Alternative For Carrying A Spare Tire

[kings1527]

I was at a class the other day that dealt with electric and hybrid cars and apparently a lot of manufacturers are considering not using spare tires anymore, whether a full-size spare or the reduced size. A lot of it has to do with sacrificing weight and space.

As an alternative, some manufacturers (such as Chevy with the Volt) have included a small air compressor along with tire sealant. Simply fill the tire with the sealant and then inflate the tire again. Barring a catastropic failure in the first place with your tire, it should be enough for you to make it where you need to go.

So I started rooting around Sears the other day and for $20 they have this kit available:

15440

It has everything you need for $20 and I haven't exactly heard anything bad about it (yet). My spare tire on my DeLorean is original and of course the tire itself is over 31 years old, so there's no way it'd be a good idea to use it when the time comes. So away to storage it goes. Less weight and a little more space. I might even tuck in my amplifier in the spare tire storage instead.

Alex
6575

[Dangermouse]

I noted this a couple of weeks ago too

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?5584-Spare-Tire-Solution-in-some-New-cars&highlight=soul

[David T]

Don't forget your AAA card too. It would seem to be the way of the future. Corvettes don't have spares anymore. I just got a GMC hybred and it doesn't have a spare, just the compressor and the tire sealant. I remember when you got a spacer saver doughnut and a heavy bottle of high pressure air to fill it. The bottom line, if you don't hit anything that can destroy your tire (like a curb or a big piece of metal) and you run on tires less than 7 years old, you should be OK. Check your tire pressure regularly. If you have a slow leak you probably have a nail in it. Getting those tire repair kits where you stick a piece of "rope" into the hole can also be cheap insurance.
David Teitelbaum

[ccurzio]

Barring a catastropic failure in the first place with your tire, it should be enough for you to make it where you need to go.

See, this right here is why eliminating a real spare tire is a horrible idea. A spare will cover you in minor and major tire blowouts, whereas a sealant kit will only cover minor issues. Why would you DOWNGRADE your emergency repair solution? That's retarded.


I might even tuck in my amplifier in the spare tire storage instead.

You're going to want to insulate/seal the compartment if you do this.

[DMCMW Dave]

Why would you DOWNGRADE your emergency repair solution? That's retarded.

Apparently so are most current car companies then, since many new cars don't have spares and more are being designed like this to save weight and space. Cell phones have more or less made them obsolete, as well as the fact that 95% (made-up statistic based on observations) of drivers nowadays wouldn't know how (or want to) to change a tire if their life depended on it. If you are running the original DMC spare tire as a spare you may as well leave it at home anyway. If it's even holding air, it won't drive on the car for very long.

Disclaimer - I still have one in my car. I have no idea whether or not there is air in it.

Here's an open question (maybe someone should setup a survey - How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire? In my case - about 40 years, and I can think of one time. Way back when I was buying used tires. . .

[jackb]

I've owned well over 10 cars in the last 15 years and only used a spare once (sort of twice).
About 4 1/2 years ago, i was in a hurry (my own dumb fault) cut a corner too sharp and ripped the sidewall of my tire open on a sharp corner of a sewer grate. My truck at the time had a full size spare, so I changed it and was on my way.
I was still driving on the spare a week later when I was in an accident and the truck was totaled.
That accident blew out another tire, so I picked up a bald used garbage tire for a few bucks to thrown on the truck so I could push it around (eventually sold the wreck later)

In both of those cases, sealant would have been worthless. I'd definitely rather have an actual tire, for the same reason I wear a seatbelt- when you need it, nothing else will do.

[Jeff K]

Ive been driving for over 30 years , Ive used a spare many times. I lived in a new development (at the time y2000) new construction and their was a lot of road debris for number of years. I had a new car too at the time. Changed it at least 4 times.

But progress is progress I guess

[ccurzio]

How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire? In my case - about 40 years, and I can think of one time. Way back when I was buying used tires. . .

Disclaimer: I always buy new tires, and I don't skimp on brand/quality.

I've been driving for 18 years, and I've needed a spare tire four times over that time period (that I can remember). Out of those four instances, two of them would not have been helped by sealant and air compressor. They were catastrophic enough to be unpatchable and require a full replacement. The most recent instance was one of those massive failures, and I was very happy that Audi includes a full-size spare. (It was a rainy day and the tire blew on the interstate and my girlfriend and I really needed to get home.)

