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Do you routinely carry a spare tire?

Posted by Quepos1

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #21
kstevusa kelly stevenson Lwr. Middle Tennessee, USA 1978 MG MGB "N/A"	Posted: June 17, 2012 06:38PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 447

No, not in last 6-8 years. The extra space in the trunk (boot) is handy. Just carry a can of Fix-A-Flat and Emergency Road Service Ins. smileys with beer

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #22
Quepos1 Jere Land Willis, Texas, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 07:46PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 109

In reply to # 2096282 by herculesmgb1971 Full size tire on wheel ready as well as fix-a-flat can.

Weight has nothing to see with horsepower, but will affect maximum speed, acceleration, braking and gas mileage.

Do you really think 25-30 lbs more or less will affect your driving unless you are racing?

I'm aware reducing weight does not actually create horsepower but reducing weight has that effect. Perhaps the spare tire itself only weighs 30 lbs but add the weight of the jack and lug wrench and you are well above 30lbs.

1974 Red MG B
2001 Ford F 250 Powerstroke
2008 Volvo S 80

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #23
mitchelld996 Mitch D Los Angeles, California, USA 1972 MG MGB GT	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:04PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,513

If you're that critical about weight, Jere, don't you think reducing the weight by that much in the rear will adversely affect handling since you'll throw of the weight distribution? Removing weight over the drive wheels may also reduce traction thereby diminishing acceleration from a standing start.

I believe you're over thinking the amount of weight due to the spare. Gasoline is a little over 6 lbs per gallon, do you notice any improvement when you're under a quarter tank versus a full tank?

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #24
Benny Ben E San Diego, CA, USA 1961 Austin Mini 1964 Ford Cortina 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1965 Ford Cortina 1965 MG MGB → more	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:15PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 3,570

In reply to # 2096375 by Quepos1
Perhaps the spare tire itself only weighs 30 lbs but add the weight of the jack and lug wrench and you are well above 30lbs.

You're seriously worried about 30 lbs from a performance perspective? I'm assuming you are down to about 3% body fat these days?

Sort of reminds me of the time that 6 of us were going to lunch in a guy's Chevy Tahoe during a heatwave, and he refused to turn on the AC because "It kills power"....dude, we're going to get Mexican food, not taking 1/10ths off our quarter mile times.

Don't carry a spare if you don't want to, but don't make it a performance discussion. I've torn the side-wall of tires open (you aren't fixing that with anything in an aerosol can) and been on my way in 10 minutes. I've also waited more than a couple of hours for the AAA man....your choice.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #25
wkarhan Wade Karhan Orrville OH, USA 1966 Ford Mustang 1967 Ford Mustang 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE)	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:26PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 656

Flat tires. Cause? Old tires. Tires with no tread. Road trash. Giant chuck holes. I'm only at risk for the last two. Ohio is notorious for crappy roads. Kept the full size spare in the trunk for a while. Took it out and put it in the storage unit. Lots more room there. Not even a little concerned about a flat. Carry a AAA card that includes free towing for extra peace of mind.

Wade

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #26
Beedapox David Terry Houston, Texas, USA 1976 MG MGB "My Little Blue Friend"	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:26PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 472

It may be a false sense of security but I like having a full size spare. That and the fact that I have been bitching and moaning about compact spares for the past 30 years compels me to carry one.

1976 MGB Roadster with Factory Overdrive
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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #27
BritishV8 Curtis Jacobson Longmont CO, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:32PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 1,677

Never.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #28
PaulH Paul Erslev Annapolis, MD, USA 1969 MG MGB "Betsy"	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:36PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 484

I used to travel over 30,000 miles per year. I probably averaged about one flat per year. Once I got a nail in the side wall of the tire! All this on main roads (Interstates,etc) on the East Coast. I carry a full size spare inverted to use the center for storage in the B. My other 3 cars have spare tires, also.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #29
losmorob Robert Park Los Molinos, CA, USA 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite "Penelope" 1970 MG MGB GT "Parts For Sale!" 1971 Wolseley 16/60 1972 MG MGB GT "The Money Pit" 2004 BMW MINI Cooper S	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:43PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 6,942

In my Mini Cooper S I have no choice. No spare.
I have the inverted spare - tool holder in my Sprite and BGT.
Full size spare in the Wolseley. Come on, it's a sedan!

I think the last time I had a flat was 15+ years ago on a stormy mountain drive. (Hwy 299 to Eureka) It was about 4 in the morning, middle of no where and no cell phone service. Hit a rock and tore out the sidewall. You bet I was happy to have a spare!

