The spare tire on my 99 Avalon has only about 20 miles on it but it is 13 years old. I am about to replace my tires which are 5 1/2 year old Bridgestone Potenza 960 AS Pole Position with 42k miles. Should I replace the original spare with one of Potenza's? Thanks.
Should I Replace Original Spare?
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If no cracks then no.
Its fairly well protected against UV and ozone, should last for years. Rotate it so you have access to the valve stem
JHZR2
Staff member
The argument is that dryrot can occur and sometimes tires must have rotation occurring in order to get the antioxidants/anti-UV/whatever else to the surface to actively protect...
If it doesnt look cracked and holds air well, I'd be OK with it I think.
For those with minispares, can one even easily get replacement tires, and who mounts them?
If it doesnt look cracked and holds air well, I'd be OK with it I think.
For those with minispares, can one even easily get replacement tires, and who mounts them?
I dont think ive ever seen a case were a new one was needed. Except when we were young we used to find them and put them on our cars and burn them off for fun. It makes cool grey smoke. But they do have a mileage rating that cant be exceeded. Ive even had 15 year old ones that worked fine back in the day.
Originally Posted By: artbuc
The spare tire on my 99 Avalon has only about 20 miles on it but it is 13 years old. I am about to replace my tires which are 5 1/2 year old Bridgestone Potenza 960 AS Pole Position with 42k miles. Should I replace the original spare with one of Potenza's? Thanks.
Ours was 12 and we just replaced it with the other four.
Bear in mind that the absolute service limit for many manufacturers is 10 years - regardless of service or storage conditions. Some deterioration is based on mere exposure to atmosphere. A spare will last longer than on a road wheel, but no tire lasts forever.
If you can afford a new spare, why take a chance? You might need it 3-4 years from now, when it's over 15.
It's in the tire shop for four . . . it's easy and convenient to put the 5th on at the same time.
FWIW, you are best advised to NOT mount a directional tire as a spare; a symmetrical or asymmetrical tread allows use on either side. Even as a temp spare, you'll REALLY notice the difference on a backward directional if it happens to be wet the day you need it.
I would put a brand new tire on the spare, but you don't need to put on a $200 UHP. A simple passenger grade tire is enough. As long as it's fresh rubber.
. . .
Side Rant:
I honestly don't understand why so many posters here are so cheap about tire replacement, yet happily pour caviar-priced oils into their high-powered engines.
Tires are the most important part of the vehicle, and the only part that stops it and keeps it from sliding off the road (and sliding into me). It's the last part anyone should cheap out on.
I've been in enough accidents with people running on ancient, rock hard tires with zero traction (who talked like some of the folks here: "there was plenty of tread on my tires, I don't know what happened"), so I'm more sensitive than most to the consequences.
Visuals just don't cut it. I'm no fan of regulation, but Japan and Europe are starting to enforce tire service life rules for safety. I wonder if we should too as part of the basic state safety inspection.
The spare tire on my 99 Avalon has only about 20 miles on it but it is 13 years old. I am about to replace my tires which are 5 1/2 year old Bridgestone Potenza 960 AS Pole Position with 42k miles. Should I replace the original spare with one of Potenza's? Thanks.
Ours was 12 and we just replaced it with the other four.
Bear in mind that the absolute service limit for many manufacturers is 10 years - regardless of service or storage conditions. Some deterioration is based on mere exposure to atmosphere. A spare will last longer than on a road wheel, but no tire lasts forever.
If you can afford a new spare, why take a chance? You might need it 3-4 years from now, when it's over 15.
It's in the tire shop for four . . . it's easy and convenient to put the 5th on at the same time.
FWIW, you are best advised to NOT mount a directional tire as a spare; a symmetrical or asymmetrical tread allows use on either side. Even as a temp spare, you'll REALLY notice the difference on a backward directional if it happens to be wet the day you need it.
I would put a brand new tire on the spare, but you don't need to put on a $200 UHP. A simple passenger grade tire is enough. As long as it's fresh rubber.
. . .
Side Rant:
I honestly don't understand why so many posters here are so cheap about tire replacement, yet happily pour caviar-priced oils into their high-powered engines.
Tires are the most important part of the vehicle, and the only part that stops it and keeps it from sliding off the road (and sliding into me). It's the last part anyone should cheap out on.
I've been in enough accidents with people running on ancient, rock hard tires with zero traction (who talked like some of the folks here: "there was plenty of tread on my tires, I don't know what happened"), so I'm more sensitive than most to the consequences.
Visuals just don't cut it. I'm no fan of regulation, but Japan and Europe are starting to enforce tire service life rules for safety. I wonder if we should too as part of the basic state safety inspection.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
For those with minispares, can one even easily get replacement tires, and who mounts them?
I have been able to find them for customers, but that is after exhausting almost all of my tire sources. From what I remember they are fairly expensive, there was one mini-spare for a Mazda 3 that retailed for somewhere around $180 for just the tire.
For those with minispares, can one even easily get replacement tires, and who mounts them?
I have been able to find them for customers, but that is after exhausting almost all of my tire sources. From what I remember they are fairly expensive, there was one mini-spare for a Mazda 3 that retailed for somewhere around $180 for just the tire.