With cars being as fuel efficient as they are these days and as powerful as they are, the whole notion of not including a spare "to save weight" is ridiculous. The weight added to a car by a spare tire is negligible compared to cargo, or even passengers. Automobile manufacturers aren't doing it to save weight, they're doing it to save money. Cellphone coverage isn't available everywhere (I'm currently taking a road trip across the country and I can vouch for this in LOTS of places), and even if there was coverage I could easily change a tire in a fraction of the time it would take to call for a tow, have them show up, tow me to a shop and have THEM change my tire. (And as for the people who don't know how to change a tire? They need to learn. Simple.)

Even if you've gone 50 years without ever needing a spare tire, it's as simple as this: I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I will never ever buy a car that did not include a spare tire.

[Dangermouse]

In the past 20 years I have had two occurrences where a tire has needed changed, one at the side of an interstate in AL in pre-cellphone days and one here in ATL 3 years ago (that was the bad one as it was my wife who had the car - she had to get a "Manuel" at the gas station to change it for her)

Recently, I had two nails-in-tires that were discovered by the TPMS before they deflated. TPMS may be a large part of why spares are disappearing.

Here's another twist - My 2010 Grand Caravan supposedly has a spare tire. Whether is is full size or donut, I do not know. Whether it has air or not, I do not know. Hell, whether it is even present, I do not know. Why - because to allow the presence of the flip down Stow and Go seating, the spare is located in a cavity under the car, midway between the driver's and front passenger's seats. There is a hex bolt head in the floor and you use a long socket type wrench to lower the wheel to the ground and then a shepherds crook type thing to pull it out from underneath.

You need a lift to check the air in the spare and two men to put the spare back in place.

So honestly, will I (or more importantly, my wife) ever use this damn thing. I think not. 1-800-AAA will be called. But if, as Chris points out, if I am in a dead zone, I guess I'll have to and hope it is still functional.

[Exolis]

Apparently so are most current car companies then, since many new cars don't have spares and more are being designed like this to save weight and space. Cell phones have more or less made them obsolete, as well as the fact that 95% (made-up statistic based on observations) of drivers nowadays wouldn't know how (or want to) to change a tire if their life depended on it. If you are running the original DMC spare tire as a spare you may as well leave it at home anyway. If it's even holding air, it won't drive on the car for very long.

Disclaimer - I still have one in my car. I have no idea whether or not there is air in it.

Here's an open question (maybe someone should setup a survey - How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire? In my case - about 40 years, and I can think of one time. Way back when I was buying used tires. . .

Agreed, they are doing this more for Fuel Efficient Vehicles. I doubt we'll see Spares being taken off of Trucks and SUVs anytime soon since companies know they are used in rougher conditions and really popular out in the country, so it would be silly not to have a spare. While stuff like the Volt is not designed for Off Roading and reducing any unnesccary weight will improve mileage, so it makes sense to do the fix-a-flat thing instead.

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

Here's an open question (maybe someone should setup a survey - How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire?

I personally rode in a DeLorean that in 2010 sliced one of its rear sidewalls on a piece of jagged concrete pavement while traveling away from home. Fortunately the owner carried a full size radial spare, not a donut spare, because he had to drive all over an unfamiliar city to find an in stock 235/60-15 tire. Fix-a-Flat would have been useless in this case. AAA would have towed him to the first tire shop and left him there, irrespective of a suitable tire being in stock. Had this incident happened after hours, the owner would have been stuck overnight.

[kings1527]

I noted this a couple of weeks ago too

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?5584-Spare-Tire-Solution-in-some-New-cars&highlight=soul

Thanks for that link. I must've missed it. There was great conversation there.


See, this right here is why eliminating a real spare tire is a horrible idea. A spare will cover you in minor and major tire blowouts, whereas a sealant kit will only cover minor issues. Why would you DOWNGRADE your emergency repair solution? That's retarded.

I see what you're saying about downgrading, but I actually think there's been some good research and thought behind it. I'd venture a guess and say that car companies findings have been that the majority of people don't suffer catastrophic damage and are relatively a short distance to a qualified repair/replacement center. So all that they would need is something to keep them going and get them there. Also include modern cars with tire sensors that'll throw a light when the pressure is too low. That could help save someone from running on a flat and destroying their tire. Not to mention, run-flat tires which are being discussed right now in this thread. So I think modern technology has also helped tire sealant become a viable option.

You're going to want to insulate/seal the compartment if you do this.

Thanks for that! I think I'd also rest it on washers to keep it somewhat elevated in the event of a leak.


Apparently so are most current car companies then, since many new cars don't have spares and more are being designed like this to save weight and space. Cell phones have more or less made them obsolete, as well as the fact that 95% (made-up statistic based on observations) of drivers nowadays wouldn't know how (or want to) to change a tire if their life depended on it. If you are running the original DMC spare tire as a spare you may as well leave it at home anyway. If it's even holding air, it won't drive on the car for very long.