Rob.

"Now the problem you have is that when you have the unerring certainty of machinery, it is a machine. When something has foibles, it won’t handle properly, that gives it a particularly human quality because it makes mistakes. And that’s how you can build a relationship with a car that other people won’t get."
Jeremy Clarkson

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #30
turtlemoon64 jeannette solomon stockton, nj, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 09:15PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 53

My spare rim is not good, so I carry a spare tube....and a can of fix a flat...slow and steady...

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #31
herculesmgb1971 gerard boulanger Hercules, CA, USA 1971 MG MGB MkII	Posted: June 17, 2012 10:17PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 729

Weight issue... Common problem in the US unfortunately, not only in the trunk

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 10:19PM by herculesmgb1971.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #32
chrisv chris vine Gawler , Adelaide, Australia 1979 MG MGB	Posted: June 17, 2012 10:42PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 414

Yes a full size spare but I was shocked when my daughter bought a new Ford with No spare just an air pump and goo.
They would sell you one plus jack for $500!

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #33
Rod H. Amity, Oregon, USA 1964 MG MGB 1968 MG MGB GT	Posted: June 17, 2012 11:07PM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 14,987

When I was 20 years old and had just bought my MGB I went for a drive in the country and immediately got a flat tire and had no spare. Had to call my mother to get me and the tire, haul it to town and get it fixed, then drive back out to put it on the car. In addition to bothering my mom, and wasting an afternoon, when I got there it looked like some kids had got in my car and tried to steal the stereo unsuccessfully. They got as far as pulling the knobs off. That was the last time I drove without a good spare. eye rolling smiley

To the pure, all things are pure...

'63 MGB
'68 MGBGT
'80 VW Vanagon Kombi
'09 Mazda 3 with 5 speed manual

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #34
DB Wood Daniel Wood Bend, OR, USA 1969 MG MGB GT "Clyde" 1970 MG MGB GT	Posted: June 18, 2012 12:26AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 3,351

Saab 900 spacesaver spare. Haven't had to use it yet in 7 years.

Dan Wood
70BGT driver, OD, Pertronix, HS4's, Peco, .060 over, Elgin cam, Superlite wheels, poly bushings, panhard rod, rear tube shocks, 1" lowered front end, HD shock valves, etc, etc.
69BGT project (V-6?)
88 Saab SPG Turbo
86 Vanagon Westy (South African conversion engine 2.0 OHC 135HP)

Lucas= Loose
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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #35
SURFIT Mike Schultz Zionsville, IN, USA 1973 MG MGB	Posted: June 18, 2012 07:25AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 793

Yes I do. But I've never had a flat tyre in 7 years and about 50k miles.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #36
mowogman Bryan Frazier NC, USA	Posted: June 18, 2012 07:33AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,451

Just like my insurance I hope I dont need, it's there.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #37
twhiteca Trevor Whitehouse Orleans, Ontario, Canada 1976 MG MGB "Abejita"	Posted: June 18, 2012 09:01AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 375

If you have wire wheels then you'd better have a spare cause it is almost impossible to find anywhere that will fix and balance a tubed wire wheel when you are far from home. Happened to my friend in Detroit last month and the guys at the local club said that if he hadn't got a spare he would have been looking at getting the tire half-way across the state to get it fixed.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #38
Emil Wojcik Metuchen, NJ, USA 1964 Porsche 356 C 1978 MG MGB	Posted: June 18, 2012 02:19PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,514

I have spares in all my cars even though I always travel with an AAA card....I'm not waiting for AAA for something as simple as a flat.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #39
garyd Gary Dabrowski Naugatuck, western Connecticut, USA 1974 MG MGB 1975 MG MGB	Posted: June 18, 2012 02:58PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 625

12v air pump tire plugs and a spare.

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Re: Do you routinely carry a spare tire? #40
ourmg George Heissenberger Victor, New York, USA 1973 MG MGB "OUR MG- The Old Girl" 2006 Mini Cooper "Greta's Mini"	Posted: June 18, 2012 03:52PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,827

If you need the trunk room for a one time trip maybe. All it takes is to get caught once with a flat, and no spare, or a flat spare to learn to have one. I always have the spare in the trunk and check the pressure regularly. If you have AAA and no spare they'll tow you, but why go through the hassle?

"OUR MG" Glacier White 1973 MGB, owned since 1983. Factory hardtop. Member MG Car Club Western New York Centre
"Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Ben Franklin

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