[Spaceman Spiff]

I have 4 vehicles, and the only one that has a spare is my ‘05 Tahoe.
My ‘7O lemans sport doesn’t, my ‘58 Plymouth sport suburban doesn’t, and my ‘95 caprice 9C1 doesn’t.
A patch kit, and a small compressor is what I carry.
I have triple A and Hagerty if I need a tow.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by 64speed

So does anyone know if a slight mismatch will chew up a Tru Trac

How slight? If you're only talking a 1/2" I probably wouldn't worry about it. If you're talking an inch and a half I'd probably either look into that further or change up my tire program. I installed a tru trac in dads car and although a mechanical type unit, I never really concerned myself with the spare tire deal because of how I keep the tire heights very close front to back.

Are you running a tire on the rear that is a drastically different height than the front? Like I said earlier if you keep that measurement pretty close, it doesn't matter what size spare you carry, just put the spare on the front and move one of the front tires to the flat rear tire.

That's been the trick for a long long time since these cars started coming with space savers 50 years ago. My Chevelle is a factory space saver spare with a posi rear. If I ever have a rear blow out, a front tire goes on the back and the space saver goes on the front.

[padgett]

A smaller tire can gain some diameter by increasing the pressure. My main trip/tow car, a Grand Cherokee (two seats and A Lot of luggage space, Gets over 22 mpg at 70ish). carries both a full sized spare and a compressor. I also have AAA with 200 mile towing. Other cars mostly have temporary spares. Smaller cars I also carry mats and straps to fasten a road wheel on the trunk lid. CTS does not ever have a place so I carry compressor, slime, and a radial tube with tire irons.

Modern tires have an extra nylon or polyester top ply or cap that dramatically reduces the incidence of tires coming apart.

[64speed]

Thanks guys for all the information

[Chris65LeMans]

+1 on the can of fix a flat and no spare.

[HWYSTR455]

I don't carry spares either, cigar-lighter pump and a 'gooee' rope patch kit only. If I get a flat, I call a flatbed, unless it's late at night or a holiday weekend on an interstate, then I patch.

If you want to hear a tire guy cuss up a storm, use a can of slime or fix-a-flat. Not only do they make a mess, but some even are flammable. And they may charge you more for a tire change.


.

[Skip Fix]

If you want to hear a tire guy cuss up a storm, use a can of slime or fix-a-flat. Not only do they make a mess, but some even are flammable. And they may charge you more for a tire change.

Yea I used some once in a project car on the old cracked roll around the shop tires. It was a mess when it did not work!

My daughter's Kia Soul came no spare just a cigarette lighter pump. But we ordered one from the model year before and the jack to go with it!

[Chris65LeMans]

I've heard that "it makes the tire guy mad" story before, but I've been using that stuff my whole life and have never heard squat from the tire guys - and they haven't tried to tack on an extra $5 to the repairs, either.

[Skip Fix]

It took me awhile with lacquer thinner to clean up an old 8" snowflake I bought they guy had used that on.

[76TA462]

All sorts of ways to do this. I am more comfortable with a spare in my old car, not like the new cars I drive with fillers and no spare. I run front 245 45 18 and rear 285 40 18. For my spare I use the same 8 inch wheel as the front, but with a 225 40 18 to save as much room as possible, and a small bottle jack. Its 2 inches shorter than the rear, and 1.7 inches shorter than the front. It fits just fine on the front and back. I figured the size difference was not a deterrent because I am usually near the city. And I used same wheel as the front because of all the flats I have had it was always the front and if a wheel is bent it will likely be the front. Its not perfect, but keeps me happy. Of course my next flat will be a rear, the rear wheel will get destroyed, and I will be a thousand miles from the closest garage.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by 64speed

So does anyone know if a slight mismatch will chew up a Tru Trac

About 25 years ago I picked up a '66 Coronet 440 4 speed car for $1500 because the guy got a flat on the freeway, removed his 15" wheel, and installed a 14" spare that was about 2" less in diameter. He only made it about 35miles before he tore up the rear end. I run different sizes on my '65 GTO and carry a spare that fits the stock size front wheels. If I get a flat in the rear, I'll have to rotate the other front tire to the rear and the good rear to the front (it will barely fit) and drive lopsided. Better lopsided than burn up my limited slip. So far, no flats!! In fact, in over 40 years of driving GTO's, I've NEVER had a flat in one. I get flats in my Toyota 4x4's ALL the time, though!!

[fiedlerh]

I wouldn't dare use my 45 year old original spare, so a can of fix-a-flat and having towing service seem to be the way to go.
As said, you don't want to burn up your posi !