Disclaimer - I still have one in my car. I have no idea whether or not there is air in it.

Here's an open question (maybe someone should setup a survey - How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire? In my case - about 40 years, and I can think of one time. Way back when I was buying used tires. . .

I've been driving for nearly 20 years and out of maybe 7-8 times I've had tire problems, only about twice I can think of where I had to put a spare on. And only once it was something catastrophic that I did not cause and tire sealant wouldn't have helped. Everything else was either easily repairable, very slow leak to where I had a matter of days to take care of it, or my negligence from being young and driving too far on a really flat tire. :disapprove: I think preventive maintance and regularly checking your tires for damage and wear problems is huge.


Agreed, they are doing this more for Fuel Efficient Vehicles. I doubt we'll see Spares being taken off of Trucks and SUVs anytime soon since companies know they are used in rougher conditions and really popular out in the country, so it would be silly not to have a spare. While stuff like the Volt is not designed for Off Roading and reducing any unnesccary weight will improve mileage, so it makes sense to do the fix-a-flat thing instead.

Totally agree with that. People who have SUVs and Trucks could care less about the weight. They need performance and don't want to get stuck without a spare when they're 30 miles deep in the backwoods.

Alex
6575

[Shep]

Here's what I don't get: they're replacing the spare with this fix-a-flat crap to save on costs, right? Yet they are openly inviting a lawsuit against them for someone with major tire damage who uses it and attempts to drive off in it. If a tire's sidewall is slashed, this isn't going to fix it, but you know some idiot will try it anyways. And when he does, guess who's lawyering up? Even a settlement more than offsets the costs savings from omitting the spare. In this corporate America, where anyone can sue for the most idiotic reasons, they're actually making it easier for the suing party. At some point they're going to learn this the hard way, and frankly, considering how long they've been doing this, I'm amazed it hasn't happened yet.

Why am I the one coming up with this crap when it's the idiots who excel at low-level creativity such as this? :confused0:


That's retarded.Please don't use that word in that manner. Nothing against you personally, but it really irks me any time I see that offensive term used lightheartedly like that.

[Chris4099]

Recently, I had two nails-in-tires that were discovered by the TPMS before they deflated. TPMS may be a large part of why spares are disappearing.

This! TPMS is required on all new cars now and will give you warning to a tire running low on pressure (the most frequent cause of a random total blowout). I accomplish the same thing with a D by simply checking the pressure on a regular basis. Between that and run-flats becoming more common, the spare tire is as obsolete as ignition points. Sure, some like to point out that a compressor, fix-a-flat and cell phone aren't 100% reliable, but neither is a spare. How many people that rely on spares can't use them because they are too old (like the ones in most DeLoreans), out of air (very common from not getting frequent checking/maintenance), or somehow had multiple blowouts?

A compressor is fast and way quicker then putting on a spare, so I'll keep doing that and has been all I've needed in about 8-10 flats I've had in the last 12 years.

[ccurzio]

Please don't use that word in that manner. Nothing against you personally, but it really irks me any time I see that offensive term used lightheartedly like that.

It's not an offensive term. It's English, and wholly appropriate:


retard [ ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4 ]

verb (used with object)
1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.

verb (used without object)
1. to be delayed.

noun
1. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.

It's only offensive if you want it to be, and there is a world of difference between "you're retarded" and "that's retarded". One is a derogatory insult. The other is not. Just because a word means something in one context doesn't mean that's always what it means in all contexts.

A downgraded emergency repair solution is a hindrance. Retarded.


This! TPMS is required on all new cars now and will give you warning to a tire running low on pressure (the most frequent cause of a random total blowout). I accomplish the same thing with a D by simply checking the pressure on a regular basis. Between that and run-flats becoming more common, the spare tire is as obsolete as ignition points. Sure, some like to point out that a compressor, fix-a-flat and cell phone aren't 100% reliable, but neither is a spare. How many people that rely on spares can't use them because they are too old (like the ones in most DeLoreans), out of air (very common from not getting frequent checking/maintenance), or somehow had multiple blowouts?

A compressor is fast and way quicker then putting on a spare, so I'll keep doing that and has been all I've needed in about 8-10 flats I've had in the last 12 years.

Again, it's still a matter of needing and not having versus not needing and having. Nothing is 100% reliable, but a spare tire is still more reliable than the fix-a-flat solution. Me, I carry both - a spare tire, as well as a can of fix-a-flat as part of my emergency kit.

And spare tires ARE supposed to be maintained, just like the rest of them. Forgetting to maintain it isn't the spare tire's fault or a flaw in having it. You're pointing out the unreliability aspects of having a spare as being a lack of maintenance. So it stands to reason that maintaining a spare (again, as should be done anyway) makes it a perfectly reliable solution. Exactly my point.

