What's a spare for?
 

Hey guys, let me throw a question out there for you:

What is the use of the spare tire on our cars if you shouldn't use a tire with a different rolling diameter than the other tire on the same axle if it has a differential?

The problem arises that we have AWD which has a differential on both axles and unless you have a full sized spare, we can't really use the spare in the trunk since its rolling diameter is much less than even the stock wheels and tires.

while I dont think it's ideal, it shouldnt hurt anything to drive a few miles to somewhere where a flat tire can be properly fixed. The spare is only rated at 80km/hr, so you shouldn't be flying around on it anyways.

Donuts rule!

..it has saved my a$$ a few times...

What about drivetrain damage? I am more concerned about that.

I am more or less trying to justify permanently removing my spare. I would rather get towed by a flat bed than risk any drivetrain damage. It would be much cheaper...

Spare - gone.

Have AAA.

exactly

+1 for AAA. they have saved me a couple of times.

+1 more for AAA. Sent out a flatbed at 2 A.M. when the clutch died and towed me back to my house. Plus, the guy was really nice and brought along extended ramps just to make sure the front end cleared.

AAA definitely rocks, but waiting on the highway for 3 hrs vs driving into town on a donut is a tough call.

AAA isn't always on time in NY though.

BTW i don't even have a donut:lol:

I was emailing a guy a while back discussing this very subject. He said he hadn't had a flat in twenty years. So, I got to thinking about how long it had been since I had had a flat - about the same length of time. So, I decided the spare had to go. But, before I pulled the spare my spousal unit and I decided to make a trip to the mall.

It was a cold and rainy day. I noticed the car handled kinda funny as we pulled into the parking lot. When we returned a tire was flat. So, maybe it only happens every twenty years but when it does having a spare is nice.

I've decided to dump the spare except for trips over 100 combined miles. Which doesn't happen too often.

Now to make a lightweight object fit into the well and support heavy parts when I put the cover and carpet back on....

Cardboard box:thumbup: I think its David Buschurs special.

Anyway this is an interesting topic. I am still at school so I cant check, but out of cuiosity what is the size of the donut tire? I still rock it in my trunk but if its not even the same size im totally going to ditch it. I do have AAA and would rather pay a little for a tow then ruin my drivetrain.

Standing the spare next to my 235/45/17's it is almost 2" shorter even though the spare is also 17"...

I keep my spare, although I've only used it once, and barely at that.
i also keep an air compressor in my car, which helps a lot. w/o the compressor, I would have had to use the spare about 4 times more.

It seems silly for the spare to be smaller than the factory wheels. I know its 17in but I wonder if its a 45 like the factory size. It is def a lot skinnier prob like a 205. You would think the mitsu engineers would have taken this into consideration. If it really is that much smaller im going to completely take out my spare wheel.