spare. I'm starting to think my Onstar service is the way to go...

I would switch your sequence of operation around a little. If you have a flat on your front, Jack up the back first and swap the spare with the good back tire and then go to the front with the tire you just took off the back.

I’ve done this on FWD cars as I don’t like having the economy spare on the front.

That being said, OnStar is a great option but keep in mind that OnStar doesn’t own any service trucks. My wife had a flat tire and called OnStar to have them call someone to change it for her as she had just had shoulder surgery. It was 3:00 in the afternoon on a weekday, in town and it still took 2 hours for someone to come help her.

 

[swathdiver]

Good topic... I understand that with my factory 22" wheels and extra large front Brembo calipers, the spare will only fit on the rear wheels. So I'm trying to figure out if carrying around the spare has much value. The vehicle has 1 jack so unless I also carry around a jack stand I don't see how I can jack the front, remove a flat front tire, swap the jack to the rear to remove a good rear tire - Re-jack the front install on front, then re-jack the rear to install the spare. I'm starting to think my Onstar service is the way to go...

The Hybrids ditched the spare and jacking tools and replaced it with a compressor and a bottle of goo to seal a leak. That and a plug kit should keep you running unless you get a catastrophic failure.

 

[Rocket Man]

I keep a compressor and tire repair kit on board.