Though now I'm pondering what would be involved in designing a pressure warning system for my D. :)

[Shep]

See, this right here is why eliminating a real spare tire is a horrible idea. A spare will cover you in minor and major tire blowouts, whereas a sealant kit will only cover minor issues. Why would you DOWNGRADE your emergency repair solution? That's retarded.
It's not an offensive term. It's English, and wholly appropriate:

[definition]

It's only offensive if you want it to be, and there is a world of difference between "you're retarded" and "that's retarded". One is a derogatory insult. The other is not. Just because a word means something in one context doesn't mean that's always what it means in all contexts.

A downgraded emergency repair solution is a hindrance. Retarded.That doesn't even remotely begin to fit in with the context that you used it in, and neither does your explanation. Here is how Google defines (https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aretarded) "retarded":

Less advanced, esp. mentally, than is usual for one's age
Princeton (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=retarded):
mentally retarded: people collectively who are mentally retarded; "he started a school for the retarded"

relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; "providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded"
Dictoinary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retarded):

characterized by retardation: a retarded child.The context you used it in referred to these definitions. You don't see people using the "N" word to describe the color of a tire, and in case you haven't noticed, the word "retarded" has pretty much dropped out of everyone's vocabulary. There's a reason for that. I would greatly appreciate it if you could stop being such a dick about it and just stop using its slang definition.

[DMC5180]

Disclaimer - I still have one in my car. I have no idea whether or not there is air in it.

I'm sure your spare has AIR in it. I'm also sure it's Low on AIR PRESSURE. :biggrin:


an open question (maybe someone should setup a survey - How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually used a spare to move your car after a flat tire? In my case - about 40 years, and I can think of one time. Way back when I was buying used tires. . .

30 yrs driving.

5 actual driving flat tire events. 5 different vehicles 2 were "Courtesy cars" no charge but use at "own risk". 4 events relied on using the Full Size Spare. All Spares were low on pressure but had enough to allow me to drive SLOWLY to a nearby service station or farmers air compressor)

One was a Hidden Road Hazard DOUBLE Blowout during a Snow Storm in Eau Claire WI. Winter of 07 or 08. Both Driver side tires got slashed by Steel angle legs/feet protruding from a construction Zone Barricade turned side ways on the road shoulder. 8 inches of unplowed snow covered them. Needles to say that was an adventure. The good thing was that it happened near an exit in front of the Eau Claire Mall Sears tire center (After hours). I was able to hobble the car into their Unplowed parking lot. A nice fellow stopped to offer assistance ( I accepted) and took me to local motel a a half mile away. The Next day I got 2 new tires and was on my way home.

[ccurzio]

"Mentally retarded" is not the same thing as "retarded" so stop trying to imply that I said something I didn't. I'm sorry you're offended, but you're getting bent out of shape for absolutely no reason. That's like getting mad at someone for using the term "niggardly".

P.S.: if you've ever used the terms "dumb" or "stupid" (you have) you should hate yourself for the same reason you hate me because while "retard" is a generic word to mean "impede progress", "dumb" and "stupid" are SPECIFIC terms that directly reference mental disabilities.


Needles to say that was an adventure.

http://i.imgur.com/HCtD6l.jpg

:D

[DMC5180]

DOH! You got me on that one. :hysterical:

[Ron]

Oh Oh...The Off Topic Gauge:
15462

[congerz83]

I would never go anywhere far w/o a spare... When I can, I always upgrade to full size spares as well. It's just getting harder to carry every time I go a size bigger on my Grand Cherokee :histerical1:....

To me NOT having the peace of mind of a full-size spare is just... in a word... retarded.:wink:

[David T]

Things change. Cars no longer come with cranks or tool kits or extra parts. Tire technology has come a long way. You used to have at least one spare, some old cars had two. They all came not only with the spares but a hand pump and a tool kit with tire irons so you could fix the flat on the side of the road. Most owners also carried an extra inner tube or 2. Nowadays even though many cars still have a spare, very few owners know how or will try, to change the tire. Not only do the car companies save weight, more importantly they also save $$$$$ not supplying a spare tire. If having a spare is that important then consider run-flats. All new cars now have tire pressure monitoring technology because no one was checking tire pressure and causing too many roll-overs.
David Teitelbaum

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

Run flats are extremely low profile -- not an option on a DeLorean unless the owner also changes the rims.

[Chris4099]

Run flats are extremely low profile -- not an option on a DeLorean unless the owner also changes the rims.

