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Will a Full Sized Spare Tire Fit in the Spare Tire Compartment?

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by It's all about the mpgs, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. It's all about the mpgs

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    I saw the answers for the Gen 2, but couldn't find anything on the Gen 3 or C...

    Will a full-sized spare tire fit in the spare tire compartment of either the 2012 C or 3rd Gen?

    I need a "real" tire for a spare because where I am or when I am there, there might not be anyplace close or open to get the flat fixed or replaced.

    Thanks.
     
  2. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    My Gen III came with a strap for securing the full-size tire in the open area of the luggage compartment. That suggests that it will not fit in the spare tire well. I also suspect that that is the case for the c (it being a much smaller car).
     
  3. d1morgj0

    d1morgj0 Junior Member

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    According to an Aussie site...Toyota Prius C: the $23,990 hybrid | Car Advice it comes with a full size 15" spare tire...

    However, the US toyota Prius C page lists the spare as 'temporary'.

    Would they make the US and Aussie versions of the car with different sized spare tire cargo areas???? Whether or not they actually come with a temporary or full-size??
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I doubt it. If you really want to know: try it.
     
  5. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    It wont fit with the styrofoam inserts. Iseriously doubt one would fit with them removed. It would fit in the back with the seats down.

    If its that important, I'd buy something else,or make some concessions, or carry multiple types of fixaflats and a portable air compressor.
     
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  6. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    I just was outside putting an Original equipment 2012 rim and standard sized tire in the space for the donut tire. You must remove the jack assembly, remove the donut, and remove the styrofoam spacer underneath the donut. Then, if you put the full sized rim+tire in underneath the lip of the HV battery shelf, it will JUST fit, BUT the rear end of the tire at the tailgate side is sticking up about 2-3 inches higher than the edges upon which the black plastic storage bin normally rests. So I will either have to cut away part of that bin or adapt it to be shallower at the tailgate side. Another poster suggested cutting a flap in the plastic at the back so that it will fit down over the rear of the tire, but I have not tried that yet. I need the full sized spare to drive to Alaska and back and it's only 10 pounds more weight, so I will try to make it all fit. Hope this helps!
     
  7. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    This is the C forum. It's a bit different. Our jack is under the drivers seat.
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...OK I'll bite, what's the answer for Gen2's? I assume not rooom for full size? In the old Gen2 vs. Gen3 comparsion from Toyota on YouTube, I do not think there is mention of a bigger tire well.
     
  9. Mr Gee

    Mr Gee Member

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    There's a full size spare in the back of mine (Aussie spec)
     
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  10. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    Could you post pic of what that looks like?
    You have a C , right?
    Do regular Gen 3 hatchbacks in Australia also have full-size spares? If so, could someone post a pic of how that fits together?
    I have a 2012 hatchback and cannot quite get the black plastic tub to fit over the full sized spare -- the tub fits in front but pops up by 1-2 inches in the rear (hatch end). Solutions anyone?
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ Have you already committed, purchased a full size tire/rim? Or are you experimenting, just taking off one of the car's regular wheels?

    I'm thinking there's no way a full size wheel is going in there AND the hatch floor will not be bumped up, think I tried once. But have a go.

    The temporary spare is NOT defeat; it works just fine, and fits (obviously).
     
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  12. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I'll get a roof-rack, if it ever comes down to me needing to carry a spare.
     
  13. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    If I was going to drive to Alaska and back I would make a full size spare fit somewhere. Anywhere.
     
  14. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    Sigh. Well I didn't take my own advice to carry the full sized spare to Alaska when I read the donut was rated for 3,000 miles, which I figured would be far enough to limp to a town and get a new full-sized tire even in the wilds of Alaska.
    I was wrong.
    The right rear tire blew out with a 2-inch gash on the shoulder of the tread just to the East of Alaska on the "Top of The World" highway in the northern Yukon. My errors were:
    1. The donut was only inflated to 40 psi while the sidewall clearly required 60 psi. Error fixed as I had a decent air pump along and pumped the donut to the specified 60 psi before installation. (BTW, the scissors jack is flimsy, especially on gravel, and the jack handle is abysmal.)
    2. A road rough enough to burst a normal OEM tire inflated to 40 psi could very, very easily be rough enough to burst the narrow, shallow tread, 60 psi donut in short order. I consider myself lucky to have nursed that donut through the shoulder to shoulder minefield of potholes about 30 miles to Dawson City without it failing.
    3. The Prius takes an odd-sized tire for which there may not be much demand in the northern wilderness. Once again I was very lucky that the RV repair shop in Dawson City coincidentally had exactly one correct sized tire for our Prius--otherwise we would have had to wait one or two days for the correct tire to be shipped up from Whitehorse or further South.
    I hate being lucky.
    Pilots who rely on being lucky usually end up dead.
    Hence I am desperately trying to devise ways to safely carry a full sized spare without destroying the car's aerodynamics or limited cargo space.
    Tis a puzzlement.
    Help appreciated.
     
  15. doncantwell

    doncantwell Junior Member

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    I was able to fit a full size spare in my 2011 prius. Trimmed the support "web" on the bottom of the rear deck, but only where the full size tire supported the deck. Floor ended up ~ 1/2 inch high at the hatch, but worked fine.
     
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  16. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    I did the same, except that I cut a semicircle in the rear of the black plastic tub and glued it in place so that it now just fits over the tire. That way, the rear lip still fits down on its support at the hatch side and the trunk floor fits perfectly flat. So it does fit, with a few adjustments in my case.
     
  17. luko

    luko New Member

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    I've been considering doing this exact thing to get a full sized spare in there. Do you have any pictures of that? I would love to see how / where you cut and how it looks when that plastic bin is down "flat." Thank you!
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Take one of your regular tires off, put it in that space and see?
     
  19. Adventurer2112

    Adventurer2112 Junior Member

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    A full size spare did not fit, after foam removal.
    Jack
     
  20. tungm

    tungm Junior Member

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    If you have a reliable tyre pump, why not carry the full sized spare while it's flat or with just enough pressure to keep the bead locked but soft enough to fit into the space.