Are you sure your newly purchased car has a temp or spare tire back up?

[4570Man]

I can handle not having a spare. A tow hook should be mandatory.

 

[kenmac]

Kind of like leaving the house without your gun

Heck, I would leave home without a spare before I would my gun !

Having said that , We bought a 2015 Hyundai sonata limited. Pretty much loaded. Made the deal on the car (hadn't signed papers yet) and found the car didn't come with a spare, only an air compressor.
I told the sales person that the deal was off unless I get a spare tire.
Salesman says the spare tire kit (as they call it) comes with jack, lug wrench, and spare tire, and it would cost $500.00 for to add the spare.

I turned to walk away, and he says ''where are you going, I thought we had a deal'' I said without a spare tire, lug wrench, and jack, there is no deal, Bye !
He says wait a min. let me talk to the mgr.

Long story short. I went in and signed the papers for the original agreement, with the spare tire kit included

 

[4570Man]

It’s probably a 200 dollar kit assuming it’s a good tire. $500 is a complete ripoff. I’ve heard several people mention matching alloy wheels. Unless the it’s mounted outside the vehicle like a Jeep why do you care?

 

[RalphVa]

A little over a year ago, we bought a Mazda MX-5 "Miata". It has no spare tire, only a 12v oil pump. May be some other stuff in there. Not really curious to look.

Haven't had a flat on the road in many many years. Only "flats" that I recall have been low tires that I aired up to take to shop or took them off and took to shop for fix. Had a couple blowouts years ago on the road. Don't really ever remember when was the last time (or only time) I had a flat on the road. Had never used the donuts in the last 2 cars we've had. Never had to use the spares underneath the bed of the last 2 pickups.

Ralph

 

[kenmac]

Couple of years ago, My in laws ran over something on the interstate. It went straight through the tire and rim. If they hadn't has a spare, they would have to had to call the tow truck.
I have seen many vehicles on the side of the interstate with a flat tire.
I've had a couple blow outs on my trailers. I carry a spare on everything that leaves my place

 

[4570Man]

I have seen many vehicles on the side of the interstate with a flat tire.

Out of that group I wonder how many people are capable of changing the tire. Out of that smaller group I wonder how many could break the lug nuts loose. Tire shops like to toque them way down.

 

[check]

Out of that group I wonder how many people are capable of changing the tire. Out of that smaller group I wonder how many could break the lug nuts loose. Tire shops like to toque them way down.

I insist that they always use a torque wrench, and I even check on it. Twice, when changing from winter to summer or vice versa, I have had my actual wheels come loose on me because they did not torque the lug nuts properly. This is particularly important with aluminum wheels. Scary stuff when you look in your sideview mirror and see one of your wheels wobbling.

 

[4570Man]

Whoever put the nuts on my kodiak wasn’t wanting them to come loose. I didn’t have a big enough cheater pipe, my 1100 FP rated harbor freight gun wouldn’t do it, a 3/4 drive Snap On gun with high flow fittings wouldn’t do it. I finally had to get a 1” drive impact.

 

[WM75Guy]

Out of that group I wonder how many people are capable of changing the tire. Out of that smaller group I wonder how many could break the lug nuts loose. Tire shops like to toque them way down.

Just for such occasions in my toolbox I have 1/2" drive impact sockets, a 2' 1/2" drive break over bar, a 4' cheater pipe, and a 2 1/2 ton floor jack. I also have a 2' 1/2' drive torque wrench. Trucks and trailers get torqued to proper specs regularly, especially before a road trip. One reason I use Discount Tires is they always use a torque wrench to check torque when changing a tire, especially since I stand there and watch them.

Fortunately the only time I have had to use my equipment was to help someone change a flat on their horse trailer.

 

[4570Man]

Just for such occasions in my toolbox I have 1/2" drive impact sockets, a 2' 1/2" drive break over bar, a 4' cheater pipe, and a 2 1/2 ton floor jack. I also have a 2' 1/2' drive torque wrench. Trucks and trailers get torqued to proper specs regularly, especially before a road trip. One reason I use Discount Tires is they always use a torque wrench to check torque when changing a tire, especially since I stand there and watch them.