Bill,
There are plenty of RF tires out there that are not considered "extremely low profile". At least I don't consider a normal size passenger car tire on a 16 inch wheel "low profile" (RF are available starting at 16 inches). However you are right that one would need to change out the wheels on a D to run them. DMCH did this with their concept D years ago with the custom interior. They enlarged the trunk space by removing the spare and putting RFs on.

[chenderson2k]

What if you have a blow out? I see blown out tires all the time on the side of the interstate. Anyone who says tires never blow out is wrong.

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

Apparently most tire shops don't mount run flat tires on non TPMS vehicles. To fake out a shop a DeLorean owner would not only have to acquire two different TPMS rims of suitable size (with our particular 4x100 bolt pattern), but would also have take those rims to the shop loose because our cars don't have TPMS electronics in the dash.

Making a full size spare from a junkyard rim (1980's Chryslers used the same bolt pattern) and a standard radial tire is certainly cheaper and arguably easier.

[Chris4099]

There are plenty of aftermarket TPMS systems out there. You can even put them on our stock wheels if you wanted to. The reason shops may require them for RFs is because you can have a giant hole in your tire and not even know it as it doesn't effect handling.

For me, carrying around a compressor and fix-a-flat is easier then a spare, but to each is their own. As long as I make sure I don't have low pressure in the tires, the chance of a total blowout is very minimal. My last 5 flats, I didn't even need a compressor (never used the can of fix-a-flat yet). Just noticed by chance a nail in the tire, so I drove to the shop and had it fixed. No need to take time out to put on a spare.

I'm not saying carrying around a spare is stupid, it's just fine. However, not carrying around isn't stupid either. Just multiple ways to address situations. It just happens to be more people are moving away from the spare method and using other means.

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

If the Internet is to be believed: compared to traditional tires, run flats ride harsher, wear out faster (in the real world my mother's Scion does burn through tires about every 25,000 miles), and cost significantly more -- some things for owners to keep in mind as they evaluate options.

[kings1527]

Things change. Cars no longer come with cranks or tool kits or extra parts. Tire technology has come a long way. You used to have at least one spare, some old cars had two. They all came not only with the spares but a hand pump and a tool kit with tire irons so you could fix the flat on the side of the road. Most owners also carried an extra inner tube or 2. Nowadays even though many cars still have a spare, very few owners know how or will try, to change the tire. Not only do the car companies save weight, more importantly they also save $$$$$ not supplying a spare tire. If having a spare is that important then consider run-flats. All new cars now have tire pressure monitoring technology because no one was checking tire pressure and causing too many roll-overs.
David Teitelbaum


There are plenty of aftermarket TPMS systems out there. You can even put them on our stock wheels if you wanted to. The reason shops may require them for RFs is because you can have a giant hole in your tire and not even know it as it doesn't effect handling.

For me, carrying around a compressor and fix-a-flat is easier then a spare, but to each is their own. As long as I make sure I don't have low pressure in the tires, the chance of a total blowout is very minimal. My last 5 flats, I didn't even need a compressor (never used the can of fix-a-flat yet). Just noticed by chance a nail in the tire, so I drove to the shop and had it fixed. No need to take time out to put on a spare.

I'm not saying carrying around a spare is stupid, it's just fine. However, not carrying around isn't stupid either. Just multiple ways to address situations. It just happens to be more people are moving away from the spare method and using other means.

Both are great points. I think times and technology do change and it's a very rare scenario for a tire to have a blowout when proper maintenance and upkeep has been performed.

[SoCalDMC12]

If the Internet is to be believed: compared to traditional tires, run flats ride harsher, wear out faster (in the real world my mother's Scion does burn through tires about every 25,000 miles), and cost significantly more -- some things for owners to keep in mind as they evaluate options.

I had run flats on my Mini Cooper... they rode more harshly, wore out quickly, and would have cost more to replace. I switched them for regular tires (and a can of fix-a-flat) and am much happier now. Ride quality improved significantly.

BTW: In the 28 years I've been driving, I only used a spare once.

[Doogie]

[QUOTE=Accipiter;84323]Disclaimer: I always buy new tires, and I don't skimp on brand/quality.

The most recent instance was one of those massive failures, and I was very happy that Audi includes a full-size spare. (It was a rainy day and the tire blew on the interstate and my girlfriend and I really needed to get home.)

QUOTE]

What was so urgent that you and your girlfriend "really had to get home for" ?

...and do you have pictures??

..just saying.....

:-)

[Nicholas R]

I drove on my DeLorean donut once to see if it would work (on a rear tire even!). It actually holds air pretty well. I just drove it around the neighborhood. Probably didn't break 35mph. I wouldn't drive without the spare, even if it only gets me onto the back of a truck or trailer. I dont need that round little space for anything and the weight is pretty negligible. I also carry a plug kit and a battery powered compressor but to me, the spare is worth having.

