Spare tire question?

[Tonyrodz]

like sitting on the side of the road with a flat and no spare at the most inconvenient time.

Worse feeling in the world.

 

[Rdr854]

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.

and I’ve needed it more than once!

 

[Rdr854]

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?

I purchased a matching wheel and tire for a fill size tire so that I would have 4x4 capability if I was using a spare. The spare provided by GM is a 17” wheel and the standard set up is 18” wheels. As a result, GM says to run the truck in 2WD only I’d the spare is in place.

I want full functionality at all times.

 

[Rocket Man]

Worse feeling in the world.

Not nearly as bad as being on the side of the road with a blown transmission. Or engine. It’s just a tire, and there’s tire stores all over the place. I have AAA Plus so I can get a tow home from almost anywhere or at least to a tire shop if I’m too far from home. I couldn’t get a tow from Oregon to Pennsylvania when my trans blew last time though....sigh. It’s just a tire. There’s motels, tow trucks, tire stores, plug kits, compressors you can carry...it’s not a huge deal in context. I have had 2 flats in the last 10-15 years. Both were patched at Les Schwab for free, one needed a tow for free, one I pulled off and took it in. Plenty of new vehicles don’t even come with spares.

 

[Rocket Man]

I purchased a matching wheel and tire for a fill size tire so that I would have 4x4 capability if I was using a spare. The spare provided by GM is a 17” wheel and the standard set up is 18” wheels. As a result, GM says to run the truck in 2WD only I’d the spare is in place.

I want full functionality at all times.

You just need to match the outside diameter of the tires closely. Wheel size doesn’t matter. You can use a tire calculator to find the right size 17” tire to match the diameter of the 18” tires you’re running.

 

[sealandsky]

Well, today's my birthday so that marks 42 years of driving (legally) and my blow-out record is zero. I'm a fanatic about tire pressures and that may be something that's helped that record. However, I'm a magnet for every nail and screw on the road and have lost track of how many slow leaks I've had to have plugged. I'm on-board for the plug kit and tire compressor. I might just have to run to the auto parts store today and buy myself a Birthday present!

 

[Rocket Man]

Well, today's my birthday so that marks 42 years of driving (legally) and my blow-out record is zero. I'm a fanatic about tire pressures and that may be something that's helped that record. However, I'm a magnet for every nail and screw on the road and have lost track of how many slow leaks I've had to have plugged. I'm on-board for the plug kit and tire compressor. I might just have to run to the auto parts store today and buy myself a Birthday present!

Happy Birthday Rich!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Not nearly as bad as being on the side of the road with a blown transmission. Or engine. It’s just a tire, and there’s tire stores all over the place. I have AAA Plus so I can get a tow home from almost anywhere or at least to a tire shop if I’m too far from home. I couldn’t get a tow from Oregon to Pennsylvania when my trans blew last time though....sigh. It’s just a tire. There’s motels, tow trucks, tire stores, plug kits, compressors you can carry...it’s not a huge deal in context. I have had 2 flats in the last 10-15 years. Both were patched at Les Schwab for free, one needed a tow for free, one I pulled off and took it in. Plenty of new vehicles don’t even come with spares.

Yeah, over my life time, I've had more engines blow out on trips away from home, than I've had tires blow out. Truly, I would have wished for a blown out tire instead, during those engine-related failures.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Not nearly as bad as being on the side of the road with a blown transmission. Or engine. It’s just a tire, and there’s tire stores all over the place. I have AAA Plus so I can get a tow home from almost anywhere or at least to a tire shop if I’m too far from home. I couldn’t get a tow from Oregon to Pennsylvania when my trans blew last time though....sigh. It’s just a tire. There’s motels, tow trucks, tire stores, plug kits, compressors you can carry...it’s not a huge deal in context. I have had 2 flats in the last 10-15 years. Both were patched at Les Schwab for free, one needed a tow for free, one I pulled off and took it in. Plenty of new vehicles don’t even come with spares.

I hear ya. For 8 years I used to have a 200 mile a day commute. 100 miles to work, 100 to get home--and I've experienced ALOT! Always managed to get to work. Sometimes getting home was another story. Blew a headgasket going to work twice. Lots of fun.

 

[aducknut]

I ditch mine. Never use them just call and get it repaired.