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It happened. Flat tire. No spare. In middle of Nowhere.

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Diemaster, Aug 3, 2019.

  1. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Thanks, Rob. I just ordered mine.
     
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  2. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    Great, it will work just fine.

    On a side note, there's a 60 degree conical bevel on your stock OE Toyota lug nuts right at the end of them. It's just this cone shape that engages the spare wheel. The OE lug nut is Not designed to fit inside the spare wheel.


    Rob43
     
  3. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    What does this mean?
     
  4. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    It means your stock lug nuts work with your new/used spare wheel, even though they don't fit in the same manner as when they're fastened to your original Prime wheels.


    Rob43
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And they'll look odd, stick out, washers an all. But who cares.
     
  6. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Yea...like that doughnut "blends" to begin with. ;)
     
  7. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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  8. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

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    This. I bought a spare on Craigslist. I only use it when I leave town.
     
  9. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    My tire arrived this morning. Looks great. Thanks, again, Rob.
     
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  10. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    You are very welcome !

    *****************************

    Now that you own it:

    1) Test fit it under ideal conditions, this way when it's dark out you won't have any surprises.

    2) Set it to 60 PSI, then check it a few times over a week to make sure it's holding air.


    Rob43
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Use just the scissor jack too, make sure you can manage it ok.

    Toyota's scissor jack is not very good, in particular the connection of the torsion rod (my name, not sure what it's called, looks like shepherd's staff) to the jack: it jumps around and chews at the metal with each revolution.

    The "jacking points" for the scissor jack are garbage too, poorly marked, and not reinforced in any way: a single usage will dimple the car body on the far side of the crimped seam a bit.
     
  12. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    The factory jack is the first thing in the dumpster...where junk belongs.
     
  13. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    To the great unwashed or others reading that might misunderstand . . . . . don't toss your jack unless you carry an substitute jack in the vehicle.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I still wouldn't junk it, there's always trade-in time. And: don't throw big chunks of steel in your garbage, local scrap metal dealers will take them. Dead lawn mowers, knackered barbecues, most anything.
     
  15. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    The factory jack… yeah, I have not used any of it ever, not even once, like never. But I don't have a floor jack small enough to fit under the seat, so I still rely on it if I ever need it on the road.
     
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  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Nearly Useless Anecdote #672.112.

    About 30 years ago, I had a brand new Nissan Pick Up. Within the first 4-5 months of ownership, I repeatedly kept picking up nails, and getting flats.
    I finally was so frustrated, I simply took the vehicle in, and had some high quality Tires put on. When the technician went to replace the tires, he told me the tread on the existing OEM tires was fine, and that the tires looked great. At that point, I didn't care. I replaced them anyway. I think the technician thought I was being stupid in replacing what he saw as being perfectly good tires. But I was averaging a flat a month, and it had reached a point where I had no confidence I could go anywhere and trust the tires would be fine.

    Personal experience, but after replacing the tires, the flats stopped. Nothing about my driving or tire inflation changed.

    So anyway, I believe you can get tires so cheaply made that they have a propensity towards failure. Regardless of tread wear.
    Maybe OEM tires have improved, because the last 3-4 vehicles I've owned, I've gotten much better life and performance from the OEM tires. Maybe even in that singular case, I just happened to get a "lemon" set of tires. I can't remember the brand. But even today? I don't expect the same life span or durability from the OEM tires, as a top quality set...when I replace. I feel if I can get 3 years out of the OEM tires, I've done well.

    That being said, when I made the decision to replace the tires, early, it was my decision alone. I didn't expect either Nissan nor the tire manufacturer to offer support.
    Technically, even though I think there was a connection between the tires on the vehicle, and the repeated picked up nails and flats, the failures were not something I could "prove" as being the tires fault. So I just paid, out of pocket, full amount for new tires. Even though empirically, and mileage wise, some people would of argued I was being stupid and could of gotten more time out of the OEM.

    Again this was an experience nearing 30 years ago. I tend to think OEM tires today, are better than back then. But it also has left me believing that some tires,- can just be bad.

    Therefore, if the OP is unhappy with his tires, and their durability and performance...change them. But I really wouldn't expect Toyota or the manufacturer to offer any support.
     
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  17. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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    2A1D04F3-675B-4E3B-8909-A12505532CAB.jpeg Ditto, mine also arrived today and looks brand-spankin’ new thanks! (Teats still on the surface):
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @The Electric Me maybe some tires just have tread pattern with more propensity to catch nails? I'd think tighter gaps, lots of micro sipes, would be more prone. But who knows.
     
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  19. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    Well, I bought a compact spare on eBay (originally from a Lexus CT200H). When it arrived I took out my factory tools and jack and installed it on the car. Drove around the block a couple of times to ensure that the fit and the tools were OK. Now I feel confident that if I carry it on a long trip and have to use it with the Prime tools I will be fine. For short trips close to home the spare stays in the garage. I saw no problem with the supplied jack that would encourage me to throw it away.
     
  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yeah, I should do that with my full-size spare tire and PRIME's stock tools. Come to think of it. I have not even checked if the jack is really under the seat as it supposed to. I have never checked.