Where is the half-space to which you refer? A spare or punctured tire would need to be safely anchored, and there are straps and rings to which they can be attached to hold a tire in the cargo area. Are you thinking that the verticle bin for the charging cable would work for a tire?
TireRack.com has the 3 original OEM tires that where shipped on the PiP, mine is the "Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max P195/65R15 89S", $99 + $17.26 shipping (for me) Tire Search Results Also the OEM wheel is Toyota part # 42611-47360, I found it with a web search, pricey at $280.52 + $32.22 shipping (for me) 42611-47360 - OEM Toyota WHEEL, DISC So we are looking at $429 (for me) for a full sized spare, and to do it right, you should buy a spare tire pressure monitor and have that installed when the tire is mounted, more money.... or you could try some local junkyards and try to locate the donut spare that comes with the 2010/2011 Prius.
I have actually been thinking of going the same route, because the full size wheel and tire wouldn't take up a whole lot more space than a space-saver temporary spare. It would also have the advantage of continued use at normal speeds, and match the other road wheels. Thanks for the info.
Got an unused donut spare and wheel from AutoBeYours, a Prius salvage shop in Indiana Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle PHEV $50 and 40 for delivery used the jack kit to remove wheel and make sure the spare fit. All ok, but the stock lug nuts have the washers on them and may rattle a little if used. I think i'll keep some coned lug nuts from auto parts store with the spare just in case. and keep the spare in one of the tire carrier slings from amazon. pretty cool.
I did pick up a doughnut spare for $35.00. Maybe tomorrow I will try it out around the block and see how it runs. I keep it behind the passenger seat wrapped in some sailing canvas. Oh, btw I experience no radical reduction in mpg because of all that weight ! But who knows? Maybe I could get 82 Mpg instead of 81Mpg
The parts dep't, at my local Toyota tells me that the correct size of the doughnut is: T135/80R 16. From Firestone and Goodyear $200-300 plus. ( in ref. to the 2012, probably all Gen 3 's )
I am pretty sure that the current trend in new cars are for no spare tire with jack. The days of the flat tire a month club are over. Tires today are made to last and last. When I was a kid in the 1960's you were lucky to get 10,000 miles or so out of a set of tires. Today people complain if they get only 40,000 miles. Flat tires were common place back than. Today you can go years without a flat tire. So, car companies can save money on cost and increase the mpg of the car, maybe .1 mpg or so, by eliminating 40 lbs of tire and jack.
The used parts dealer found one from a 2010 (judging by the manufactured date on the tire) in the proper size, appears to have never been used. I may never have to use it myself, and that's OK with me. One thing with it being in the cargo area, it's easy to get to in order to check the pressure.
good point. i used to hate cecking it in my 08, especially because they designed it so the valve was on the bottom!
Exactly. At least the donut spare is easily lifted from the well. My Lexus has a full-sized spare, again placed face-down in the well, so you have to lift it out to access the valve, and that thing is darned heavy!
Spoken like a man that doesn't have a spare tire. Yes you may go years, but then again it may only be hours or days. One thing is certain. It will happen, and when it does it most likely be at the worst possible time.
I got a compact emergency spare tire that fits the 2012 Prius Plug-in, from fito0761 on E-Bay. Highly recommend him: he handles your request fast, has fair pricing, and answers all questions. Tire and wheel arrived, brand-new, in great shape, via Fedex in less than a week.