[NightFlyer]

I don't think an inflation/sealant kit would have worked on this blowout suffered by a fellow owner earlier today. And relying upon AAA probably would have meant a 3+ hour wait on the side of the road in an unfamiliar place.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1001650_10151713053500586_1587153553_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/983573_10151713054795586_1048425965_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1014266_10151713055745586_108213467_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941708_10151713056485586_1275831271_n.jpg

Luckily, Mr. Rice always carries a full size spare :thumbup2:

[David T]

I don't think an inflation/sealant kit would have worked on this blowout suffered by a fellow owner earlier today. And relying upon AAA probably would have meant a 3+ hour wait on the side of the road in an unfamiliar place.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1001650_10151713053500586_1587153553_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/983573_10151713054795586_1048425965_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1014266_10151713055745586_108213467_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941708_10151713056485586_1275831271_n.jpg

Luckily, Mr. Rice always carries a full size spare :thumbup2:

What was the date code on the tire and the last known tire pressure and when was it measured? What speed did this occur at and how quickly were you able to stop. Not only would you have required a LOT of tire sealant, it would have taken several rolls of duct tape too! Look how nicely the full size tire fits into the tire well now! Also looks like someone carries a floor jack so you didn't have to rely on the scissor jack to get the car up.
David Teitelbaum

[Chris4099]

Wow, that is a great example of why TPMS are now required on new cars. If he had kept it properly inflated, it would not have failed like that. That's why I check the pressures before each long trip on my non-TPMS equipped cars.

[NightFlyer]

Why is everyone assuming that owner neglect / low tire pressure caused this, as opposed to the simple fact that it was a poorly made Chinese tire?

[thirdmanj]

Why is everyone assuming that owner neglect / low tire pressure caused this, as opposed to the simple fact that it was a poorly made Chinese tire?

How old was the tire? I'd guess age, and shotty manufacture.

[NightFlyer]

How old was the tire? I'd guess age, and shotty manufacture.

The tire, a Primewell PS850, was actually fairly new. And the pressure was checked and set to 32 psi just before the trip.

What's really ironic is that Primewell claims a 97 load rating for this tire - a point higher than most comparables!

Boils down to a cheap Asian (Chinese) made tire.

Moral to this story is two fold:

1) Don't buy Asian made tires!

2) ALWAYS carry a spare - even if it's just the doughnut!

[thirdmanj]

Oooooor, use AAA. They've always come through for me when I've needed them.

[dhaney]

This is the question I asked myself when I decided to dump the spare in favor a tool kit a few years ago. At that time BMW was out on the leading the pack by only offering fix-a-flat instead of a spare. So my answer was more than 10 years AND if fix-a-flat is good enough for BMW why not a Delorean! In my book flat tires are a whole lot less of a problem than they once were. In fact I am glad I read this thread, I've had my current can of the stuff in my car so long its most likely time to replace it!

To me a much more relevant spare to carry in a Delorean would be an alternator! I've been on more than one trip with a caravan of Deloreans where someone ended up needing one! On the way to Gettysburg we had to change on in the parking lot at the Hotel in Indianapolis! And as luck would have it, earlier this month, I had my alternator light come on and found the alternator positive lead had burned complete off! I was headed to an Corporate event where a commitment was made and money was involved. Besides it is not every day you can get paid to hang out by the pool at one of the premier Hotels in the Country (Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Springs, Co). Happily all ended well, since I was able to leave my car at another Delorean owners home for the day and he gave me a ride back to Denver to pick up another Rocky Mountain Delorean Club owners car and was able to fulfill the commitment!

Dan
Vin-03254

[Roman Legion]

I have had to use my spare twice and once on my father's van. I had my first flat in high school. I went out to my car after class to go to work and found the tire completely flat,so I got a ride out to an auto parts place and bought a $5 can of Fix a flat. When I got back to the car, I realized there was a hole in the sidewall and fix a flat was worthless against that, so that can has been in my trunk with a tripod LED lamp incase I need it.

So OP, you paid $20 for that kit when you could have got basically the same thing (Fix a flat) for $5?

http://www.autowares.com/images/product/FIXAFLAT/fixa-s420-6-400.jpg

[DMC5180]

The tire, a Primewell PS850, was actually fairly new. And the pressure was checked and set to 32 psi just before the trip.

What's really ironic is that Primewell claims a 97 load rating for this tire - a point higher than most comparables!

Boils down to a cheap Asian (Chinese) made tire.

Moral to this story is two fold:

1) Don't buy Asian made tires!

2) ALWAYS carry a spare - even if it's just the doughnut!

