Finally Did It.

"mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/" (mxxxxxm24)
03/18/2018 at 23:24 • Filed to: Arisu, Miata, Tires, Weight savings

After many years of driving with a spare in all my cars and never needing to use it, aside from when I had my wheel reshaped last year... I removed it to save what seems between 30 and 40lbs.

I am feeling liberated and anxious at the same time. How many of you run without a spare?

DISCUSSION (43)

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:27

all the time.

Of course my car didn’t come with a spare or a jack, just an air compressor with “gunk” to seal punctures. Thankfully I’ve never needed that either.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:31

You’ll need it this week, guaranteed.

sn4cktimes > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:32

I always have a spare, and I regularly check it’s pressure. Especially if it’s a donut size. Lots of the Jeep guys I used to run with mocked me carrying a 35x12.5 10 ply spare on the back of my Wrangler... until a guy had to borrow it to limp on out of the bush...

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang
03/18/2018 at 23:33

Yeah this is my daily and only car. I have gotten many punctures over the years, but with those you don’t even know until the air seeps out in time. I consider myself very fortunate :)

gettingoldercarguy > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:33

I do on my rex, along with aluminum dampers (Ohlins), EVO3 battery (3.5lbs). I’m 133 pounds lighter. Going to do a super light clutch/flywheel package and a few other things to get 200-250lbs out of my daily driver.

smobgirl > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:34

Fiat doesn’t have a spare, civic spare wouldn’t hold air, 280ZX had an uninflated spare (probably rotten) with a can of air from 1982 (probably empty). I’ve always rationalized it by having roadside with my insurance, but last time I had a serious flat (not just a self-plugging nail) it took 6 hours to get a tow (in Denver).

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/18/2018 at 23:43

Yeah. Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t live my life that way. Knocking on wood and all that bs... things happen. I’ll deal with it when it does.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > sn4cktimes
03/18/2018 at 23:46

My last car was a Wrangler... I carried the original spare (I ran 31x10.50s) tho mainly for weight distribution, I’m sure I could have driven on it very slowly if I needed to haha!

Frenchlicker > sn4cktimes
03/18/2018 at 23:50

I’m building up my XJ and you can bet your ass I’m going to have a full size spare mounted on it. I’ve had enough bad luck with tires on road let alone off.

Chariotoflove > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:50

You’ll need it tomorrow.

Last month, I had a blow out on the highway, and I was so glad to have a spare, an emergency spare, but still. In my previous car, an RX-8, I paid the extra to get a spare, but removed it eventually and relied on the flat kit that came with the car. Since my flat last month was a sidewall blow out, I would have been screwed and needed a tow a half hour from home.

Yeah, I’m becoming superstitious in my age, but can you blame me?

ETA: make sure you have AAA. Seriously.

Urambo Tauro > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/18/2018 at 23:51

I usually scoff at the idea of removing the spare. I just don’t want to jinx myself and get a flat the next day.

But I really should take the spare out of my Mustang’s trunk. It probably wouldn’t even fit the front now that I have the big Cobra brakes, and I can’t put it on the rear because I’m running slightly oversized tires, and it would likely wear out my Trac-Lok clutch packs if I tried to drive it like that.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > gettingoldercarguy
03/18/2018 at 23:51

Rex? Hmm now I’m wondering how much my battery weighs...

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > smobgirl
03/18/2018 at 23:56

Damn. I’m not surprised. I have AAA and have used it for other reasons and it isn’t exactly the quickest way to deal with a potential flat, but if for over 13 years I’ve never had that as an issue I think I’ll worry about things that have been issues haha. What kind of fiat??

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Chariotoflove
03/18/2018 at 23:58

Noted. I do have AAA and like I told “i like cars”, I don’t live my life that way.

AestheticsInMotion > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 00:03

A lot, assuming it’s OEM spec.