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to bump up the spare tire storage pressure anything above what's printed on the side, even if by just 5 PSI. I did that with my old Audi, bumping a "60 PSI" spare to 65 PSI (I'd bleed off the 5 PSI if mounted) just so I wouldn't need to refill it as often. I was sure that overage was easily covered by the tire's safety factor, but found the tire carcass had shed 10" of the tread a year later -- it just peeled away from the carcass. That was a 15 year old spare by the way, so it wasn't a spring chicken, but nonetheless stored protected in the trunk (except from summer heat).
Article on dealing with old, in-use tires, including spares:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how-old-and-dangerous-are-your-tires.html
http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how-old-and-dangerous-are-your-tires.html
I do not see anywhere selling compact spare, so I don't know where would I be able to find them.
Compact spares can be a PITA.
If you can get the size off of it, some tire shops can order one in.
Otherwise, it's a dealer item. Not too expensive, but not a $59 tire either. That's what we wound up doing with our one Volvo. The alternative is a can of fix-a-flat, and/or just calling for road service.
Apparently, on some new car models, that's the new "spare" . . . a can of fix-a-flat.
Depending on the road wheels, the spare wheel on a compact tire can be a funky looking beast indeed.
A car with a full size spare is a big plus with us.
If you can get the size off of it, some tire shops can order one in.
Otherwise, it's a dealer item. Not too expensive, but not a $59 tire either. That's what we wound up doing with our one Volvo. The alternative is a can of fix-a-flat, and/or just calling for road service.
Apparently, on some new car models, that's the new "spare" . . . a can of fix-a-flat.
Depending on the road wheels, the spare wheel on a compact tire can be a funky looking beast indeed.
A car with a full size spare is a big plus with us.
It seems like it would be easier to locate a "newer" used compact spare from a totaled vehicle than trying to locate a new compact spare.
Originally Posted By: artbuc
The spare tire on my 99 Avalon has only about 20 miles on it but it is 13 years old. I am about to replace my tires which are 5 1/2 year old Bridgestone Potenza 960 AS Pole Position with 42k miles. Should I replace the original spare with one of Potenza's? Thanks.
Only replace the spare if your going to have a 5 tire rotation done on a regular basis. I have done this on only vehicles that came with a full size spare tire. It's a little more expensive but worth it if you do lots of traveling.
The spare tire on my 99 Avalon has only about 20 miles on it but it is 13 years old. I am about to replace my tires which are 5 1/2 year old Bridgestone Potenza 960 AS Pole Position with 42k miles. Should I replace the original spare with one of Potenza's? Thanks.
Only replace the spare if your going to have a 5 tire rotation done on a regular basis. I have done this on only vehicles that came with a full size spare tire. It's a little more expensive but worth it if you do lots of traveling.
Originally Posted By: TylerL
It seems like it would be easier to locate a "newer" used compact spare from a totaled vehicle than trying to locate a new compact spare.
Where a replacement compact spare is unobtanium or prohibitively expensive, this is as good an option as any - provided your wheels and TPS are compatible with the goo:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/deta...55f8e3f232&
It's better than a 15-20+ year old compact spare that is ready to turn to dust.
It seems like it would be easier to locate a "newer" used compact spare from a totaled vehicle than trying to locate a new compact spare.
Where a replacement compact spare is unobtanium or prohibitively expensive, this is as good an option as any - provided your wheels and TPS are compatible with the goo:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/deta...55f8e3f232&
It's better than a 15-20+ year old compact spare that is ready to turn to dust.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I do not see anywhere selling compact spare, so I don't know where would I be able to find them.
By example, this is a replacement compact tire for a Volvo 850/855:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...=26-156717115-2
The 850 series is now at least 15 years old and goes back almost 20 from introduction, so the original spares are getting crusty.
The other alternatives are pilfering a later Volvo model, the aforesaid goo machine, fitting a full size spare (which works on an 855) . . . or calling your auto club road service.
I do not see anywhere selling compact spare, so I don't know where would I be able to find them.
By example, this is a replacement compact tire for a Volvo 850/855:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...=26-156717115-2
The 850 series is now at least 15 years old and goes back almost 20 from introduction, so the original spares are getting crusty.
The other alternatives are pilfering a later Volvo model, the aforesaid goo machine, fitting a full size spare (which works on an 855) . . . or calling your auto club road service.
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Where a replacement compact spare is unobtanium or prohibitively expensive, this is as good an option as any - provided your wheels and TPS are compatible with the goo:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/deta...55f8e3f232&
It's better than a 15-20+ year old compact spare that is ready to turn to dust.
Something like that is good enough for GM to put it as the "spare" on my Cruze (only the Eco MT model I have, other Cruze trims have the donut spare).
Where a replacement compact spare is unobtanium or prohibitively expensive, this is as good an option as any - provided your wheels and TPS are compatible with the goo:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/deta...55f8e3f232&
It's better than a 15-20+ year old compact spare that is ready to turn to dust.
Something like that is good enough for GM to put it as the "spare" on my Cruze (only the Eco MT model I have, other Cruze trims have the donut spare).
I was able to find a spare tire by calling the Tire Rack customer service. It wasn't that expensive. $80 if I remember correctly.
Absolutely you should get rid of that spare and use the best of the tires that is coming off.
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