Why cars should have actual spare tires

Funny side detail ... the 12v pump that came with our TLX (that received the accessory spare tire kit) was pre-filled by Acura with tire goo.  I guess the idea is if you use it, it dispenses the goo for you, saving a step.  That said, I'm also guessing the goo has some finite life span, after which is possibly solidifies and doesn't let the pump do its job.  I think I kept the pump around ... if I did and can find it, I think an experiment is in order once the temps get back to a more reasonable level outside!

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

Motojunky said:

Really? You'd prefer to wait hours for a tow truck to arrive, then ride in said tow truck a couple hours home vs. a 10 minute self-repair? 

You only need the tow truck if you can't get the car home with the can of fix-a-flat that they're providing instead. 

This is true, but my question was specifically for the poster who indicated that they'd choose a couple hour tow over carrying the spare. I get that it's all a game of odds and everyone's risk threshold is different. Nobody is wrong - they just have different priorities than I do. 

I suspect that waiting on the side of the road for several hours might make one re-think their desire to prioritize a spare over storage space. Of course, one may never find themselves in such a situation. My luck never works out that way. :)

Motojunky said:

I prefer to control my circumstances whenever possible. 

I'm firmly in the "carry a spare" camp.

My daughter had a flat when I was out of town a couple of years ago. She is quite capable of changing a tire but unfortunately she lost her locking lug nut key. I told her to go ahead and call for roadside assistance (through Erie Insurance). Nearly eight (yes, eight!) hours later she made it home after having to deal with a tow truck driver aggressively hitting on her. As you can imagine, there was quite a bit of follow up with the insurance company, insurance agent, and towing company. It was a mess. 

I don't carry a spare on my CJ5 but keep looking for the roundtuits to make a mount. It's almost never more than 50 miles from home and I have a car trailer. You gotta roll the dice sometimes, I guess. 

 

I agree with all of that. I've dealt with tow trucks twice, and although the wait was tolerable and the drivers nice, the expense and delay would not be worth it if I can change the tire and be on my way.

I'm almost always less than 20 minutes away from my wife and daughters, so I'm happy to go help. They could all do it if needed.

I have a spare on my CJ-7, and I've used it a couple of times off-roading. But it is the original. From 1977.

This is typical of my blowouts. This was the Mustang, brand new tires. We found 4 screws and a nail in it. Methinks the construction crew at the school dropped some on the road. There were a lot of flats that week.

We've only had one really bad flat on a long (over 1,000 mile) road trip, and it was my fault, I guess. Sharp tight right-hand turn (120 degree?) with really pointy curbs, somewhere in Chatanooga.

Since we were driving the Tail O'the Dragon the next day, it got four new tires. It was about time anyway.

GameboyRMH said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

So these are spares where the tire is significantly smaller before it's inflated? I'd think between modern cars having bigger brakes and lower-profile tires there wouldn't be much to be gained that way...

Most newer vehicles have brakes sized that the wheels could easily be 3, maybe 4" smaller.

There aren't 17" brake rotors on that SUV rolling on 20s.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Datsun240ZGuy said:

My wife had a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro that had a spare tire you filled with the GM can of inflator stuff.  

Being a car guy I wasn't clear on the process.  It saved a ton of room in that trunk. 

Some newer vehicles use these!  I'd like to say I saw it in a VW or Mercedes SUV.  Probably Mercedes.

 

When I was in high school the early 90s, the auto shop teacher had one to demonstrate.

VW uses a similar tire but instead of a can of air the car has an air compressor. 

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

GameboyRMH said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

So these are spares where the tire is significantly smaller before it's inflated? I'd think between modern cars having bigger brakes and lower-profile tires there wouldn't be much to be gained that way...

Most newer vehicles have brakes sized that the wheels could easily be 3, maybe 4" smaller.

There aren't 17" brake rotors on that SUV rolling on 20s.

Those new Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords on 19s and 20s have the size of brakes that could fit a 16 or 17in wheel. I always notice those tiny brakes lol

I don't want to wait for roadside assistance and a tow, the last time I've used them I've had to wait over 4 hours just for them to come. If I can change a tire myself I will. 

In my example with SWMBO & the daughter, even if she couldn't change the tire (not sure, now I'm curious), if had the spare and jack I could have driven there fairly quick & changed it for her.  Versus driving home first to switch cars, then out to where she was, and the two of them dealing with a potentially problem driver as mentioned by someone else.  I hadn't thought of that issue, I got there long before the tow truck did even after all my delays.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

GameboyRMH said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

So these are spares where the tire is significantly smaller before it's inflated? I'd think between modern cars having bigger brakes and lower-profile tires there wouldn't be much to be gained that way...

Most newer vehicles have brakes sized that the wheels could easily be 3, maybe 4" smaller.

There aren't 17" brake rotors on that SUV rolling on 20s.

Yeah, but with the size of vehicles nowadays, 15-16" wheels on CUV or big sedan look goofy. I think even the Cadillac V cars proportions look off with 18s because the cars are so physically large. But I'm also a fan of the classic DTM look, so what do I know. 

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Most newer vehicles have brakes sized that the wheels could easily be 3, maybe 4" smaller.

There aren't 17" brake rotors on that SUV rolling on 20s.

Ever looked at an RS6?  It's got 16.5" front rotors.  Comes with 22 inch wheels and even most 21s won't fit over the calipers. :)

If 50lbs is the health and safety limit for a "1 person" lift, many vehicles have wheel/tires well beyond that. How many regular people want to do that themselves. Are there some non commercial vehicles that might need a 3 person lift?

In reply to Snrub :

So, we need a wheeled tire lifter thingy knowadays?

I had a 68 Firebird with an inflatable space-saver-spare tire. It came with a manifold vacuum powered pump that you stuck into some intake manifold port and it inflated the tire while the engine was idling. I have never been able to find any reference to it on the stupid interweb.

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Most newer vehicles have brakes sized that the wheels could easily be 3, maybe 4" smaller.

There aren't 17" brake rotors on that SUV rolling on 20s.

Ever looked at an RS6?  It's got 16.5" front rotors.  Comes with 22 inch wheels and even most 21s won't fit over the calipers. :)

 

Ever look at a Veloster?  It has 18" wheels over the same brakes as a Kia Soul.

Likewise, all the Camaros with 20" wheels, Focuses with 18" wheels when 15" would easily fit over the brakes, etc.