If I had a spare tire.....

[SS King]

Originally Posted by BronxxBombers213

here you go... sorry i lied... its not 2 inches, it is about 3

Is this done with a full size front rim??

Thanks

[Nine Ball]

Originally Posted by FEN

Well by running a 245/35 you might as well get an OEM spare because the 245/35's diameter is almost 2" smaller than the 245/45 and cannot be run on the back of an SS.

Pay special attention to this post above.

If you do not run an OEM tire height spare (28.6" or close), you chance doing some costly damage to the rear differential of your Camaro, should you use that shorter tire on the rear of the car.

Why? Because the posi differential will then be spinning at different speeds left and right side, and could cause the differential to wear out.

So, if you do decide to run a shorter tire spare, you'll be doing TWO wheel swaps on the side of the road. Putting the spare on the front wheel of the car, and using a front factory wheel to put on the rear of the car.

[djm96z28]

That's exactly how I would have handled the situation if I had gotten a rear flat tire on my '96 Z28 that came with the donut spare. I would have put the donut on the front and put the front tire on the flat rear. Luckily in the 15 years I owned it, never got a flat--but you never know...

So the same scenario would be no problem for me. I would just like to be able to store the full spare in the wheel well along with the jack, lug wrench and tool placement foam holder. And have it be secure enough that it won't bounce or rattle when going over bumps....

[BronxxBombers213]

to summarize again...yes, I chose to use a front rim so I could save trunk space

it is an OEM 20 on a 245/35/20 .... It fits in the well all the way... 245/40/20 SHOULD fit decently, but not all the way... a 245/45/20 will barely sit in the well- probably only a few inches

if you choose a smaller size like I did to opt for the most trunk space, you cannot run it on the rear.... If you get a flat in the rear, you need to put the spare up front and a front wheel in the back

so yes, it would be an extra wheel to change if you get a flat out back... but ill gladly accept that trade off so i can keep a full size spare that barely takes any trunk space, and doesn't require a spacer

[mitchw]

http://myworld.ebay.com/dumars14892
This is the guy I bought my spare from. I'm very happy with it. If you use it on the rear, you need to turn traction control off.

[Sterling]

You'd think that they could have designed that well big enough to fit a proper diameter tire in there. I'm sure we'll be seeing a thread soon with someone modifying it so that it's big enough.

[FEN]

Originally Posted by mitchw

http://myworld.ebay.com/dumars14892
This is the guy I bought my spare from. I'm very happy with it. If you use it on the rear, you need to turn traction control off.

If its not close to the OEM diameter it can damage the rear diff of the SS

[comeinpeace]

MORE ROCKET SCIENCE-all gm designers needed was an extra 1.5" to 1.75" diameter in that battery well, to accommodate a full sized spare.... without the hastle of swapping wheels(front to rear in the event of a flat)
i too feel more secure knowing i have a spare.(good point sterling)
that increased diameter size did not look too difficult to incorporate
and thanks to those who noted that the differential may get compromised when running two different sized tires. i did not realize that.

[Rhyder]

You dont have roadside through your insurance company? I get that free with Geico. I have it through the dealer warranty program as well as the family AAA my parents get every year, so Im triple covered, but I would call your insurance company and ask about it, I think it was 6 dollars more every 6 months with crappy "we dont pay full price for your accident even though it wasnt your fault and drop you right away" Allstate......


for something that normally happens so rarely, roadside service should be good enough I would think, plus it covers tow's for more than flat tires, a spare wont help you if you break a belt or get a lugnut off the road through your radiator (it has happened to me)......on my roadside from the dealer warranty, I even get a per diem of 200 a day if im more than 100 miles from my home and it takes a few days to fix it......that spare aint giving you no benjamin's

[Baba]

Originally Posted by BronxxBombers213

what i did to avoid the spacer needed for the spare (which I'm not comfortable with in the first place) was to buy a 5th oem 20" rim and a used tire... cut a hole in the trunk liner and bought a truck spare tire cover... all in all it only protrudes from the spare well about 2 inches in the camaro

here is a pic when I did it on my G35 coupe to give you an idea... it takes up even less room in the camaro .. ill take a pic tomorrow if i remember

That's completely awesome! That would sway me in the direction of an SS!

I had the same concerns you expressed and was, although minor, a contributing, factor in my decision to purchase the 2LT. I was just mentioning this to a couple of folks at the 5th Gen Meet - that when you run a flat - in particular w. sidewall damage, and it's late at night and you're traveling home from vacation or it's a holiday weekend and the shop doesn't have your tire / size in stock or they're closed, you're SOL. OnStar will only get you so far, and no more. You're better off running out of gas than running a flat tire.

[Baba]

Originally Posted by camaro104

Let me first say that driving a car without a spare tire is wrong. I just caught a flat on my Camaro and no matter what you do or who you call you have to get your car towed.

My tire got a 2" gash on the side of the tire and that air pump in the trunk is useless. After waiting 4 hours And a $150.00 later to go 9 miles was so aggravating. I'm more than capable of changing a tire so all the wait and all that money could of been avoided if "I had a spare tire"......

Sorry I just had to vent.....

Sorry you experienced one of my greatest concerns and fears about buying a car without the option of carrying a spare - getting stuck somewhere for hours or even a whole day!

Glad you posted this as I was considering an SS and getting the "donut" and spacer. It brought forth some interesting options. The option with carrying a full-size OEM wheel remedies almost any concern and reservation I'd have about owning an SS.

[Rhyder]

I will be staying with the road side service, if your changing a tire, you are showing way to much trust in the yahoo's driving by, I for one trust other drivers not at all.

I will gladly trade an hour or two of waiting to reduce the chance I will be hit by passing cars the very few times, if any, in my life I have a blow out in a remote area.


News article from googling.....

Another tragic fatality of a man killed while changing tire

As reported by KTAR.com, the Valley's Home Page. "A man was struck and killed by a car early Sunday morning while changing a flat tire on interstate 17, police said."

"The victim, who was driving a blue 2003 Volvo four-door Sedan parked off the traveled lanes on the shoulder, was changing his left front tire when he was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, described as a 1980s dark-colored passenger car, according to police."

"The individual stopped briefly at the scene, but fled southbound on Interstate 17."

Unfortunately, hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured every year as a result of stopping on the road to change flat tires. Flat tires are the number one cause of vehicle immobilization in the US according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

[willhe64]

I've been driving 31 years, never had a flat. I've blown 3 engines but I'm not about to carry around a spare engine.

[FEN]

Rhyder,
Where's your sense of adventure?