If you travel long distances on the Interstate, you'll want a full size spare

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Georgina Rudkus, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:09 AM.

  1. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Here's why when aI buy a new car, I always buy a full size spare.

     
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I use “sticky string” with 12 V inflator that keeps my tires properly inflated. I also carry a can of goop and pay a small fee to my insurance carrier for tow service.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  3. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    I currently have a donut behind my passenger seat.
    Since I just got snows w/rims, maybe I'll see how a full size fits behind the seat.
    Maybe when it gets a little warmer, lol. 8 here.
    edit: Run flats suck
    edit 2: The donut is same diameter
     
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  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Doughnut spares don't kill - people kill....when they don't bother to RTFM (*.)

    Or?
    As might be stated by a sometimes cranky old Marine friend:
    Driving is an IQ test that not everybody passes......


    (*)Read the.....'factory' manual.
     
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  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    I know a lot of people that "can" read; but they can't/don't articulate the words on paper to real world knowledge.....
    Kinda like those Peanuts cartoons, when a parent talks to Charlie Brown and it's incomprehensible......:(:rolleyes:o_O:whistle:
     
    #5 BiomedO1, Feb 24, 2026 at 10:38 AM
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2026 at 10:45 AM
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    I said I was going to buy a spare when I got the bolt 2 1/2 years ago.
    It even has a place for one under the hatch floor, but still haven’t pulled the trigger
     
  7. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    Full-size tire/wheel fit behind passenger seat.
    No legroom for passenger sacrificed.
    Place to store battery and capacitor jump packs in wheel dish.
    Camouflaged poorly by winter jacket.
    Anyone want to buy a new donut? Must pick up, lol. I live near Albany, NY.
    upload_2026-2-26_10-44-13.png

    upload_2026-2-26_10-44-46.png

    upload_2026-2-26_10-45-16.png
     
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  8. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    The only additional thing I'd do is to use a hooked end ratchet strap to some strong points under the rear seat.

    A cheap vinyl RV spare tire cover is also what I use.
     
  9. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Yep our last 2 vehicles had NO spare tire...just the stupid Toyota canister of fix-a-flat foam and inflator. (And substandard car scissor jack.)

    I put full-size spares in them and replaced the jack with a better one.

    My co-worker has a BMW with no spare...same dumb system as me. He got a flat up in Denver but tire wouldn't hold any air and he waited over 5-hours for AAA to show up to help him out. (He didn't know it would take that long else he would've called me.)
     
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  10. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    BMW used to do run flats. They don’t anymore.
     
  11. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    A trip of 500 miles cannot get completed, should the run flat be damaged half way into the journey.

    The run flat, like the donut, is intended to allow the car to be driven to a service center to replace the tire, which is not likely to have one in stock.

    The result is a stay of days in a motel awaiting the arrival of the replacement tire.

    On that account, the best guaranteed option is still a full size spare.
     
  12. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    I had bad luck with run flats. They go flat easily, lol.
     
  13. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    That's what happens when they rely on a third party service, under a fixed fee contract - tow trucks are going to take the higher paying cash job FIRST. They will eventually get to you, once they've exhausted all of their higher fee work.
    Better to have your own backup plan in place.
     
    #13 BiomedO1, Feb 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2026 at 6:29 PM