1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Featured spare tire donut

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by IBGPRIUS, Nov 19, 2015.

  1. IBGPRIUS

    IBGPRIUS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2009
    20
    2
    0
    Location:
    19056
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have toyota prius 2006. We are planning a long trip in a week and I checked my spare tire - donut. It is losing air. I checked on some tire dealers and our Toyota dealer and they don't have a donut spare tire. Are there any options available that not will kill me financially? What is the best option?
    Please advise.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    your best bet is to check ebay and salvage yards if cost is important. but why not have yours repaired?
     
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Go get your spare tire fixed. Probably the valve stem or it could be something simple like the valve core is loose.
     
    cyberpriusII likes this.
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Did you have a tire shop check it to see if it is repairable as any common variety flat tire?
     
  5. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2015
    1,192
    1,680
    0
    Location:
    Laughlin, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Repair or salvage yard is definitely the way to go. I recently looked into replacing the donut on a 2003 Echo and a new one is close to $200 at the tire shops around here.
     
    cyberpriusII likes this.
  6. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hey, I agree, try repair first. As fotomoto said, it might be worth it to get a valve stem tool and check to see if it is loose. Seems like the most likely culprit and you can get the tool in any auto parts store for a couple of U.S. dollars and it is a quick, easy fix.

    Now, being that I am too lazy to pull out all the junk in the hatch of my car....if it comes to getting a new tire, would a full-size spare fit in the spare tire well? That would be the route I would prefer to take if I actually had to replace the tire. Those compact spares are quite expensive as Srellim234 noted.

    You could get an O.K. full-size spare and a wheel for a lot less than that -- if one will fit.
    kris
     
    #6 cyberpriusII, Nov 19, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2015
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    So you've brought it back up to 60 psi and it's dropping fast?

    You could spritz soapy water on the valve stem, see if it's leaking there. And if that's not the cause, spritz the whole tire, see if you can see any bubbles.

    How does it look, is the rubber cracking? It is getting on, but otoh spares tend to lead a sheltered life.

    Just googling "Tirerack temp spare" I found this link. They don't seem to have a database of what tire size go with various cars, though. Check your size and have a look, you can get a handle on replacement tire at least:

    Compact Temporary Spare Tire at Tire Rack
     
    cyberpriusII likes this.
  8. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Mendel, TireRack has the data, they just hide it pretty well at the bottom of the page when you look at Prius tires.

    So -- $170 shipped to installer is the price for a Prius donut that T/R quoted to me. Then you have to add in the installer fees, somewhere around $20 or so, usually, which takes it up sort of close to the amount quoted by a previous poster

    BRIDGESTONE
    TRACOMPA-

    • Size: T125/70D16 96M
    • Sidewall Style: Blackwall
    • UTQG: None
    • Qty:
      Per Tire:

    • $158.98

    • Availability: Fewer than 12, Additional Due 11/20/15
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Thanks, that's confusing. So, shop by vehicle, then override the tire size on the page where it asks you confirm size, or specify another. With 2006, I used the 125/70D16 spec'd in O/M.

    Weird though, if I try to post a link it doesn't work. D.O. for yours. Oh well, they're there.
     
  10. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Mendel, it's a bit of hassle, but not much, to find the compact spare on T/R.

    Search by vehicle and then when your tire comes up, click on the red icon for "don't see your tire size"

    Which opens up and down below all the optionals, in small print at the bottom is a link to the temp. tire:
    _____________________________________________________
    Why would I select an optional size?
    Or, Specify a Custom Size(s)
    Tire Size


    Add a Different Rear Tire Size


    Temporary/Compact Spare tires are also available for this vehicle in 125/70-16.
    ______________________________________________________

    Oh, and I poked around on PriusChat, the issue of a full-size replacement was discussed quite a bit in April. Apparently a full-size does fit, but only if totally deflated. Sort of "deflates" that option.

    Kris
     
    #10 cyberpriusII, Nov 19, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2015
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I did find it ok thanks.
     
  12. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Define losing air as the spare tire will tend to lose pressure by diffusion thru the tire wall. I put a special gas in mine to hold better, but I was quite sure there was no valve leak or anything physically wrong.

    Over on the Prius Plug-in threads they talk a lot about buying a small spare, I want to say Corolla, but I don't know if the same wheel fits 2006.

    Many Gen4s coming without spares so this may be a popular question.
     
  13. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    like mendel says, spray it down with windex or whatever soapy stuff you have handy. if its the valve stem = easy fix. if its leaking at the bead, tire shop can dismount the tire, clean the rim and apply bead sealer. only if there is a hole in the tire will you need to replace it. I don't believe its ok to plug or patch the spare, but I could be wrong-- a patch might be ok.

    on the other hand, if the PO was a moron and drove around for an extended period on the spare, then definitely replace with new or junkyard spare.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    when I (infrequently) check our spare it's dropped to 50 psi or so. I figure that's normal; just bring it back up, to around 62. Fall's a good time for that, with falling temps.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i wonder if toyota has made checking the spare pressure easier on the 2016.