Fortunately the only time I have had to use my equipment was to help someone change a flat on their horse trailer.

If you’re properly equipped changing a tire is no big deal. But, what if you have the crap that came with the vehicle that’s 15 years old and over torqued lugs. At first I thought no spare was really stupid, but now that I’m thinking about it not so much. The chances of having a blow out, being able to successfully change the tire and having a spare with air in it is pretty slim.

 

[kenmac]

Out of that group I wonder how many people are capable of changing the tire. Out of that smaller group I wonder how many could break the lug nuts loose. Tire shops like to toque them way down.

probably not many. The state has a truck that patrols the interstates looking for broken down vehicles, flat tire, out of gas etc,.
You can also dial *hp and get in touch with them and they will come assist you, or wait with you with their lights on until tow truck arrives.

 

[TractorGuy]

I bought a 2016 Kia Sportage last fall.
It came with a spare with tire pressure sensor on it!!
I checked out the jack and lug wrench and even found a Tow Pin that can be inserted front or rear to pull out of a bad spot!

I wish our 2011 Sorento had a sensor in the spare. Not only does it not have a sensor they mounted it in the car with the stem up so you can't check the pressure without removing it. We have had all the service done at the dealer with the exception of a couple of repairs I've done and they never checked the air in the spare. I dropped it a few weeks ago to check and it had 10lbs of pressure. We have never needed it but it would suck to try installing it on some of the back roads we drive only to find out it was flat.

 

[ultrarunner]

Roads must be better than they are here... the city streets have lots of potholes... local tire shops repair/replace tires every day from road hazards... sometimes that include rims.

Salvage yards are often the best to pick up a tire and rim.

I always check to make sure equipment is in place...

My then 8 year old niece said her friend was stuck all night because they got a flat tire and I asked if she wanted me to show her how to change a tire... a skill that was able to use when she was 12...

 

[gwstang]

"...Every tried to "call up" AAA with smoke signals???..."

This cracked me up! :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

"...Every tried to "call up" AAA with smoke signals???..."

This cracked me up! :laughing:

I would not drive in Alaska or any really remote location without my Amateur radio license and a good HF mobile rig in my truck. And one that could also hit the Alaska Emergency Frequency of 5167.5 kHz USB

 

[not2old]

I ordered my 1990 F250 without a spare because it cost $300 to $400. At 430,000 KM I have never needed one, but do carry a spare wheel with an old tire on it when travelling far from home. I paid $15.00 for it at a swap meet.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My wife's 2003 Olds Bravada has never had the spare on the ground due to a flat tire. Recently I had to replace one tire because of a bad front end alignment so I put the spare on the ground.
I know you aren't supposed to run a tire that is more than 5 years old. I put this one on as a temp and now decided that I would run it till it goes flat. It was made in 2002 according to the code, still has no cracking of the sidewalls. Since the car is only driven around town, I will see how long it lasts. I replace the spare rim tire with one with about 40K on it so if it does blow out, I have something to put on the ground.
I was just curious as to how true the statement is about not using tires more than 5 years old. So far I have about 200 miles on it with no indication of failure.

 

[coobie]

We are ordering a $50,000 plus 2018 dodge challenger in May and it does not come with a spare tire.Go figure? I bet half of the younger generation could not change a flat tire if they had to..

 

[k0ua]

We are ordering a $50,000 plus 2018 dodge challenger in May and it does not come with a spare tire.Go figure? I bet half of the younger generation could not change a flat tire if they had to..

Remember the Gieco commercial?: Kid holding phone in one hand and a small pry-bar in the other: "Dad, I KNOW what a lug wrench is!" Kid to nearby friend: "Is this a lug wrench?" Other kid: "Maybe?"

 

[coobie]

Remember the Gieco commercial?: Kid holding phone in one hand and a small pry-bar in the other: "Dad, I KNOW what a lug wrench is!" Kid to nearby friend: "Is this a lug wrench?" Other kid: "Maybe?"

Sure do funny stuff but true.