Kestas
Staff member
There should be plenty of them in the salvage yards. Also try Craigslist.
Spare Tire Replacement
- Thread starter Farbie
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I'd rather not do the salvage yard thing since I don't know if the one I'm getting is any newer than the 14 year old compact spare I currently own.
I was simply looking for a way to replace old rubber (that still holds air, but for how long, no-one knows) with a known good new tire.
I was simply looking for a way to replace old rubber (that still holds air, but for how long, no-one knows) with a known good new tire.
I, as many of you also did the looking for a spare replacement recently. You know being all alarmed by Rambling Fever's post about ABC special
So here are my findings. I called local Honda dealership and asked for a quote for a new spare. Clerk looked up in his system and said that surprisingly Honda do not offer any spare tires or spare tire/spare wheel combos for sale. I was really surprised. I told him why I was interested (about cracks and rots and all) and asked him how come they don't sell it. He gave me his opinion on this. Clerk said that spare always sit in the trunk unused so there is small chance of cracks and rots and it should be good forever, but if I still want to replace it I can try junk yard.
I also seen spare wheel/tire combos for sale at Menards (midwestern home improvement chain, like Home Depot). So I guess you can possibly find and buy spare tire in retail store, given your size and lug nut pattern matches.
So what do you people think is it ok to take advise from the clerk and leave it alone or rubber still go bad with age even if unused? How dangerous it really is to use old but never used spare? I will have to go to Menards soon anyway so I will see if they still sell those spares.
So here are my findings. I called local Honda dealership and asked for a quote for a new spare. Clerk looked up in his system and said that surprisingly Honda do not offer any spare tires or spare tire/spare wheel combos for sale. I was really surprised. I told him why I was interested (about cracks and rots and all) and asked him how come they don't sell it. He gave me his opinion on this. Clerk said that spare always sit in the trunk unused so there is small chance of cracks and rots and it should be good forever, but if I still want to replace it I can try junk yard.
I also seen spare wheel/tire combos for sale at Menards (midwestern home improvement chain, like Home Depot). So I guess you can possibly find and buy spare tire in retail store, given your size and lug nut pattern matches.
So what do you people think is it ok to take advise from the clerk and leave it alone or rubber still go bad with age even if unused? How dangerous it really is to use old but never used spare? I will have to go to Menards soon anyway so I will see if they still sell those spares.
Last year I had a flat and put on my spare donut (13 years old at that point). Drove maybe 50 miles on it. Seemed to work just fine.
Originally Posted By: oilnoob425
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So what do you people think is it ok to take advise from the clerk and leave it alone or rubber still go bad with age even if unused? How dangerous it really is to use old but never used spare? I will have to go to Menards soon anyway so I will see if they still sell those spares.
First, the issue with old tires is them coming apart - and the real safety issue is at speed. Minispares aren't supposed to be used at more than 50 mph, and 50 mph seems to be at the borderline of "high speed" - meaning that below that speed tire failures have relatively few tragic consequences. This is a version of the old "Speed Kills!" adage.
I think this affects the other issue - availability. Since most people aren't - even now - aware of the "old tires" issue, there is no market pressure to push on the supply side - one of the shortcomings of our market driven economic system.
See if you can find the manufacturer of the tire and call them. Perhaps they have something that will work.
.........
So what do you people think is it ok to take advise from the clerk and leave it alone or rubber still go bad with age even if unused? How dangerous it really is to use old but never used spare? I will have to go to Menards soon anyway so I will see if they still sell those spares.
First, the issue with old tires is them coming apart - and the real safety issue is at speed. Minispares aren't supposed to be used at more than 50 mph, and 50 mph seems to be at the borderline of "high speed" - meaning that below that speed tire failures have relatively few tragic consequences. This is a version of the old "Speed Kills!" adage.
I think this affects the other issue - availability. Since most people aren't - even now - aware of the "old tires" issue, there is no market pressure to push on the supply side - one of the shortcomings of our market driven economic system.
See if you can find the manufacturer of the tire and call them. Perhaps they have something that will work.
My spare is at least 6 years old now without any visible defects. Is it safe to use at this point or not? Good advise about spare tire manufacturer, although I'm sure they located in China somewhere. I will check it. Thanks. And yeah it is interesting how there is huge market for regular tires and no market for spares. I guess there is no real demand. Most people don't even inflate them on the regular basis, let alone know how to change it.
Aw [censored], I'll bring this one back from the dead.
After 24 years of driving, I finally had to use the spare and of course it's a donut, as it would be in most cars. I guess I'm lucky.
Ok, bottom line: call the manufacturer of the compact spare and ask them what the shelf life is of such a tire.
Then if you choose to keep the compact as the spare, and it is deemed that the compact tire should be replaced, you must find a shop that has the proper equipment to mount a compact tire onto a compact wheel.
After 24 years of driving, I finally had to use the spare and of course it's a donut, as it would be in most cars. I guess I'm lucky.
Ok, bottom line: call the manufacturer of the compact spare and ask them what the shelf life is of such a tire.
Then if you choose to keep the compact as the spare, and it is deemed that the compact tire should be replaced, you must find a shop that has the proper equipment to mount a compact tire onto a compact wheel.
Originally Posted By: BigEWRX
Ok, bottom line: call the manufacturer of the compact spare and ask them what the shelf life is of such a tire.
Good idea on calling the mfr. I've seen some really old donut spares that still looked good. Maybe the tire companies formulate the rubber to have along shelf (trunk) life since it doesn't need to be particularly good at things normal tires do, like a long wear life or particularly good traction or UV resistance.
Quote:
Then if you choose to keep the compact as the spare, and it is deemed that the compact tire should be replaced, you must find a shop that has the proper equipment to mount a compact tire onto a compact wheel.
Do you know where you can buy new unmounted donut tires? I couldn't find them when I looked.
Ok, bottom line: call the manufacturer of the compact spare and ask them what the shelf life is of such a tire.
Good idea on calling the mfr. I've seen some really old donut spares that still looked good. Maybe the tire companies formulate the rubber to have along shelf (trunk) life since it doesn't need to be particularly good at things normal tires do, like a long wear life or particularly good traction or UV resistance.
Quote:
Then if you choose to keep the compact as the spare, and it is deemed that the compact tire should be replaced, you must find a shop that has the proper equipment to mount a compact tire onto a compact wheel.
Do you know where you can buy new unmounted donut tires? I couldn't find them when I looked.
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