Ditch the spare all together?

[NerdNoise]

Anybody ditch their spare all together and just have an air tank or some fix-a-flat? not to jinx myself, but I have been driving for 16 years now and I have never had a flat. I've had a few nails here or there, but nothing serious.

I'm just thinking that it's just a whole bunch of weight being dragged around that has never served a purpose for me. Maybe put it on when going overland, but around town, ditch it.

Anyone done that?

 

[SoCal_80]

Not me....I like having my spare...

 

[RedTacoma]

Anybody ditch their spare all together and just have an air tank or some fix-a-flat? not to jinx myself, but I have been driving for 16 years now and I have never had a flat. I've had a few nails here or there, but nothing serious.

I'm just thinking that it's just a whole bunch of weight being dragged around that has never served a purpose for me. Maybe put it on when going overland, but around town, ditch it.

Anyone done that?

No because if you cut your tire sidewall flat fix wont help you.

 

[Romer]

Going off road without a spare tire is not the smartest thing. The worst thing is it makes the people with you stop and have to figure out how to get you going.

 

[Enigma]

I offroaded for years with no spare. Then one day a buddy had his monstrous Ramcharger at my place for awhile and let me use it (440, dana 70 front, rockwell rear, 39's) and I got a flat in it, luckily not too far out of town, and on the return trip home.
No spare (new tires for it in the garage at home though), and to top it off, no jack, and the lug wrench was too small for the rear rockwell! That was a long night...and longer next day.
Always carry one now, along with a jack, and the right lug wrench

 

[Tools R Us]

I always carry the spare on the trail, but often it lives in the shop when using the rig in town.

 

[jeepocabra]

Do you have more than two passengers in the car often? Why not take out all the seats but the front set to save all that weight.

I wouldn't lose the spare myself, I like to be ready for anything.

 

[murf]

I have never had a flat. I've had a few nails here or there, but nothing serious in 16 years.

You just jinxed yourself

 

[80t0ylc]

Anybody ditch their spare all together and just have an air tank or some fix-a-flat? not to jinx myself, but I have been driving for 16 years now and I have never had a flat. I've had a few nails here or there, but nothing serious.

I'm just thinking that it's just a whole bunch of weight being dragged around that has never served a purpose for me. Maybe put it on when going overland, but around town, ditch it.

Anyone done that?

It's tempting and it seems like a "ball & chain". You can't tell somebody this - they have to learn the hard way. All it takes is one incident, even in town, where if you had your spare with you, you'd have been fine. Motor vehicles have been around for over 100 years, and most of them still have a spare as part of the design. It's not a perfect system, but it works most of the time. Trouble is, if the spare is not in the way, it's neglected and can sometimes be unusable - rusted holding mechanism or just flat. So look at it that way. Every time you have to open that swingout, or stand it up to make room in the back - that's an opportunity to confirm that your spare is in good condition, not a burden to bear.

 

[nat88toy]

hey "s*** happens" just bring your spare! you dont want your problem to become someone elses

 

[NLXTACY]

This makes me worry less about the spare:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-recovery/282625-extreme-outbacks-ultimate-puncture-repair-kit.html

 

[1shot1kill]

I guess if you are trying to reduce weight on a supercar I understand every pound counts, but on an LC what's another 100 or so pounds! Those 100 or so lbs will weigh nothing when you are stranded, my .02 cents! Happy Memorial Day!

 

[Brian894X4]

Not that it's likely to happen, but nobody's mentioned what happens if the wheel gets bent or cracked. No repair kit is going to fix that. Or if it comes off the rim and you're not successful at getting it rerimmed.

However, the thread was asking about having a spare around town, as opposed to on long trips or maybe even off road. Even if you think that you won't need it around town, once you ditch it, you'd probably forget to put it back in when going off road on a long trip. Better to leave it installed and forget about it then forget installing it.

I'd love to ditch my spare as it always gets in the way when off roading and I don't have the money for a rear tire carrier or room to store it inside, but I keep it. While flats are rare for me too, I've had a few and they always happen in the worst possible place or condition. I think it's just one of those things that it's really not that big of an imposition. You may never ever use it, but that one time when you need, you are REALLY glad you have it.

Sort of like seatbelts.

By the way, while we're on the subject, probably not a bad idea to make sure everyone has their tire lowering kit with them. Nothing more frustrating than having a spare tire and no way to get to it. Same with the jack and lug wrench.

 

[chitown40]

If you have some type of ability to plug and fill a tire, then running without a spare within town will at most result in some inconvenience. I don't drag a spare around town ever, but I live in an area with a tire shop of some sort on every corner. When I go wheeling or out of town where the truck might see some dirt, I always carry my spare.

 

[60wag]

I believe having a spare on the trail is essential.

On the other hand, having the spare on a swing out rear carrier around town is a PITA. A cool setup would be a swingout with a lockable quick release spindle to improve access to the hatch for the other 350 days a year.

 

[Atlanta Cruiser]

Always carry a spare...the moment you say you won't have one you will puncture your sidewall.

 

[Lka1988]

I always have a spare. It's only 31", but it will still limp me home if I get a flat.

One time, I thought I'd just do away with the spare. The next morning, I went outside and found that my right front tire had gone flat. Good thing I was at home.

I have an air tank now where the spare sat. The spare resides on the roof rack.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

Full sized spare in the stock location, part of the 5 tire rotation so you know the tire and winch are in good condition. The main reason I went with with 285 instead of 315's since i dont have a rear bumper to carry the spare yet and the third row is too important to me.