Camaro SS Spare Tire Options For Those Who Don't Know
 

I know there has been many seperate threads about this, but I want to pass along my wisdom for future questions about this.

What's the deal with the spare? If you have just bought a Camaro SS and looked in the truck you will notice that it doesn't come with a spare tire. It comes with an all-in-one air compressor and fix-a-flat setup secured in a foam disk under the trunk hatch. The SS model does not come from the dealership with a spare tire due to the size of the Brembo brakes it is equiped with. It's an offset issue between the standard GM supplied spare and the size of the brake calipers. However, the other Camaro models do come with one. Since they don't have the larger Brembo brakes they are not hindered from using the spare. So if you have a 1SS or 2SS model don't bother trying to fit a standard spare on it. It will not fit. Many parts departments at Chevy dealerships don't know this, or an not 100% informed on this. So, if you ask them they might not be able to give you a straight answer. I did and they were very vague and puzzled about it. So, now we have cleared this up...if you have a 1SS or 2SS car, the standard GM supplied spare tire will not fit. However, don't despair because their are some options. Tires do go flat, so don't hide your head in the sand and say, "ohhh it'll never happen to me." Knock on wood.

http://home.comcast.net/~lycanmoon/pwpimages/trunk1.jpg

Options: Yes, there is a vendor, Joe, on Ebay who sells a spare tire kit for the Camaro SS that uses a special spacer that will clear the brakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EQQzfhLxxM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Spare...Q5fAccessories

Your other choice is to carry a lightweight full-sized 20" wheel running a 245 tire from say Tire Rack. There are some lightweight wheels and cheap tires that you can get under $500. However, you will loose 1/2 of your trunk. But for long trips, this isn't a bad idea. Use your back seats for luggage if you must, but throw a spare back there and secure it. In the event of an accident you do NOT want a spare tire flying forward and hitting you. Please secure it for your own safety. There are a number of ways that you can strap one down in the trunk section. You just have to be a little creative.

Why have a spare? Not having one in my opinion is just dumb. You cannot rely upon OnStar or AAA for save your butt if your tire goes flat. All they will do is send a flat-bed truck to get you and drop the car off at a dealership. Not all dealerships even stock our tires !!! Yep...I found two of them in the DC are that have to order them. That means you will have to grab a hotel room or rent a car and wait for the new tire. The can of fix-a-flat and the air compressor is a noble gesture, but it might not always work, and it's useles for any damage to the sidewall or any damage to the tire larger than a nail.

Summary: The smart thing would be to buy this spare kit or get a cheap 20" setup from Rudy at Tire Rack. If you drive local, then no sweat, but for out-of-town or vacation trips...carry a spare.

John, Thank you for providing the info on the spare tire options, and the link to a possible solution (even though "JOE" doesnt have any currently listed).
BTW, my '11 not only doesnt have a spare, the battery is mounted in the MIDDLE of the spare hole, not on the side. Is that normal? Thanks, jim

Spare goes on top of battery
See pics in post #24
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141121

Plus if your out in the hills somewhere and can't get cell coverage, OnStar won't work anyway...

anyone know how the air compressor and tire sealent works and holds up? is it a proven product or a "feel safe" kit?

On trips I'm planning on putting an extra SS front tire/wheel I have in the trunk for a spare. As LYNCAN said, A donut spare or the inflate kit only gets you to a dealer or tire store which may not stock a replacement tire anyway.

They could have still given us a tire tool and jack.

Does this kit work on the rear of the car?

Onstar uses Satellite, also.

I have the ebay guy spare tire setup. Fits nicely in the spare tire hole. Have not had to use yet and hope I never have to. Peace of mind! Peace of mind!! Peace of mind!!! Happy motoring.

I had to use it a while ago, came out of work and a nail had slow leaked me to a flat in the rear. It worked plenty fine... too good actually. It plugged the leak and I was able to get it from the garage at work to the closest tire shop where the guy could find absolutely no leak.

I ran on that for a few weeks with no leaking until the tire went out of round from the nail, which i still couldn't find. I had just been hit in that wheel a couple weeks earlier and the dealer was able to claim it as an additional repair... so new tire and new compressor for free \m/

However I'd definitely like to have a spare. From what I understand you have NO hopes of plugging a tire after you've put that fix a flat junk in it. After that your only hope is to rip the tire off, clean the hell out of the rim and then replace the tire.

I have a full size spare in the trunk. It is secured using the steel loops provided for securing wheels on non SS/RS cars. See Owner's Manual.

Of course, I also have a scissor jack, wheel chocks and a lug wrench.

The trunk is pretty useless now.

Why not just buy run flat tires if you're paranoid?

2SS Spare
 

I've seen several people say they've gotten their spare kit through Joe at ebay. The link John had listed is not active. How can I contact Joe in order to get a spare kit?