Spare Tire

E5USMC · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2017, 11:41 AM

Anyone run a spare tire in their trunk? I was planning on buying another Trigo Wheel and mount one of my extra tires on it. While my front and rear tires are pretty much the same height, the rear are of course wider. I was planning on buying a front Trigo wheel a mount a front size tire on it (235) as it would of course work on the front but should work on the rear in a pinch to get me back home if a flat occurred. Being the same height it wouldn't turn one side faster than the other and chance messing up the posi diff.

Anyone have any other thoughts ? This seem logical ?

Thanks,
AKM

Saw this pic and this is How I thought I would mount it.

twobjshelbys · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2017, 12:08 PM

I can honestly say I've never seen a Cobra with a spare. The only one, Coupe #2299, had one but they had to have one in order to race. In fact, if you watch one video of a Coupe in a pit stop you'll see someone whose job it was to pull the spare out, bounce it, and put it back.

Get AAA. It'll be cheaper and you'll have a place to put a picnic cooler.

Jaydee · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 03:14 AM

I think a space saver tyre won't take up much room. I almost bought one at the markets and modify the centre. At the moment I have a electric pump and goop to put in the tyre. And a plug and glue kit. I work for road service and I had to put a space saver on a Porsche, trouble was where do you put the flat wide tyre. On the lap of the passenger?

JD

mdross1 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 03:45 AM

I did carry a spare for a very short while it was more of a pain than it was worth. Having AAA was part of the reason I stopped and I picked up a can of instant tire repair with a plug kit. I decided that carrying the top and bows made more sense than a spare. Knock on wood in my 50+ years of driving have maybe had one or two flats,none in the last forty years.

1795 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaydee

I think a space saver tyre won't take up much room. I almost bought one at the markets and modify the centre. At the moment I have a electric pump and goop to put in the tyre. And a plug and glue kit. I work for road service and I had to put a space saver on a Porsche, trouble was where do you put the flat wide tyre. On the lap of the passenger?

JD

I always carried an electric pump, plug kit and a couple of cans of fix-a-flat in the trunk. Jaydee makes a great point, what if the flat tire is a rear? Doubt that is going to fit in the boot; so now you have to carry the materials to repair a flat along side the road, as well as the spare.

the combo of a repair kit for remote places and AAA is the best bet. If you go with a spare you are going to have to adjust your suspension as that is a lot of weight in the rear and it is going to affect your handling.

mikeinatlanta · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E5USMC

This seem logical ?

Unless going for a particular period look, no it does not. Tire reliability, modern availability of roadside assistance, modern communications (cell phones), inexpensive inflators, and reliable temporary repair products have combined to make the spare tire a thing of the past.

Dwight · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 05:47 AM

I drove my Cobra 42,000 miles with three cans of flat fix in the truck. Sold the car and keep the three cans of flat fix.

I've may have drove several other Cobras another 10,000 miles and never fixed a flat.

On one of our trips Coach pick up a nail on the interstate years ago. We pulled over, added a can of flat fix on the side of the road. Then drove 15 miles to a tire store where they plugged the tire.

Dwight

E5USMC · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 06:15 AM

All good points

66gtk · #9 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 06:28 AM

I have a 6 PIN PS Engineering wheel (Halibrand style) that has been modified into a space saver spare with installed tire that I would sell if you are interested. Fits nice in the trunk without taking up all the space.

Dominik · #10 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 09:47 AM

Cobra Restorers once advertised a space saver knock-off wheel.
Can't even remember if it was 5- or 6-pin.

If you have the correct spare-tire-insert in your trunk, you can even fit a bigger wheel.
But over and above, I agree that today's tires hardly leak - unless you have a Hoosier Street TD..

Karl Bebout · #11 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 10:31 AM

How are you going to get the car up in the air enough to change out a flat on the rear? Quick jacks and bumper brackets are really not suitable, on many replicas.

keezling · #12 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 11:11 AM

I have a spare on my ff5. Does it make sense? I did have a rear flat once, looked like a box cutter blade which penetrated all the way thru and was rattling around inside. Made a slit over an inch long. No plug or patch kit would have helped. A stock sissor jack fit under the frame. The big ass 295 tire went in the passenger seat as I was alone luckily. Here in Oregon there are lots of dead cell phone areas as I prefer back roads. Perfect solution? No, but it did save me as I think I heard some banjo music starting up in the woods...

keezling · #13 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 11:42 AM

One more thought. If you go the spare route do a dry run at home to expose any unforseen glitches. My cross lug wrench turned out to be too shallow to reach the rear lug nuts on the deep offset rim I run. Better to learn that at home! There is also a substantial weight penalty to carrying extra stuff.

tboneheller · #14 (**permalink**) 03-06-2017, 01:48 PM

I have a 5-pin knock-off space-saver spare that I got from Cobra Restorers.

Jaydee · #15 (**permalink**) 03-07-2017, 02:46 AM

My 295/15 will fit in the trunk/boot. Worse case scenario is if you hit a curb or drain and slash your Tyre. Many time I've had to get a modern vehicle towed because all they had was a can of goop and compressor. I still will consider a space saver as I would hate to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and have my car towed. I have a different stud pattern on the front and back, so I'll need a multi center setup.
JD

desgros@vtlink. · #16 (**permalink**) 03-07-2017, 03:07 AM

I have one of the few Cobras with a spare tire and jack only because I want it to be close to the original. Hopefully it will never be needed.

ERA 289 Slabside BRG

*13* · #17 (**permalink**) 03-07-2017, 06:23 AM

I had had PSE build me a narrow rim, probably pretty close to the space saver mentioned above. Looks like it would be about the correct size for a VW Bug

michu · #18 (**permalink**) 03-08-2017, 04:19 PM

I've been to lots of car shows and I'd say that most Cobra owners have spare tires. LOL

CowtownCobra · #19 (**permalink**) 03-12-2017, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michu

I've been to lots of car shows and I'd say that most Cobra owners have spare tires. LOL

Hey, I resemble that question

joyridin' · #20 (**permalink**) 03-12-2017, 08:03 AM

I have a spare, a jack, lug nuts, and a ratchet to remove the lug nuts. I do not keep it int he trunk all the time, but if I am going somewhere further than calling a friend would require, I throw it in.

I'm not sure how low your car sits, but using a tow truck or even a flatbed can be hazardous to the lower front of your car. The jack I have is from a Firebird and is about 2" tall.