I ditched the spare long ago. Wouldn’t clear my brakes now. But I keep a good aircompressor and patch kit, plus I have AAA and have had nothing but great experiences with them

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Urambo Tauro
03/19/2018 at 00:03

Be a master of your own destiny. Do not fear it.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/19/2018 at 00:16

Yeah it’s oem and I do remember it weighing a good amount now that I am thinking about it. I didn’t realize they sold super lightweight batteries to be honest and had just bought it last yearish.

I should prob get an air compressor and patch kit... have a recommendation for either or both?

sn4cktimes > Frenchlicker
03/19/2018 at 00:18

Given how much huge offloading tires cost and how places don’t carry them having a spare on hand isn’t the worst idea for even something like a slow leak.

Urambo Tauro > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 00:21

Only thing that’s stopping me now is that the trunk has such a tidy little spot to store it. I don’t really have room to put it anywhere else. And yeah I guess it does help offset the front-heaviness of the car, a little.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Urambo Tauro
03/19/2018 at 00:34

Yeah weight balance is important more so than overall weight... I considered that even on my Miata. Why I plan to do an a/c delete and power steering delete.

AestheticsInMotion > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 00:35

Look on the forums at Miataturbo.net for battery recommendations and real world reviews if you decide to swap. A lot of them use super lightweight batteries (as in under 3lb) but there are definite drawbacks. Another thing to consider is that if left in the trunk, the battery SHOULD be vented, although many of them aren’t and for the most part it isn’t an issue. Mine is an OEM replacement due to it dying unexpectedly, but I was eying the much heavier Optima redtop to help with accessories while camping.

As for the other two... Not really! Patch kit I just got something cheap with good reviews on Amazon. Air compressor all I can say is avoid the really cheap stuff. You’ll spend 30 minutes pumping up a single tire, and the compressor will likely die on you after a few uses, assuming the plastic parts don’t break first.

smobgirl > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 00:36

2012 Abarth.

Truly, even with the car stranded, rideshare options are so common that it wasn’t a huge deal. I’d bent a wheel in a pothole and it wouldn’t hold air anymore, which I discovered at 10pm when I finished teaching. I left it and went home to bed - the tow debacle happened the next afternoon. If I’d had a spare at home I would’ve just gotten a ride back with it and saved 6 hours.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/19/2018 at 00:43

Thanks! I had went with the vented oem replacement when I realized my last battery wasn’t vented and how dangerous that could potentially be. Do they have vented lightweight? I’ll look up patch kits and compressors on amazon

gettingoldercarguy > AestheticsInMotion
03/19/2018 at 00:46

Check out https://www.ballistic-batteries.com/main.php With the bigger ones, you’ll have no problem turning over your diesel in most cases, let alone a small bore petrol. I’ve gone to a smaller one and haven’t had a problem. Sealed batteries and LiPo don’t need to be vented, they won’t cause an explosion like you’ve read about.

gettingoldercarguy > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 00:47

My 2017 wrx battery was ~ 39 lbs, replacement is 3.5 lbs.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > smobgirl
03/19/2018 at 00:48

Cool I talked to an abarth driver the other day. He loved his. Said it was quick. I plan on keeping my spare at home with that exact thought in mind. I may end up putting it back in when farther than 45 min away from home or something. Probably smart

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > gettingoldercarguy
03/19/2018 at 00:51

Oh ha Rex=wrx. I’m tired dammit. I’ll look into them for sure.

AestheticsInMotion > gettingoldercarguy
03/19/2018 at 01:00

These are the exact batteries I’ve seen a lot of built track Miatas use. But most of them are in socal...

My main concern would be performance in the 10-32° F range that I see pretty consistently through winter. Sounds like they perform pretty poorly from what I’ve read by users. Have you had any trouble starting in colder weather? I’m also a bit unsure how these would handle the draw from high amperage rally lighting, soundsystem, big fans and all of the stock stuff.