I've never seen a passenger car tire shred like that. For A tire that is not that old there is a significant amount Edge tread tire wear. Is that the outside edge or inside edge. It seems as though the tire got excessively hot and exploded. Could this have been caused by an extreme Toe-IN from a recent RACK change a week ago. Assuming this is Mr. Rices Car. I recognize that unique spare tire I saw in his trunk last weekend. How long did continue to drive on it (Limp off the highway) after it went flat ?

[NightFlyer]

I've never seen a passenger car tire shred like that. For A tire that is not that old there is a significant amount Edge tread tire wear. Is that the outside edge or inside edge. It seems as though the tire got excessively hot and exploded. Could this have been caused by an extreme Toe-IN from a recent RACK change a week ago. Assuming this is Mr. Rices Car. I recognize that unique spare tire I saw in his trunk last weekend. How long did continue to drive on it (Limp off the highway) after it went flat ?

I originally identified this as being Mr. Rice's car.

Personally, I've seen a couple other passenger car tires shred like this with the tread completely separating from the sidewall - one was a Uniroyal on a fairly new 1988 Buick LeSabre with about 15,000 miles on it, and the other was a Goodyear on a brand new 1996 Chrysler Concord with less than 300 miles on it.

I see what you mean about the toe-in though, as the pic of the mounted spare appears to show it pretty good.

Too bad Mr. Rice can't address these question on his own on this forum... * begin off topic rant * both he and Robertson are good people, assets to the community, and don't deserve to be banned just because some owners have an extremely thin skin and take everything personally (especially obvious jokes or comments made in jest) * end off topic rant *

[DMC5180]

Too bad Mr. Rice can't address these question on his own on this forum... * begin off topic rant * both he and Robertson are good people, assets to the community, and don't deserve to be banned just because some owners have an extremely thin skin and take everything personally (especially obvious jokes or comments made in jest) * end off topic rant *

Yeah I know, I enjoyed the entertainment value of them doing things outside the box. Albeit in jokes or jest. I will say when he fired up his car in the hotel parking lot for the post rack replacement test drive, it was instant and smooth running.

[DMCMW Dave]

I've never ...... RACK change a week ago. Assuming this is Mr. Rices Car. I ?
I doubt it. The blowout was a rear.

[DMC5180]

I doubt it. The blowout was a rear.

I can't believe I missed that one. :facepalm: Call Fixation and it over looking the obvious. Wow that's embarrassing.

[NightFlyer]

Yeah I know, I enjoyed the entertainment value of them doing things outside the box. Albeit in jokes or jest. I will say when he fired up his car in the hotel parking lot for the post rack replacement test drive, it was instant and smooth running.

Personally, I don't get the reason for the bans, but then again, it's not my forum.


I can't believe I missed that one. :facepalm: Call Fixation and it over looking the obvious. Wow that's embarrassing.

Although it may not have been steering rack replacement related, Mr. Rice's rear tire does appear to have a slight toe-in - at least in the pic of the mounted spare, although it could just be the angle at which the picture was taken. Admittedly, I've never seen Mr. Rice's car in person.

However, toe-in or not, I still attribute this particular problem to being caused by a poorly made Asian tire.

[David T]

Personally, I don't get the reason for the bans, but then again, it's not my forum.



Although it may not have been steering rack replacement related, Mr. Rice's rear tire does appear to have a slight toe-in - at least in the pic of the mounted spare, although it could just be the angle at which the picture was taken. Admittedly, I've never seen Mr. Rice's car in person.

However, toe-in or not, I still attribute this particular problem to being caused by a poorly made Asian tire.

I think knowing the date code on the tire is very relevant. It may very well have been recently purchased but I want to know when the tire was made so we know how old it was when it blew out. Much of the damage could have been from slowing down till you could get off the road. I would suggest the owner of the car check all of his other tires ASAP. If the car has been lowered that would account for the heavier than normal side wear. If the tire was recently purchased then just how many miles were out on it? If the tire failed prematurely and was not overloaded or old the owner can contact NHTSA and report the failure. If they get enough reports they can issue alerts and recalls to other owners of these tires if they see a pattern.
David Teitelbaum

[Roman Legion]

I think knowing the date code on the tire is very relevant. It may very well have been recently purchased but I want to know when the tire was made so we know how old it was when it blew out. Much of the damage could have been from slowing down till you could get off the road. I would suggest the owner of the car check all of his other tires ASAP. If the car has been lowered that would account for the heavier than normal side wear. If the tire was recently purchased then just how many miles were out on it? If the tire failed prematurely and was not overloaded or old the owner can contact NHTSA and report the failure. If they get enough reports they can issue alerts and recalls to other owners of these tires if they see a pattern.
David Teitelbaum

I'm especially interested in the date code as well, since I didn't learn about those until I took a motorcycle course and that code when you buy a tire can save you from having the tire go out. I think for motorcycles it's 5 years from the date code and you don't buy/ change the tire? Not sure if it works that way for cars.

