spare tire

I've decided to remove the spare tire on my explorer is there any danger of not having the spare tire underneath the rear end?

Reply to
John Smith
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The only danger I can think of is that you will need to call for assistance when you have a flat. Structurally, I can't think of any reason.

Reply to
John Riggs

Yes I thought about the road service assistance. I wanted to lose the extra weight so I will take a chance on that.

Thanks

Reply to
John Smith

What's with the weight issue? The negligible weight of a spare tire isn't going to affect mileage, and I pay $3 a month for emergency service via my cell provider. For piece of mind, I'd leave it be. I can think of no reason, aside from aesthetics ( meaning you just don't like looking at it ) to remove it, and then there is the issue of the hanger swinging and banging around ( I hate extra noise ). Granted, you may never need it, but if you ever leave town you'll feel better, especially if it is freezing, foul weather, or the middle of nowhere, like Needles, CA.

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Reply to
John Riggs

And if you call for road service, what do you think the guy will do when he gets there? Fix your tire on the spot? With no spare tire, you'll either wait while he takes your tire back to the shop, find another shop to fix it if his shop doesn't do that, then return (on your dime), or get towed. Having a spare makes thing so much easier, and less expensive.

Reply to
Bill Funk

And what about having an irreparable flat tire? Not having a spare is not a good idea.

Charlie

Reply to
Charlie Bress

Seriously, consider your actions and your goals, and maybe give us more info as to what you are trying to accomplish.

I am not an expert on this but I am aware of no reason why there should be any structural issues with removing the tire from under the vehicle.

If the idea is to relocate the tire to the roof, that is a questionable idea, as it puts a heavy weight where it can have a real bad effect on your stability. Better to put the tire on a bumper rack, or you can do as I did and make a spare tire rack that goes into the receiver hitch.

If it is to improve mileage, this kind of rig is designed for dealing with some weight, and that amount will not make any noticeable difference. The weight issue is a small one compared to the poor aerodynamics of an SUV when it comes to mileage. And being without a spare is not a good idea anywhere, anytime.

Changing driving habits. Keep a clean air filter on the vehicle. Changing to an easy rolling highway tread from the normal mud and snow tires. Putting synthetic lube in the axles, transmission and engine, and other such simple things are all much better ideas.

Reply to
Scott Stone

If you put it in the back seat, where will the kids sit?

In addition to everyone elses comment, I would suggest travelling with only enough money/credit cards for gas and don't plan for breakdowns/delays... Nothing ever goes wrong.

Reply to
Jim Warman

Jim,

If this guy is of such a mentality that he's asking about removing his spare tire then he's definitely not going to pick up on your sarcasm.

Thanks for the laugh, though.

Bob

Reply to
Bob

May never need it? I must be one of the unluckiest SOBs on the planet because between my two Explorers (91 and 92) I've had about 15-20 flat tires in the last few years and that is mainly with Michelin LTX M/S tires in good condition. Most were punctures but 3 were seperations from the rim and all were with the tires properly inflated. It's amazing to me that (so far) I've never had more than one flat at a time. Maybe I need tractor tires.

The only reason I can think of to remove the spare is because the cable has a tendency to break (it did on my 91) and leave the spare laying in the road. Fortunately when mine broke it was on my own property and not on the highway. I carried it around in the back for a while until I fixed the cable. No way would I drive my Explorer without a spare. I also carry tire plugs, a can of Spare Tire In A Can and a 12 volt compressor/inflator. If I had room I would carry TWO spares.

but if you ever leave town you'll feel

Reply to
Ulysses

Perhaps you need to be looking at 6 ply truck tires rather than light truck and passenger car tires.

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Reply to
John Riggs

Ok, to be honest, how often have you needed a spare?

In the last 10 years and close to 400,000 miles of driving, I've used a spare tire once. This is not to say I have not had flats, but in all cases but one, they were slow leaks that did not actually go flat until I parked the car overnight. In every case but one, I pumped the tire up (sometimes with my $12 cigarette lighter compressor) and drove to the tire store to get it fixed. And in the case where I actually used the spare, I would have used the compressor, except the truck was brand new and I had not yet added a battery powered compressor to the kit of stuff I carried around in the back. Now tractor tires are a whole different problem - I've had lots of flats with those and no spare (sigh, and no easy way to fix them either).

I did have an amusing flat tire experience a couple of weeks back. A paint contractor's van was parked in the entrance to my farm path. I need to get in. The guys had a flat. But, they did not have a jack. So I when and got one of mine and helped them jack up the van. Then they did not have a lug wrench. So I got the one out of my truck and helped them remove the tire. Then they did not have a tool to lower their spare. I got one out of my truck and helped them lower the spare. The spare was flat. So I took the spare to my shop and added air. Turned out it had a slow leak from a former bad repair (crappy plug on the edge of the tread). The original tire had the valve stem knocked off, so I could not fix it. So, I put a lot of air in the spare (60 lbs). We put the leaking spare on the van, I gathered up my tools, and I pointed the guys at the nearest tire store (5 miles). I've seen the van on the road since then, so I guess they survived. Next time I see someone in a ratty van stopped in my way, I think I'll turn around and go to the store for a Pepsi.

Ed

Reply to
C. E. White

As they say, no good deed goes unpunished!

I had a similar experience a couple of different times. It sure makes a person wonder about Karma!

Reply to
Scott Stone

I have had an average of 4 flats on per set of tires on each vehicle for the last 10 years or so. I had 6 on one vehicle in one winter due to construction where my wife works. That seems to be the biggest culprit.

About 2/3 of the time I can use my pump and limp to a garage. The rest I have needed the spare. Probably about 1 time each year I need it.

Reply to
Scott Stone

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