Tempted to remove the spare tire from trunk...

[mareakin]

The spare tire in my trunk is about 35 lbs. ---it's not a big deal i guess but it's 35 extra lbs. and its never been used in many years.


maybe i'll carry a can of those tire sealants.. instead.

more fuel efficient this way.

what do you think?

any y'all done it? any regrets?
lol

 

[javacontour]

I'd advise this only after the driver has ensured he doesn't personally carry an extra 35#.

I'm not saying you do or don't. But if you are overweight, start with your personal spare tire and not the one in the trunk.

There are probably a dozen other things to address before addressing the 35# spare tire in the trunk.

 

[CentralNY1]

It's absolutely not worth the small fuel savings. On her way to work this morning my wife ran over a piece of road debris that punctured the sidewall. No can of Fix-a-Flat is going to help that. Freak things happen...especially within a short period of time after you remove the one thing that had you prepared for it.

 

[Mr Nice]

Keep the spare tire in your truck.

 

[HTSS_TR]

How many times did we use spare tire of our current 3 cars:

1994 LS400 240,000 miles: Once for less than 50 miles; Full spare in the trunk.
2000 E430 103,000 miles: None; Brand new full spare in the trunk.
2004 S2000 30,000 miles: None; Donut is out, in its place is the sub-woofer and 2 cans of Fix-A-Flat that never been used.

Since you have full size spare then keep it in the trunk, because it's usable in case you need it.

 

[KrisZ]

I would keep the spare, Murphy’s Law will be at work, and shortly after you get rid of the spare, you will most likely need it.

 

[labman]

Murphy was a optimist.

 

[IndyIan]

Will you notice .5% better mileage? I don't think so, and just by adjusting your driving habits you could save 10-20% easily...

Also depending on your car, you might find a list of things online you can strip and how much they weigh. Rear speakers, trunk liners, floor mats, A/C if its broken, steering wheel weights, glove box weights, passenger window blind, hood liner, etc...

 

[sciphi]

Adjusting the nut behind the wheel will get you more fuel efficiency gains. My car is rated 27 mpg highway, yet I consistently get >35 mpg out of it mainly by slowing down and relaxing.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Will you notice .5% better mileage? I don't think so, and just by adjusting your driving habits you could save 10-20% easily...

Also depending on your car, you might find a list of things online you can strip and how much they weigh. Rear speakers, trunk liners, floor mats, A/C if its broken, steering wheel weights, glove box weights, passenger window blind, hood liner, etc...


I agree completely! It's definitely not worth the risk for me. I do a lot of driving were there is no help for many miles - southern Ca. and Arizona deserts. At some points there is not any cell phone coverage either.

Originally Posted By: labman
Murphy was a optimist.


EXACTLY!

 

[mstrjon32]

I see you live in NYC anyway. Why bother to perform weight reduction yourself, when you can simply park the car with the windows down and get weight reduction done automatically. Soon you'll no longer have to drive around with the weight burden of your radio, speakers, engine computer, back seat, spare tire, and anything and everything else that isn't (or is) bolted down.

 

[addyguy]

It's not worth the weight savings, which, in car terms, are non-existant. Stay prepared for emergencies!

 

[harry j]

I was considering removing the spare to see if I could effect a positive MPG change. Then I got a flat, sure glad I decided to keep it.