OEM spare tire install

Wasn't it upthread where small foam blocks were purchased from a craft store?

 

I tried to read all 500+ posts in this thread but did not see that!

I've handled the Walmart yoga block and it does look very suitable. It's very firm and very light but has to be cut to the right dimensions.

 

Ok. I've got nothing else to do....lol.

 

I misread your post. You have an XLE. I was thinking LE.
@Humble Bear cut a hole in his LE's foam to fit the tire, but then had to add foam blocks to raise the deck (LE).
He got small craft blocks from Walmart.
SPARE TIRE MOD FOR LE FWD model using factory foam | PriusChat

 

The donut fits perfectly behind the passenger seat, with the seat being all the way back.
I put the tire in a black plastic bag for camouflage purposes.
There are existing cutouts in the foam for the oem factory jack and wrench, and they fit perfect.
The lower LE deck helps with space. Not sure how a bike will fit in there yet.
Thanks again to @Hammersmith .

 

I just finished doing the exact same thing. 16x4T rim from Lewis Toyota, 145/90R16 Yokohama tire from WallyWorld, jack kit 09105-47020 also from Lewis. I did spring for a spare tire carrier bag w/handles from EZ Spare [ EZ Spare Medium Carrying Bag for Spare Tire and Wheel – EZ Spare Wheel , still on sale, must not sell many bags ] so daughter (end-user of Prius) can manage it better.

For the LE, the Hammersmith or Humble Bear solutions are more elegant, but the loss of cargo space involved (OK only around 3.5 ft3 difference between LE and XLE, lose that in the LE with the required raised deck height) was an issue for her, so opted for the behind-passenger-seat solution too. Daughter initially cringed at that but asked her “how many times in last 6 yrs have you traveled in your Honda fit with 3 passengers?”, answer was zero, so she became more accepting.

Being new to Toyotas and hybrids, initial concern I had was blocking the hybrid battery air intake vent with the spare. But it appears from the owner’s manual the intake vent location is driver’s side rear seat bottom left. The passenger side rear seat bottom right also has a plastic looking “vent” – is this also part of the hybrid battery air intake? I don’t know. But even with the spare in place, the “vent” isn’t covered.

I can’t thank @Hammersmith, @Humble Bear, all other posters enough, this thread was a long one but well worth reading, helped me enormously. Now onto the other add-ons (EcoHitch, cat converter shield, 12v battery maintainer eyelet connector pigtail mount, etc).

 

I just looked at that vent. Cabin ventilation? Anyway the circumference of the tire makes blockage a non-issue.

I'm going to see how my bicycle fits in today. I'm pretty sure I can get it in with the front wheel off. Question is will spare interfere, and can I take a passenger (and two bikes? LOL). Would prefer to stay away from hitch, but it's definitely easier not having to take off a wheel and with a tilt-down feature, easier for a woman to lift onto the bars and into position, never mind multiple bikes.

The rear is so raked you need any additional vertical room you can get.

I'd be interested in what you come up with for the battery maintainer.

Also, I have the thumbwheel screw for the spare tire, if anyone wants it. Just pay postage.

On a side note, I've found the avas noise maker not as annoying as I'd thought-at least going forward. I walked alongside it as the salesman drove it out of the showroom, and not so bad. I guess it gets loader as you go faster. Reverse is another story, but so far, I haven't reached the threshold of deleting it.