Temporary spare? (1 Viewer)

[Jetboy]

I just learned that the new Tacoma doesn't come with a full use spare tire. It's not a normal tire. It's more than a doughnut, but it's a temporary spare tire. What?? I think this is the first time that I'm aware of Toyota has ever put a temp spare on a BOF model. I don't recall the prototypes having the temporary spare. It says "Convenience spare" - WTF is that Toyota??

 

[OGBeno]

Welcome to Toyota, the new GM.

 

[bjowett]

The wimpy spare doesn’t cause worry or bother… it’s easy enough to upgrade it with a take off or what have you. It’s the parts deep down inside, the pieces we can’t see (or worse, can see!) that are not easy to swap or deal with.

 

[TWILLY]

I just learned that the new Tacoma doesn't come with a full use spare tire. It's not a normal tire. It's more than a doughnut, but it's a temporary spare tire. What?? I think this is the first time that I'm aware of Toyota has ever put a temp spare on a BOF model. I don't recall the prototypes having the temporary spare. It says "Convenience spare" - WTF is that Toyota??

View attachment 3576260

What a sh*t show. There is nothing convenient about this. Can one even buy the stock tire to have a five matching set? Or does the convenience tire force one buy five new tires to have a five matching set?

 

[mkennedy009]

I think having a Temp spare is great. The last time I got a flat was...1993. If you buy quality, take care of your tires and make sure they are inflated properly and replace at the correct time. You should have no need for a spare. The temp tire gets you to the tire store (saves weight) and then they can sell you two new tires. Or 4 if you drive a Subaru.

 

[Jetboy]

I'd like to learn more about it. All the pre-production models I can find pictures of have a full size normal spare. If it's anything like a typical temporary spare with 55mph limit and weight limits it's extremely inconvenient. That means typically that if you're towing or hauling, you are supposed to leave the trailer or load behind while you limp on the temp spare to the nearest service station to get a real tire put back on. In real life that both sucks and is unrealistic.

It appears to be only on the SR5 models and down. I'd kind of expect to see it also on the limited and sport trims along with 2wd models. I think a few buyers are going to be surprised when they have a flat out exploring and find out that the spare is a temp. If it's just a light weight tire with full load capacity and durability, I guess I could accept that as a reasonable choice for the non-offroad trims. It probably has as much traction as the stock Dunlops. It's definitely going to be a point to poke fun at Toyotas on. Much like I often poke fun of the Honda trucklet for having a doughnut spare.

 

[Phillyd2]

I think having a Temp spare is great. The last time I got a flat was...1993. If you buy quality, take care of your tires and make sure they are inflated properly and replace at the correct time. You should have no need for a spare. The temp tire gets you to the tire store (saves weight) and then they can sell you two new tires. Or 4 if you drive a Subaru.

That only makes sense if you never leave the pavement. It's absurd not to have a full real spare even a few miles off road.

 

[Jetboy]

I think having a Temp spare is great. The last time I got a flat was...1993. If you buy quality, take care of your tires and make sure they are inflated properly and replace at the correct time. You should have no need for a spare. The temp tire gets you to the tire store (saves weight) and then they can sell you two new tires. Or 4 if you drive a Subaru.

It probably depends on how you use it. If your use doesn't take you beyond the hard pack and you don't tow or haul, probably only need the temp spare.

Tires are pretty reliable. But I have had a few flat tires recently. My last one was just a few months ago. Michelin ATs in great shape. Screws still puncture new expensive tires. Even on street driven trucks. Last one before that was a few years ago out in the middle of the desert south of Wendover Nevada. It was a long way from a tire shop. It would have been pretty disappointing to find out then that it was a temp. Also newish Toyo tires and put a rock straight through the center of the tread on a pretty mild gravel road. You can see it wasn't really out hardcore off-roading. Just exploring the desert. Just happens sometimes.

 

[TWILLY]

I think having a Temp spare is great. The last time I got a flat was...1993. If you buy quality, take care of your tires and make sure they are inflated properly and replace at the correct time. You should have no need for a spare. The temp tire gets you to the tire store (saves weight) and then they can sell you two new tires. Or 4 if you drive a Subaru.

You must carry great hiking shoes.

 

[Zill]

The base trim tacomas come with an even smaller banana skin spare. See the video at around the 43 minute mark.

It’s quite ridiculous Toyota is cheaping out on a spare for a truck.

 

[hoser]

Deliver mine with all (5) convenience tires/wheels because I'm going to change them anyway.

 

[Jetboy]

Deliver mine with all (5) convenience tires/wheels because I'm going to change them anyway.

That's how they come off the boat for some models. Not sure why they couldn't sell them this way as a negative option like the sunroof delete on the GX.

 

[Phillyd2]

That's how they come off the boat for some models. Not sure why they couldn't sell them this way as a negative option like the sunroof delete on the GX.

Because you just know some idiot would hop on the highway to drive across the country with them.

 

[hoser]

Those just look like steel wheels with standard tires… not the temporary spares.

 

[Jetboy]

Those just look like steel wheels with standard tires… not the temporary spares.

They are regular tires I'm pretty sure. I'm not totally sure, but I think they ship them to the port that way for certain models and then swap over wheels and tires before sending on to the dealer. Then they presumably send the rollers back to the factory to reuse. Why? I have no idea. Most of them have the final wheel and tire combos at the factory. But - the fact that they're already doing it this way suggests that it would be pretty easy to make it an option to choose.

 

[hoser]

Oh, then I would guess the vehicles due for special packages… ie TRD or pro. Many of those parts are made locally or outside of Japan.

 

[Jetboy]

I think that's right. My memory is that its the TRD Pro and maybe some other lower volume trims. Originally the TRD Pro models were retrofit with everything from the visual stuff to the suspension and wheels at the port. It was a pretty big changeover. I'm not sure how they send out now. Plus side of that was that the front clip applique was available cheaply to convert the look if you liked it - and it's double sided tape on and quick clips.

 

[Adam R]

I like the idea of having a spare tire, but in all reality, I have not dropped a spare tire on a vehicle in the last 20 years. I have plugged a number of them in that timeframe. Short of a sidewall tear, I plug kit will get you back on the road in most cases.

 

[Gr8Daneger]

I will always have a vehicle with a full size spare.

6 years ago we were driving from Dallas to 30A and we always leave at midnight for the ~14hr drive. While in East Texas at 1:00 am we got stuck in the debris from an overturned FedEx truck and punched a tire. That full size spare saved our trip there and back without having to deal with some janky tire shop along the way.