Got our stickers today, and our spare tire fits nicely...

I share Roger's concern. Using the strap would be a good idea.

That being said, I'll drive 49 miles to work tomorrow with landscaping tools in the back of my PIP including a weed eater and 1ga of fuel. LOL

 

cool!

 

I had installed a pair of 10" subwoofers in a wooden enclosure in the trunk of my Integra. I then got rear ended on the freeway. The trunk crumpled up real good as it should. However, the enclosure was pushed up. As it did, the tonneau cover became airborne. It proceeded to fly towards the back of my headrest and graze the right side of my head. It landed in the front passenger seat. I shudder to think what would've happened if my head was a little more to the right or if I had a passenger. I'd strap down the wheel.

 

. Rather than using the strap, I just tied down with a good rope.

 

Well, if the worst were to happen, and the donut injured or killed somebody, I'm using the factory-provided strap to tie down a tire and wheel in the designated area. So if someone sued me or my estate, seems to me deep-pockets Toyota would be on the hook. Not so with "a good rope."

 

. It held my sail up, so it must be pretty good. Plus my shelf allows nothing to escape including the tire.

 

Mmmodem had a good point; severe damage to the rear causes the body to change shape. So something that is "made to fit" may not in a collision. Likelyhood of that happening may be very slim, but it did to him.