Will u remove the spare tire?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Bahraini86

Guys, u've been talking about the effect on CoG. But, are you sure that the vids of the JDM ones on track lapping or drifting been performed with the spare? Don't think so! I think the spare been added for legal commercial requirements

Didn't say you couldn't still drift it, in fact making the rear end lighter probably helps rather than hurts drifting, by moving the CG forward (guessing, I don't drift, except maybe occasionally while in a very boring meeting at work).

I'm just saying it needs to be taken into consideration, like anything you add/delete from the car since it's "about the numbers".

In the end, its all good. If I thought it would have a significant effect on MPG or 0-60, I'd remove it too if I was focusing on one or the other.

[DEnd]

Originally Posted by Calum

I don't get why everyone wants to keep the spare (I've seen threads like this on other boards to, not just here). The rigorous testing done on tires in order to get DOT approval is ridiculous. For the amount of effort it would take to get flat, you have just as much chance of putting a hole in the rad or the oil pan. If you work at a construction site and there's nails lying around or something similar sure keep it. For the rest of us, I'm surprised the spare tire hasn't become optional like an ashtray has.

First of all the DOT does not approve a darn thing, it only issues number based on a manufacturer stating it has met the regulations for a particular tire. Additionally the tests are not all that severe, and there is not ongoing testing required of a particular tire. You can read the testing requirements here: 49 CFR 571.109

Secondly manufacturing defects happen. They don't tend to happen with a high frequency, but they do happen all the time.

Thirdly the most common reason for tire failure, and a flat is a tire failure, is foreign object damage. The roads are littered with stuff that can and will damage your tires.

I'm not saying that it's stupid to not have a spare, but for me personally I'd rather spend 15 minutes changing the tire than wait for 30 minutes or more for a tow truck to arrive, or risk the fix-a-flat not working. I'd also rather have a full size so that I am not speed limited and give myself a bit more flexability as to when to get the tire fixed.

[Calum]

You seem very angry. I was stating an opinion, an opinion I still hold. There are no spare tires in any of my cars. That's precious trunk space that I can use for other things, like amplifiers. To each his own.

[DEnd]

Originally Posted by Calum

You seem very angry. I was stating an opinion, an opinion I still hold. There are no spare tires in any of my cars. That's precious trunk space that I can use for other things, like amplifiers. To each his own.

Argh, gosh diddly darn it I am so angry.

[86BRZ]

Spare tire 25.8 lbs, tool kit 5.8 lbs, saving 31 lbs not carry them at rear. ( found these info from other forum)
Battery 29.6 lbs, change to a Braille 11.5 lbs, saving 18 lbs.
Upgrading to 4 STI 17" wheels will save another 8 lbs on 4 sides.
So it will make a limited BRZ under 2700 lbs. it shall have some noticeable driving difference, but don't know how it is until try...

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Just remember that by taking the spare tire out, you're taking weight away from the REAR and the car's weight distribution will be even more front-biased.

[Khyron686]

Won't buy a car without a spare, and won't drive without one either.

a - with spare) Flat, change tire in 5 mins, continue on - drop off flat wheel at tire shop to be plugged/fixed, pickup at leisure. I also carry a small compressor and booster cables.

b - no spare) Flat, try fix-it goop in which case you now need to buy a new tire. Goop doesn't work on a lot of flats. Call AAA/tow. Maybe 30 mins, maybe 3 hours if they're busy. I waited 2+ hours with a smashed oil pan once. Get car towed to shop - either take a cab to work then get a ride back, or wait at the shop for them to hopefully fix it in an hour if they are not busy.

I know how much my time is worth, and it's not 30lbs on a street car. Takes a min to remove all the junk at an autoX track which is about the only place it would make any difference at all.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

That's 100% true. BMWs don't have spare tires anymore, and sure enough, it screwed over my boss during one of our work trips to Laughlin. He drives a 2011 550i with the run-flats, and his pretty much ripped apart... in the middle of nowhere. He called three different roadside assistance services (insurance company, BMW and AAA), and none of them got to him during the four or five hours he waited. Luckily I happened to be far enough behind them (by two or three hours) and happened to be near a BMW dealership that had the tire in stock, which I took and drove to him, and thankfully there was a random tire shop that was able to install it.

[Miniata]

I've had three flat tires (besides multiple slow leaks from a small nail or screw) in 26 years and around half a million miles of driving. All were catastrophic blow-outs where the wheel was bent and/or the tire had a large hole in it. All were at night and were the result of hitting debris in the road that I didn't see. One was 200+ miles from home, the other two were within 20 miles of home. With the first two I had the spare along, the last one, in my Miata, 3-4 years ago, I had taken the spare out for the summer, so I had my wife load up a full sized wheel/tire from another set I had, along with a lightweight floor jack, cordless impact, and torque wrench, she drove it out to me (about 10 miles from home), and I had the wheel/tire changed in 2-3 minutes.

I often take the spare tires out of several of my cars for the summer months, definitely when autocrossing, but sometimes for just street driving as well if I have done other weight reduction to them. If I'm going more than 50-60 miles from home, I'll throw the spare tire back in though. I do have AAA+, but don't want to count on them for a tow home if I'm farther from home when just putting the spare back on can get me going on my way again. The weight reduction from the spare tire alone isn't really noticeable, but when other weight reduction has been done, the extra 30+ lbs off can be a welcome addition.

[WolfsFang]

During snow i have the spare in and summer out. I got AAA unlimited towing so im not really worried to much.

[2point0]

I really dig that NUR spare. You could make a fiberglass sub box to fit in there since it's a taller (wider, but on its side) wheel. Just have to remove the sub to get the spare out, but that's better than not having a spare IMO. This makes me want to source a 5th wheel now...

It's been years since I've actually used a spare, and I think it was either on my '70 Karmann Ghia or my '67 Mustang. One of my current tires started leaking due to a screw I drove over, but got that plugged (before it was even on this car) after I got tired of filling it up repeatedly. I dont' drive through construction sites, but there is crap all over the roads, so I won't take the chance. I'd ditch the spare for a track day or something, but not commuting. Traffic has a much greater impact on my gas mileage than the weight savings.

People ADD weight in the rear for bad weather+RWD.

I've also paid a shit-ton of money to AAA for insurance over the years and have never had to use it. All that money would weigh far more than 30lbs and I do not feel the difference during DD.



Oh yeah, I'm over 220#. But I'm also 6'4". Losing 10-15# is probably a good idea, but 30+ and that would just be unhealthy.

[itdansharpe]

Removed. Why?

because racecar.

[nix]

I saved 6kg going from a full size spare to space saver, and now my boot is nice and flat. The 6kg will be balanced out by a sub install.

[Efferalgan]

Originally Posted by nix

I saved 6kg going from a full size spare to space saver, and now my boot is nice and flat. The 6kg will be balanced out by a sub install.

Planning to do the same. What's the difference in setup between the full size spare and the space saver - only the flat trunk liner or some other spare parts are required to get this nice flat floor in the trunk (plastic stuff to put instead of the wheel)? Do you know the part number for flat floor trunk liner and the space saver wheel? Stupid dealers down here say there is no possibility to replace full size with the space saver!