Spare tire delete

put down a nice piece of foam, cut to size. maybe spray some sound deadener first, or stick on pads.

 

Lots of spray on options available. Undercoating would be tough
and durable and also contribute to sound and vibration deadening.


SCH-I535

 

Why would you choose to get rid of spare? Save weight?

What happens if you get a puncture? Call AAA and wait for to tow you home to get your spare?

 

Yep - my Prius III gen - European - doesn't have spare too. The repair kit is available instead. In case of longer trip I can always put the spare summer (or winter) wheel of which I have full set in my garage Anyway plenty of tyre repair shops are in my area so no worries

 

Ah ok. If you're operating in a city mainly, it would be do-able.

A few of my colleagues drive BMW 520s which don't have spares, just run flats and it is a serious pain in the nice person for them having to buy a new tyre every time they get a flat.

I just like the idea of having all the bits I need in the back so I can get it changed in 5 minutes and continue on my way.

I do agree with the space though, once the spare is out, there's so much more room

 

perfect for more batteries!

 

I like the maybe artificial peace of mind at least having a spare affords me.

But I think the future is less and less having a spare, and more and more simply having a tire repair kit.

Less weight, less cost to the manufacturer and with most people carrying cell phones, the idea of getting stranded is pretty remote.

Even with a spare I've thought about getting one of those "instant flat repair" kits. If it's cold, wet, raining or snowing, it's a lot easier to hopefully repair the flat, pump it up and drive on, then get out and physically change the entire tire.

Anyone have any experience with the Fix a Flat or Slime type of kits? Fortunately for me it's been a lot of years since I've had to change a flat.

 

Except for those of us who travel frequently in places that still have considerable amounts of white space on the cellular coverage maps.

 

I've used them in the distant past, but now, with the advent of TPMS I just don't trust any of them not to crud the devices up to the tune of a $200 tire repair (repair tire and purchase of a new sensor).

 

there's a lot of talk about this in the pip section (doesn't come with a spare) slime just doesn't make anyone comfortable. towing is a major pain, leaving option 3, add a spare.

 

Certainly, but I'm looking at the whole picture. In other words, if you carry a spare repair kit, and a cell phone, the situations or possibilities that you would be dangerously or irrevocably stranded just because you aren't carrying a legitimate spare, I think are still rightly defined as remote.

I actually hadn't thought of that. I haven't bought either Slime or Fix-A-Flat "yet" but I have looked at them at the store. I think both Fix-A-Flat and Slime now claim to NOT damage TPMS sensors. However after going to their sites, the "Not Damage" part seems contingent on the eventual tire repairer or replacer properly and thoroughly cleaning the substance off the TPMS sensor.

So it sounds like you are depending on a 3rd party to do something "right". That does make me nervous. Maybe another reason to not be too upset about having an actual spare.

 

Okay...you guys are talking me out of it....Viva La Spare!

I probably should practice changing a tire.....it's luckily been decades since I have had to do so.

 

the big thing is the crummy jack, a solid base to put under it in case you're on soft ground and a long pipe for leveraging the lugs if the dealer used an air wrench to put them on. oh, and wheel chocks.

 

I recently bought a small trolley jack and have a few pieces of flat timber in the boot instead of the crappy scissors jack, which I really don't trust.

It's a control thing to me, I like to be able to deal with a flat as quickly as possible rather than rely on someone/something else

 

With some practice no more than 10 minutes Recently I've changed all my four wheels from summer to winter in 50 minutes with the scissors jack. Of course I've chosen good condition, no rain, no snow, during the daylight on my driveway and NOT in hurry I wonder if I may try to gain additional skills like the guy below

 

Go to the carpet section at a home improvement store and buy a roll of padding. It's cheap. Cut it to fit and if you want it more permanent, apply with some 3M spray adhesive. Warning: that 3M stuff works very well and the padding will stick instantly. In the bath tub section, look for a plastic shower barrier that comes in a roll. Cut it to fit and lay over the padding. It will take a few days to out gas. Total costs: under $30.

You can probably sell your spare in a flash here on the forum.