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Do you routinely carry a spare tire?

Posted by Quepos1 
kstevusa Avatar
kelly stevenson
Lwr. Middle Tennessee, USA   usa
1978 MG MGB "N/A"
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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Quepos1 Avatar
Jere Land
Willis, Texas, USA   usa
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
mitchelld996 Avatar
Mitch D
Los Angeles, California, USA   usa
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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Benny Avatar
Ben E
San Diego, CA, USA   usa
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.
wkarhan Avatar
Wade Karhan
Orrville OH, USA   usa
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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Beedapox Avatar
David Terry
Houston, Texas, USA   usa
1976 MG MGB "My Little Blue Friend"
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
Weber DGV / Pierce Manifold & Tourist Trophy SS Exhaust
Lucas 45D Distributor (No Vacuum Advance)with Allison Electronic Ignition & Champion N9YC Plugs
Original Brake MC (DOT5)
Replacement Lockheed Clutch MC and Slave (DOT5)
Original SU fuel pump restored by Dave Dubois
Aftermarket ejection seat
BritishV8 Avatar
Curtis Jacobson
Longmont CO, USA   usa
Never.

Paul Erslev
Annapolis, MD, USA   usa
1969 MG MGB "Betsy"
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.
losmorob Avatar
Robert Park
Los Molinos, CA, USA   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
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

turtlemoon64 Avatar
jeannette solomon
stockton, nj, USA   usa
My spare rim is not good, so I carry a spare tube....and a can of fix a flat...slow and steady...
herculesmgb1971 Avatar
gerard boulanger
Hercules, CA, USA   usa
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.

chrisv Avatar
chris vine
Gawler , Adelaide, Australia   aus
1979 MG MGB
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!
Rod H. Avatar
Amity, Oregon, USA   usa
1964 MG MGB
1968 MG MGB GT
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


DB Wood Avatar
Daniel Wood
Bend, OR, USA   usa
1969 MG MGB GT "Clyde"
1970 MG MGB GT
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
Unsoldered
Connections
And
Splices
SURFIT Avatar
Mike Schultz
Zionsville, IN, USA   usa
1973 MG MGB
Yes I do. But I've never had a flat tyre in 7 years and about 50k miles.

mowogman Avatar
Bryan Frazier
NC, USA   usa
Just like my insurance I hope I dont need, it's there.
twhiteca Avatar
Trevor Whitehouse
Orleans, Ontario, Canada   can
1976 MG MGB "Abejita"
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.

Emil Wojcik Avatar
Metuchen, NJ, USA   usa
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.
garyd Avatar
Gary Dabrowski
Naugatuck, western Connecticut, USA   usa
1974 MG MGB
1975 MG MGB
12v air pump tire plugs and a spare.

ourmg Avatar
George Heissenberger
Victor, New York, USA   usa
1973 MG MGB "OUR MG- The Old Girl"
2006 Mini Cooper "Greta's Mini"
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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