Prius Plugin's lack of spare tire.

The manufacturers have the sensors tuned to different frequencies for their lines.

If it's the correct spare for the car, the original lug nuts will work.

 

I bought them because I use dedicated winter tires/alloy rims that have their own lugnuts- I doubt that the lugnuts from the winter tires/alloy rims would work with the thin stamped steel wheel on the donut spare. So it's just easier to get a set of 5 steel lugnuts from Autozone and keep them in the car- this way I have no fit issues with summer or winter lugnuts.

 

I got a mini-spare for long trips in my CMax. It will stay in the garage for daily, local driving. Anyway, I found a good (re: cheeeeep) cover for it: http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$10 shipped.



Strapped in:

 

Tire press warning on this morning, but I continued on to my fitness club, found the right front at 35, continued on home and
put a plug in tire. Worked out very smoothly. No cost, fuss or running around. Whole job done in about a hour ( I am retired ) Saved my doughnut for something serious. Restored all pressures back to 55lbs.

 

Wow! Is the ride pretty harsh at 55 psi? What tires are you running? I have the OEM Yokohama AVIDs that have a maximum cold pressure of 44, and I find the ride a little harsh at 42/40 psi cold.
Have you reset the TPMS to 55 so that you get a warning sooner rather after a loss of 20 psi? Or do you think it was dropping quickly enough that it dropped that much on your drive to the club? I apologize for all the questions, but I have only had limited experience with TPMS and want to be prepared.

fotomoto, I like both the cover and the standing spare idea you used. Mine is centered in the cargo area, lying flat and secured with the tie down strap supplied by Toyota. I think I will try it your way and see if it makes it a little easier to load groceries and sometimes plants and other nursery stuff. That's about all I put back there, since we don't take long trips in the PiP. I keep the spare there all the time however.

 

Dispite dire warnings from PC members on my 2005, I have been running at 55 for 8 years now with no problems. Ride a little harsh ...perhaps. My son's favorite peeve. ButI do point out that when the road is smooth, so is the ride. To your question: The TPMS warning symbol shows on the dash about 10 lbs lower than the set point and then I understand if not attended to one gets a audio warning. I have not personally experienced this yet I think the procedure for setting is in the owners manual. I also never had TPMS before, the warning today was appreciated and I was able to catch that nail early. PS. I do have the same tires as you and the TP held at 35 on the way home.

I did ask a mechanic at Toyota when the TPW symbol shows, he said 25 lbs. Mine seems to trigger at 40 lbs with the TP set to 55 lbs.

 

Thanks for the reply. The only time I got the alert, it was when I started the car, and one tire was indeed about 5 psi low, due to a small piece of wire in the tread. It was a really slow leak, took the tire guy a while to find it, so it may have taken as long as a few days to lose the 5 psi.

 

The tire pressure monitoring systems seem to vary in the way they work. Some systems warn of a differential in pressure from tire to tire. My Buick does this.

 

. That's handy to know, differential pressure may be more important.

 

On some cars, Mercedes for one, you can scroll through a screen showing each tire's pressure in real time. You can actually see pressures increase as the tires warm up as you drive from a cold start.

 

Just wanted to point out a good amount of this info is covered in the FAQ.
Those interested can see the correct spare sizing info there.
Also, Toyota explicitly says that their own goo will destroy the sensors. This is also in the FAQ.

 

I couldn't find where Toyota says the goo will destroy the sensors in the owner's manual. I do remember on my '06 where they said not to use any goo for that reason, but then when they decided to use a repair kit containing sealant for the PiP, all of a sudden it was OK. Now they do say that after using the goo the valve will need to be replaced. Can you point me to the place where you found out about the sensors? Thanks.

 

FTM
■


To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters


When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is
used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon
as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter when replacing the tire.

 

OK, but I'm still wondering where you found that info. This is similar to what I remember from my '06 owner's manual, but I couldn't find it in the new one. Does "FTM" have something to do with it? Thank you.
I assumed that the "valve" they refer to in the manual is the regular valve stem in the rim. Apparently there is also a "pressure warning valve" as well? Sounds to me like I would be far better off using my donut spare or trucking the car to a dealer or tire shop. Replacing all this stuff, including possibly a tire, could get expensive very quickly.

 

Page 477
From Toyota manual
Yeah! I got a donut spare from a bone yard for $35, replacing all that other stuff is Expensive and a pain! And messy!

 

Retired4999, my manual is different from the one you are quoting. Nothing is mentioned about sealants being used. Instead my page 477 talks about installing pressure warning valves and transmitters when tires or wheels are replaced. It also says if new valves and transmitters are installed, you have to take the car to the dealer so that the ID codes in the new parts can be registered in the computer.

 

My Bad!
Try page 587, bottom of page

The page number at the bottom is telling us that their is more to read on page 477, this info is on page 587.
I get confused so easily!
Does not say the goop will mess it up, but does not say it is safe either!
I won't chance it!


To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning

valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is

used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon

as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve and

transmitter when replacing the tire.

P. 477)

 

OK, thanks. I'm not gonna' use the goo either.

 

I'm not sure if this is in the manual proper, but I specially remember it being mentioned in the booklet that came with the compressor itself.

 

I an in the UK.
I have just bought a space saver spare from a scrapyard for £20 ($31).

It has a good tyre and is unmarked. It came from a 2002 Avensis. All I need now is a storage bag and a strap to hold it down.

I believe the full specification is:
PCD 5X100mm, 54.1mm centre hole, and 45mm offset, 135-70-16 tyre.

In the UK fitted to:
Avensis 1998-2003
Carina 1988-1997
Celica 1994-2007
Prius 2004-Onwards