[Jonathan]

One other thing came to mind as I read this thread. It has to do with a saying we used to hear in the nuclear industry. It is simple and goes "how do you know?" Like, "are your service water piping wall thicknesses acceptable?" Yes. ....how do you know? The answer most of the time is you test it.

The thing that came to mind with the spare tire conversation is, do you know that you have everything you would need to change a flat on the side of the road and put the spare on? Such as the right sized socket/wrench, a jack that works and you know how to operate it, or any other random roadblocks along the way. Easiest way is to test it. And the best time to do that is in your driveway when you are not in a panic or bind. Perhaps one of those things where if you suddenly realize the lug nuts you swapped out a couple seasons ago now are too big to fit over the lug wrench tucked in to your trunk, it is way easier to deal with under your timing and not with the tire blow out gods' timing.

Even as I write this, I honestly have no idea if everything I would need is already in the car and whether the jack will work as I "assume" it will. I've never tried. I have no issue with the fantastic jack I have in my garage and my workbench full of tools. But that little scissor jobbie in my jack compartment I assume I can make work, but I don't really know for certain.

So to add to the spare tire debate, if you keep one in the car but don't have everything to utilize it, AND you thought you did, so you don't have a can of fix-a-flat handy, now you're really pooched. Might just find out myself tonight...

[TTait]

To those who prefer carrying a spare over a AAA card, may I also suggest:

Spare Alternator belt
Spare alternator
Full set of hoses
Spare radiator
otterstadt
clamps
pressure cap
3 gallons of coolant
spare wiper blades
spare fuses
spare starter (for automatic only)
spare battery
spare vacuum hoses
misc. electrical wire, crimpers and misc connectors
spare fuel pump
spare pickup hose and filter screen
spare fuel accumulator
spare frequency valve
full set of o rings
plugs, cap, rotor, wires, coil
clutch master and slave (for manual only)
Castrol GTLMA fluid
Spare headlamps
Spare wheel bearings
Drive axles with boots
tie rod ends
shocks
ball joints
full set of bolts and nuts, including TABs
brake pads
ISM
CPR
a spare of any part you have purchased from Hervey
rain poncho
work light
Jumper cables
Tow strap
gas can
flares
safety vest
work gloves and safety glasses
Electrical tester
Tools for all of the above,

and of course wheel chocks, jack and lug nut wrench.

Or...

A AAA card.


The above items are as likely to leave you stranded as a bad tire...

[thirdmanj]

There are merits to carrying a spare tire, but it all comes down to personal risk assessment, and individual preference. There is no "right" answer here.

[SS Spoiler]

If a car has lowered suspension, will the spare even keep it off the ground?

[Ryan King]

a spare of any part you have purchased from Hervey

The best line ever on DMCtalk.

[thirdmanj]

If a car has lowered suspension, will the spare even keep it off the ground?

Only if you kick your date out first. :p

[Farrar]

You can't prepare for every contingency, but you can prepare for the most likely ones. Most cars come with a spare tire, and those cars' owner's manuals include instructions for changing a tire when you get a flat. Some people carry a can of fix-a-flat. Some people carry a patch kit. Some people carry spare tires. Some people carry none of that stuff. Who cares?

More important, why does anyone else give even half a shit about someone's spare tire that he bought four years ago and finally got to use? Let him brag. He feels better about the money he spent. Good for him. It doesn't affect you unless you give him the attention he wants.

The DeLorean community doesn't have to be monolithic. We are not the Borg. Our cars may all look alike, but we don't have to all think alike. That's just stupid. I think that every stupid argument in the DeLorean community would disappear if people simply got it into their heads that because something works for you doesn't mean you have to convert everyone to your way of thinking, and of course vice versa.

Who am I to tell someone else how to spend his money? I'm neither a DeLorean parts vendor nor a financial advisor. I for one am happy to just sit back and watch other people spend money I don't have and see what happens. Why not just enjoy the show?

Oh, never mind. I'm old and tired. Don't listen to me.

[Chris 16409]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1014266_10151713055745586_108213467_n.jpg

If anybody is interested in this type of full size spare, I have located a source that has four. I can buy them and offer the other 3 for sale here.

[dmc6960]

I was with Steve Sunday morning after the open house. He got an alignment before driving home. The rear tires were a little out of spec on the toe, but not much.

Most of what I remember Steve talking about that weekend was his "crappy Chinese tires".