I've considered that but in the brz if you remove the trunk carpet you have alot of exposed wire connections and what not.

I don't think the spare tire provides any structural support to the trunk liner. I could be wrong though.


I have had my spare out for years and loaded the car up with groceries and never noticed any strain from the weight.


I kept the Styrofoam inserts that hold the jack/lug wrench though. I don't know if that makes any difference.

That is likely the difference then as I don't have either the tire or the foam and mine collapses all the time.

I'm a AAA guy, I keep my spare in all the time unless there's some need to remove it- not the other way around. I don't like the idea of waiting up to 45 mins for light service to show up just to find that there's a cut in the side wall and I need a tow. Most tow operators give 0 fucks about your car and almost every tow results in some sort of minor damage. Sometimes, major damage. And for what? Saving 40 lbs for street driving?

Trust me on that.

It does. They give it structural support. The piece of carpeted cardboard that goes on top would not hold a mouse up on it's own.

Having a spare means having the ability to help yourself and not have to rely on others. I can see that cars not having a spare tire is a metaphor for the way things are going these days. Besides the weight in the rear that low is a non-issue.

Could the spare tire well hold a full-size spare? I'd rather buy a cheap set of used stocks, and keep them JIC, than throw off my alignment by driving around with a safety donut.

Eh, just because I choose to not run with a spare doesn't mean that I prefer to rely on others.

In the place of the spare I store water, ponchos, flares, medical kit, matches, jumper cables, and a couple other goodies instead. Sure, I could store that all in the trunk, but I like keeping that space free for other things.

I rather have a air compressor than a spare tire. XD

Compressor is of no value if you shred or slice a tire. I have been caught without a spare far to many times over the years to risk going without.
People seem to think that all flats are nice slow leaks but I have tires ripped to pieces where nothing but a spare would cut it.
For example here is a nice big piece of femur:

I ran over a barbed drip iragation fitting. Lost air pressure instantly.

https://i.imgflip.com/1g9rpd.jpgvia Imgflip Meme Generator

If you have a flat bad enough what will an air compressor do for you?

The spare is also a force absorbing barrier in a rear end collision.

True , I can't remember the last time I changed a flat,but having a spare is insurance that you are prepared. And you know one of the laws of life is : If you have it with you odds are you won't need it. Goes for umbrellas as well!

lol where was it?

That^ Only spread across 3 lanes and about a half mile of the highway.

Deer bits EVERYWHERE

I recall that the manual says to not use the spare for the rear wheels otherwise you'll mess up the differential. so really you need to hope it's only the front wheels that have a problem otherwise the spare is useless.

EDIT: I had a brain fart and didn't realize you could move a front wheel to the back. makes my whole point kind of moot lol. but still, don't use a spare on the rear!