The weight loss would be so nice though. Not to mention getting more space in the trunk and finally relocating the battery to somewhere easier to access

gettingoldercarguy > AestheticsInMotion
03/19/2018 at 01:11

rock a secondary booster battery, phone backup battery. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WM8855/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B074WM8855&pd_rd_wg=FbxRj&pd_rd_r=P36W72KGZDE2TYAFCDPC&pd_rd_w=dnFC8

I just jump started a honda accord tonight with this.

RPM esq. > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 01:12

I assume you’ll get a flat this week now that you finally decided to remove it.

But also I have lived dangerously with several previous cars and it never bit me, although I have had a flat and been glad I had a spare before.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > RPM esq.
03/19/2018 at 01:18

Seems everyone is superstitious. I’ll be close enough to home and my spare if I need it anyways.

CompactLuxuryFan > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 01:18

Pretty surprised by how popular this is! I would never remove a working spare, especially if the alternative is having nothing! Guess I’m just a pessimist like that.

My A4 has a full size spare (Avant) and I’ve used it like 3 times? It’s just a good feeling having it on road trips, even though all my flats have been in town. Come to think of it, last time I had a flat it was like 35 miles from home (still urban). But I knew it was a slow leak so I just pumped it back up and drove home, then same thing next morning to go get it repaired. Too lazy to put the spare on.

The 335 has no spare, staggered runflats, and nothing else. Weirdly I feel zero anxiety about it, but I still carry an air compressor in both.

gettingoldercarguy > AestheticsInMotion
03/19/2018 at 02:13

I’ve never had a problem here down below the snowline. I have that db battery if I need a boost, it’s 1lb max.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 02:19

yeah, if I got a slow leak, I have a complete set of spares stacked in my garage, so one of those would do until I got the daily tires fixed. I’ve only got the one car too...

pip bip - choose Corrour > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 05:40

considering i average one flat per year.

i will NEVER remove mine

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Urambo Tauro
03/19/2018 at 08:50

My ZHP has a space saver spare, its full diameter, but like half width. BMW saw fit to mount it upside-down and put a plastic cover over it so I have about 30-40% of the storage space I would have by removing it all together. I can keep a surprising amount of equipment under there. Currently it is holding jumper cables, the jack, 3 chocks, a set of 8-21mm wrenches, a box of gloves, my repair manual, a tire pump, some screwdrivers, pliers, a tire patch kit, and probably a couple other things I’m forgetting. I’d lament not having a full sized spare, but honestly having the storage space is more useful that a full sized spare. I’ve only needed the spare twice, but the extra space that affords has kept my trunk nice and empty.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CompactLuxuryFan
03/19/2018 at 09:56

Road trips. I have been thinking much about putting the spare back in on road trips. The irony is that is when I could use the extra trunk space the most.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > pip bip - choose Corrour
03/19/2018 at 09:59

Fair enough. Why do you think you get them so often? Also you could play a game and pick 1 day a year to carry your spare and if you get it right and end up needing it... you win!

DipodomysDeserti > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 10:08

I only run without a spare because BMW didn’t give me one. I’ll probably pick one up sometime as I no longer have runflats on it.

Didn’t get a soare with my Abarth either and suffered a flat on that too.

I definitely keep a spare on the Jeep as I take that thing to places without cell service.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > DipodomysDeserti
03/19/2018 at 11:19

Now that’s a worry I am having. If I do end up in a place without service, I better have a spare on then! That wouldn’t be much fun

DipodomysDeserti > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 13:29

I got two flats on my BMW outside of Afton, WY, on my way to see the eclipse last year. Only tire shop open was in Jackson, so I limped the car there along the tractor ruts next to the highway as the eclipse was occuring. The tires were completely shredded by the time I got there. I ended up getting a set of super cheap summer tires on account of them not having much of a mrket for them entering fall and winter in Wyoming.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > DipodomysDeserti
03/19/2018 at 15:03

Damn. See 1 spare wouldn’t haven’t helped you much there... however sealant and a compressor... maybe.

pip bip - choose Corrour > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/19/2018 at 16:43

I do a lot of km per year