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Spare tire difference in overall diameter

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by jkwho, Dec 10, 2021.

  1. jkwho

    jkwho New Member

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    Hey all,
    I'm on a hunt for a spare tire and found a few options. What I noticed is the spare tire size is 135/80/16 (05 prius) which is 2% in overall diameter difference. Is this what everyone is buying for a spare tire?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    If you can find a Gen4 compact spare tire, the spec IIRC is 125/70D17 98M. But what you found which is the 16" rim for Gen2 may still work?
    Read this thread: What is the Part Number and Wheel Size for a 2018 Prius Four Spare Tire?? | PriusChat

    For your information, since PP does not have under deck storage option like regular Gen4 Prius, you may save some money by going with a generic 15" steel wheel and full-size 195/65R15 tire. They are cheaper than buying a new compact spare with a rim. That's what I did and store the full-size spare behind the front seat. I actually used the OEM tire that came with my Gen3 which needed to be replaced in pairs, and one tire was still good. The cost was only for the wheel ~$50 plus mounting and re-balancing ~$15. A full-size tire is wider and it wedges in the footwell. If you fold the rear seat and remove the headrest, the tire is very secure not requiring any tie-down.
    upload_2021-12-10_11-38-50.png

    upload_2021-12-10_11-43-7.png
     
    #2 Salamander_King, Dec 10, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2021
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  3. jkwho

    jkwho New Member

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    Thanks for your input! This is just to have for our 2000+ mile road trip coming up end of the month. It looks like the 2% isn't much in differences for a spare. I was able to find the 16" spare for 35 at a local scrap yard.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A Gen 2 spare will be smaller than Gen 3 or 4, cus the stock second gen tire is 185/65R15, while 3rd and 4th gens are the larger 195/65R15. As a rule of thumb, the spare tires will be quite close in outside diameter to the corresponding stock tire size.

    Some info from the respective owner's manual:

    2nd gen stock tire: 185/65R15
    3rd gen stock tire: 195/65R15
    4th gen stock tire: 195/65R15 (no change from 3rd gen)

    2nd gen spare tire: T125/70D16
    3rd gen spare tire: T135/80D16
    4th gen spare tire: T125/70D17 (somewhat inexplicable change from 3rd gen)

    My 2 cents: I would look for a 3rd gen spare, it's actually closer to stock diameter than the 4th gen spare.

    One other factor: tires age, and while a spare can lead a sheltered life, I'd weigh that; 10+ year old tires are a mix-bag.
     
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  5. jkwho

    jkwho New Member

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    Thanks for your input! It looks like the yard also has a 2012 prius spare tire. With the stock vs spare being 2% difference, that should work better?

    Its interesting to see that the 4th gen spare size is 4.4% difference compared to stock tires.
     
  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    OP wrote, "spare tire size is 135/80/16 (05 prius)". According to your info, that's Gen3 spare spec but he is quoting it is from 05 Prius which is Gen2???
     
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  7. jkwho

    jkwho New Member

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    That could be an error on my end. I searched the part number 42611-20A50 on ebay and thats the size I saw on the listing.

    I cant links yet on here (from ebay).
     
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  8. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ah woops.
     
  10. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    I'm getting new tires next week and will save one for a spare. I need a wheel.
    I saw this wheel on Amazon:

    Screenshot_20211211-161843.jpg

    It looks the same as your steel wheel.
    Did you need different lug nuts for the steel wheel?
     
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I don't know what brand of wheel mine is. I just asked the tire shop to get me a cheap steel wheel and this is the one they got. It was ~$50 5 years ago. Pacer #84B-5618-1, 15x6", ET41, Hub Bore 72mm, 5x100 5x115 dual bolt pattern is compatible wheel. I think the one you picked is the correct one. The same model number Pacer wheel comes in different bolt patterns, so make sure it is correct 5x100mm (5x3.937"). Both mine and your pick is dual bolt pattern that works on either 5x100 or 5x115 (4.52"), I think. As for the lug nuts, I did buy 5 conical lug nuts just in case, but when I put the spare tire with the wheel on my PP, I tried using OEM lug nuts. It worked. So you don't need to buy a separate set.

    EDIT: I fixed the wrong information I commented previously. Thanks to @xliderider You need the bolt pattern of 5x100mm for PP.

    Right photo: left is the OEM lug nuts, right is the conical lug nuts I bought. Both work fine.
    Left photo: installing the full-size spare using the OEM lug nuts. I drove with this wheel/tire for a while. No problem.
    upload_2021-12-11_17-31-36.png
     
    #11 Salamander_King, Dec 11, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2021
  12. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The dual pattern wheel bolt pattern should be 5x114.3mm and 5x100mm, not 5x108mm.

    The Prius bolt pattern is 5x100, the Prius v is 5x114.3mm.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  13. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    You are absolutely correct. My bad. Thanks. I edited my earlier comments. BTW, the dual pattern I have and @ems2158 posted picture is for 5x100 and 5x115, I think. 115mm is equal to 4.52" listed on the @ems2158 posted picture. 114.3mm is equal to exactly 4.5".
     
    #13 Salamander_King, Dec 11, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2021
  14. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    Thanks for the info. I'm going to order the steel wheel I referenced in the previous post; put the best of the original tires that are being replaced on the wheel. I'll have peace of mind for less than $100.
     
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  15. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Just make sure that the wheel you are ordering has the 5x100 bolt pattern @xliderider mentioned. I think the one from Amazon does, as shown on the pic on the Amazon page. It has a dual bolt pattern, but the title only mentions 5x4.52" which is 115mm.
     
  16. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I found those wheels on Amazons. They have correct wheel specs including a correct bore size. Some Prius owners like @Mendel Leisk uses Corolla OEM 15" steel wheels for the winter tires. They may be better constructed and a better fit than dual bolt pattern universal wheel. For one thing, the center bore size of the universal wheel is larger (I think 70mm) than OEM which is 54.1mm. But for a temporary spare, not full-time winter wheels, this is less of a problem, I think.

    The second linked one has +39 (positive offset) instead of +40 of the first one which is correct for PP, but I think they both should work.
    http://www.amazon.com/Road-Ready-2003-2008-Toyota-Corolla/dp/B00VVURFTW
    or
    http://www.amazon.com/RTX-Steel-Aftermarket-finish-X45921/dp/B01M9FGQNH
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah this is what I got, in November of 2010 (about a week after purchase of the vehicle):

    Corolla steel rim, part no: 42611-02471 (2003-2008 corolla or matrix, CE, LS, S)
    steel rim lug nuts, part no: 90942-01007 (plain, open-ended, galvanized)

    Through a local Toyota dealership, the rims were $70 CDN apiece, and the lug nuts $31 CDN for the lot. The Michelin X-Ice were $564 CDN for the lot, and labour $80 CDN.

    In this pic there's an ABS end cap (common plumbing department item, typically for domestic waste water systems) being used a a centre cap (aka hub cap), with a rubber band pushed on first to fill the slight gap.

    4BD64A8E-E82A-4256-95BC-4F92F2714E91.jpeg

    Same tires, over 11 years since first install now. I did get them checked out by Kal Tire this fall; they said they're still good. Low usage, washed/waxed and garage-stored in a stack with a cover, 7~8 months of the year. They still had 7/32" tread depth when I put them on this fall. Just starting to show slight cracking, very fine.

    The open-ended lug nuts were a little problematic; the exposed wheel stud tips were getting rust-bloom. Now what I do after install is put a drop of 3-in-1 oil on the tip of each, spread it around with an old tooth brush. Repeat once, about halfway through winter.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Dec 12, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2021
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