Does anyone make replacement rubber for our mini spares? The rubber on these things is AT LEAST 20 years old, i'd not want to trust it all that much. I did search, about all i found is that the 4th gen mini spares work too, but those aren't new either. Does anyone know if ANYONE makes replacement mini spares? I have the large size aluminum one as i have 245-50-16's. It has to be the right diameter as the car has a posi.

 

Not that I'm aware of.

JamesC

 

IROZINCO ,(It has to be the right diameter as the car has a posi.) Will you explain this statement.I have a Eaton posi. with after market wheels and tires that are taller than the spare. Sounds correct but would like to hear more,this is the first time I have heard this.

 

I'm unsure how much size has to do with limited slip or open--an IROC, for example, would have a 15" spare but the wheels are 16". Any other info would be interesting.

JamesC

 

The wheel size would only be effected by the brakes & clearing them.

Regardless of wheel size, the tires overall diameter just needs to match/be real close. Like a 60 series tires on a 15" wheel, to match the 30 series tires on a 18" wheel. That was WAY oversimplified & it isn't nearly that simple to calculate, but gives the basic idea.

And size would need to match to protect any kind of LSD, so that is isn't constantly slipping just driving straight 100% of the time.

 

So the spare tire in my car has to be the same diameter as the tire I have on the car or it will harm the Eaton Posi. buy spinning at different rates . ( the spare tire in my car is a T125/70d15 and has a 22in. diameter.The tire on my car is a 255/60r15 and is 27in. diameter.)If this is the case what are those of us with Eaton posi. using for a spare? The tire compartment is only about 9in. wide.

 

As close as the height can be or by limiting your driving on it. Like put it on & heading straight to the tire store.

I'm not saying "Drive more than 5/10/15/whatever miles on it your posi will blow up" I don't know if it would be safe for 5 or 50 miles. I just wouldn't drive on it anymore than really needed if the heights weren't close. Like getting a flat & drive on the spare for a couple weeks until payday? Probably not a good idea if they were a full inch height in difference.

 

OK, so now I need to find a tire that is 27in.tall that will fit in the tire compartment that is narrower than the 9in. space allowed. Do they make such a tire?

 

I just have a 4th gen spare, since it was for 275/40R17s, which is what I have. Never have thought to measure it, but I see no reason it wouldn't work. I don't see GM supplying something that won't & causing more warranty repairs to be covered. Because you KNOW what the customer would say..."No sir. I drove maybe 2 miles on it, straight to the tire store & suddenly the whole rear end just suddenly locked up!"

 

I did a quick search and found that they do make tires that are close to what I would be looking for. I'm going to go by American Tire this week and see if they have something like this that will fit my car/compartment.

125/80 R15 95M Space saver tyre

 

Just looked at mine. 125/70D15

 

You know what, I just measured the tire compartment again and i can not fit the 27in. tire I need in there no mater how thin. I guess I'm out of luck.
MY APOLOGY TO "IROZINCO" THE "OP" FOR STEALING YOUR THREAD.

 

Well, I got to thinking about the height thing and WHOOPS!

My spare 125/70D15 = 24.8"
My tires are 275/40R17 = 25.7"

Looks like I need a different spare OR if I get a flat on the rear..........Put the spare on the front & put the front tire on the rear. Or hope I'm really near a tire store!

So my choice would be not making my 9bolt LSD not very happy or have the steering pull HARD to one side or the other (whichever side I put the spare on).

Maybe it wasn't a 4th gen spare after all, like I was told it was when I got it.

 

There must be tons of people in this same situation. I guess if you have a posi. and are running a taller tire in the rear like mine (27in.) there is really not many choices. Ether tire plugs or a tow.

 

I have had to use tire plugs before, I forget what kit we have, but it works great! I had a 3 inch screw in my tire, and it plugged it up no problem!

 

different diameters will destroy your posi FAST. It'll cook it. So yes, you are way better off putting it in front and driving slow. Or having tire goop, which i do carry. But it'd be NICE to find someone that makes NEW replacement spares! I may have to go down to tire rack or discount tire, fling the thing on the counter and go " what do you have?"

 

I tried the above and found zero. Should your luck be different, please advise.

JamesC

 

Discount had nothing when I tried that a year ago.

Maybe they could dismount one off a junkyard tire (of a 2011 car) & put it your 3rd gen spare wheel?

 

(snort) there was a article on the news today that said they weren't even putting spares in new cars now to save weight. So i'm guessing that finding replacement spares is going to be...difficult at best. Tires are better now, everyone has cellphones, but, i'd STILL feel better with a good spare in my car. Remember when trunks were big enough to hold a full sized spare PLUS luggage? Times like these, i miss my 78 T/A!

 

Old thread... I inflated my spare the other day at home to ensure it holds and it did a funny thing... Instead of forming, well, a tire, it began to form a bowl... with the tread shooting off to one side, instead of up...

And I have one of the aluminum sparres

so no replacement rubber? Just take it and get some $$$ for the aluminum?

thanks,

Rafael...

 

Since I upgraded to a 89 Nine bolt posi with PBR's, 1st series IROC wheels and LS1 big brakes on front my choices got real limited. I carry my jack, lug wrench, needle nose pliers, box cutter knife, two large cans of Fix a Flat and a no glue plug kit.