Full Size Spare Tire with Steel Wheel OK?

Hi there. I have a 2010 Prius III with 15-inch tires (P195/65R15). I would like to get a full size spare since I will be travelling cross-country. Here is what I am looking for: Full-size spare tire and steel wheel to replace the "donut" spare tire I currently have in the car. I believe if I remove the plastic Cargo Organizer that is on top of the spare tire (below the cargo floor cover), I should be able to fit a full-size spare. This tire should be All-Season, and I believe non-unidirectional (but not sure) since I may have to mount it on any tire location on the car.

My local mechanic was told by a Toyota dealer/service that a steel wheel is not recommended and I have to use an alloy rim (same OEM version). So I would have to spend over $330 for a new rim + tire = $500+. Recycling/salvage yards in the area did not have any used OEM rims available. I don't think I need the OEM rim, especially when I will not be doing a 5-tire rotation.

Any suggestions for a full-size spare, and am I nuts in getting a steel wheel instead of the OEM alloy rim?

Subquestion: Tire monitoring system sensor and calibration requirement for spare tire -- Current spare is 60 psi, but the full-size is 33-35 psi if I remembered correctly. Should I get a new sensor for the spare and how do I recalib the system with the new spare?

Thanks in advanced.

P.S. I did do a search in the forums for this subject, but I could not find anything which really answered the questions. If I missed it and this is a duplicate, it was not intentional...

 

Hi David. Thanks for the reply. According to the dealer, the spare tire was being monitored by the system because I took the car in due to the tire indicator being lit. All four tires were fine and when the spare was inflated to the proper psi, the indicator turned off. So I assumed the spare had a sensor too.

 

Thanks Pecker for your suggestion. I checked last night and purchased a hub cap for $29 and an OEM 15-inch RIM for $120, includes shipping. So, for $149 I am now getting the actual OEM alloy wheel and hub cap, far cheaper than what the Toyota dealer/service wanted (over $330 + tax). I know this costs higher than a steel wheel ($47 at TireRack), but at least I have one now.

BTW, the reason for the hubcap is that I damaged one when I tried to do a bad parallel parking

 

Thanks jdcollins5 for the suggestion. Unfortunately, they were sold out by the time I got to the threads...

 

That's good to know. Thanks.

 

Thanks Mendel for the info.

 

Hi Tumbleweed. Love the black tape idea I actually have a small roll of electrical tape in my emergency kit that I keep in my Prius, just in case...

 

Response from Toyota Corporate (my name was removed for identity protection):

From: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:21:17 -0700
Subject: Full Size Spare Tire and Steel Wheel [Incident: xxxxxx]

Recently you contacted Toyota. Below is a summary of your contact message and our response.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.



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SubjectFull Size Spare Tire and Steel Wheel Discussion Thread Response (Thomas Morita)08/31/2011 04:21 PMDear ,

Thank you for contacting us.

We appreciate your interest in the design characteristic of your 2010 Prius III.

We do not recommend inserting a full size tire in the spare tire wheel well of your Prius.

Doing so would compromise the integrity of your Prius' factory specifications and could void out the original factory warranty for any components impacted by this action.

We make every effort to manufacture a quality product by researching, testing, and constantly monitoring performance. Consumer opinion and perception also play an active role in our ongoing efforts to lead the automobile industry in quality, innovation, styling, and reliability.

It is through communications such as yours that we become aware of the reactions and expectations of our customers.

Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us, www.toyota.com/help.

Sincerely,
Thomas Morita

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Toyota Customer Experience Customer By Web Form ()08/30/2011 05:22 AM Vehicle: 2010 Prius III with 15-inch Tires (P195/65R15)

Hi there. Can I use a steel wheel instead of the OEM alloy rim for a full-size spare tire? I believe if I remove the plastic Cargo Organizer that is on top of the spare tire (below the cargo floor cover), I should be able to fit a full-size spare.

The reason why I need a full-size spare is that I will be travelling cross-country, and I would rather have a full-size spare tire in case I have a flat in a remote area beyond the capability of the current spare tire (which I believe is < 50 miles range of use).

Thanks in advanced. [---001:001569:29938---]

 

Hi Cyclopathic. May be in your area, $40. But I checked around here and they did not have any rims for my vehicle. I did not ask for the Corolla rim, since I was unaware of it at the time. The fact that I got the actual OEM rim for a third of what the Toyota dealer/service was asking, I think I still am ahead. I'll check the quality of the rim when I receive it to ensure there is no damage.

Concerning the kit suggestion, I'll definitely look into it. Thanks for the suggestions.

Here's what I've used to create my roadside survival kit (for the car):
http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/roadside/