TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion

[GOLDCYLON]

Recently I needed a tow due to an accident that I tied to avoid a few weeks ago (you may have read about it in my other thread). The tow operator complained and whined about how low my car was an expressed his anger with the dispatch that quoted me a price (Almost $200) for a tow to my home about 10 miles away. He felt I was undercharged. Regardless as this charge was covered by my insurance I still felt that amount was very high.


So I looked into replacing the 28 year old doughnut tire to help myself if I am only a short distance away and the need arises. Basically the school of thought on any doughnut is 50/50. Or 50 Miles Per hr. No more than 50 miles away. Beyond that get a tow.


So I ordered a new doughnut tire from discount tire and had it mounted and returned to the wheel tub. There was a discussion many years ago about doughnut alternatives and that the replacement rubber was/is no longer available. That is no longer the case. Also if you are rear-ended the doughnut tire factors into the collision protection of the vehicle. Which is why in 1996 the spare tire delete bar was added if the vehicle was not equipped with a doughnut.


A lot of cars have a doughnut these days and in rare instance a full size spare. Some of the new cars today come from the factory with a can of fiX-a-flat only.


Thoughts? Or at least food for thought


GC

[secondchance]

Recently I needed a tow due to an accident that I tied to avoid a few weeks ago (you may have read about it in my other thread). The tow operator complained and whined about how low my car was an expressed his anger with the dispatch that quoted me a price (Almost $200) for a tow to my home about 10 miles away. He felt I was undercharged. Regardless as this charge was covered by my insurance I still felt that amount was very high.


So I looked into replacing the 28 year old doughnut tire to help myself if I am only a short distance away and the need arises. Basically the school of thought on any doughnut is 50/50. Or 50 Miles Per hr. No more than 50 miles away. Beyond that get a tow.


So I ordered a new doughnut tire from discount tire and had it mounted and returned to the wheel tub. There was a discussion many years ago about doughnut alternatives and that the replacement rubber was/is no longer available. That is no longer the case. Also if you are rear-ended the doughnut tire factors into the collision protection of the vehicle. Which is why in 1996 the spare tire delete bar was added if the vehicle was not equipped with a doughnut.


A lot of cars have a doughnut these days and in rare instance a full size spare. Some of the new cars today come from the factory with a can of fit-a-flat only.


Thoughts? Or at least food for thought


GC

Daryl,

My doughnut spare had gone flat and also after 20+ years I felt was history. Furthermore, I have gone to 14" Wilwood rotors up front and 13" on the rear plus 6 piston and 4 piston calipers front and rear respectively negating the use of OEM spare.
Luckily, a local former Zr-1 owner had advertised 18" spare that came with CTS-V. I had to have a machine shop enlarge the opening in the center to mate properly to the hub. Worked out to be a perfect solution for my over-sized braking system.

[GOLDCYLON]

Daryl,

My doughnut spare had gone flat and also after 20+ years I felt was history. Furthermore, I have gone to 14" Wilwood rotors up front and 13" on the rear plus 6 piston and 4 piston calipers front and rear respectively negating the use of OEM spare.
Luckily, a local former Zr-1 owner had advertised 18" spare that came with CTS-V. I had to have a machine shop enlarge the opening in the center to mate properly to the hub. Worked out to be a perfect solution for my over-sized braking system.


Good discussion. Yes that would be a problem especially up front with 14 inch rotors. I remember somebody mentioned a Dodge solution direct fit.




BTW the replacement I bought for the doughnut was sized T155 /70 R17 110 M T BSW MB at $160. You are also correct even if your spare was able to hold air its dry rotted and toast

[-=Jeff=-]

good to know you can get a new doughnut spare.. I have 2 spares, I will have to look into getting a new tire for one of the rims.. I still need an OEM Lug wrench and mounting tabs for my 90

[GOLDCYLON]

good to know you can get a new doughnut spare.. I have 2 spares, I will have to look into getting a new tire for one of the rims.. I still need an OEM Lug wrench and mounting tabs for my 90



Call Sparky Martin AKA Corvette Nutz dont forget the wingnut as well.. Shawn@corvettenutz.com

[Ccmano]

I have AAA for just that occasion. I could care less what some tow truck driver thinks. Always amazes me how these days so many people whine about just doing their job.

Sorry, my rant for today...
H
:cheers:

[henryr]

AAA also...

i have a $10k max daily driver allowance so it is cheap insurance

already used two tows this year

they have always come with a flatbed

[secondchance]

Back in 2014, I had a mechanic friend of mine take out LT5 and disassemble to save some time and aggravation. Block, heads and parts were boxed up and hauled to engine builder for steam/solvent cleaning followed by short block assembly using 4" liners, pistons, etc... At the same time, I had to move the engineless car to Jim V's garage.
Lets just say I had a towing service per membership for up to 100 miles free in case of failure. I called the member service and the flat bed arrived at the mechanic friend's house. He saw my ZR-1 with nose pointing up and raised about 4" in the front. I told him the car couldn't move under it's own power, slipped him a Jackson and he towed it to Jim's with no fuss. After 2-3 months, Jim hosted an LT5 install gathering and we had the car running in 3 days.

[lfalzarano]

Don’t use Fix-A-Flat. It will ruin your tire and wheel balance and is very tough to clean out the insides to rebalance it.


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[GOLDCYLON]

Don’t use Fix-A-Flat. It will ruin your tire and wheel balance and is very tough to clean out the insides to rebalance it.


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It will also ruin your tire sensors if you still have them

[GOLDCYLON]

I have AAA for just that occasion. I could care less what some tow truck driver thinks. Always amazes me how these days so many people whine about just doing their job.

Sorry, my rant for today...
H
:cheers:



Concur and it was a flat bed

[XfireZ51]

Recently I needed a tow due to an accident that I tied to avoid a few weeks ago (you may have read about it in my other thread). The tow operator complained and whined about how low my car was an expressed his anger with the dispatch that quoted me a price (Almost $200) for a tow to my home about 10 miles away. He felt I was undercharged. Regardless as this charge was covered by my insurance I still felt that amount was very high.


So I looked into replacing the 28 year old doughnut tire to help myself if I am only a short distance away and the need arises. Basically the school of thought on any doughnut is 50/50. Or 50 Miles Per hr. No more than 50 miles away. Beyond that get a tow.


So I ordered a new doughnut tire from discount tire and had it mounted and returned to the wheel tub. There was a discussion many years ago about doughnut alternatives and that the replacement rubber was/is no longer available. That is no longer the case. Also if you are rear-ended the doughnut tire factors into the collision protection of the vehicle. Which is why in 1996 the spare tire delete bar was added if the vehicle was not equipped with a doughnut.


A lot of cars have a doughnut these days and in rare instance a full size spare. Some of the new cars today come from the factory with a can of fiX-a-flat only.


Thoughts? Or at least food for thought


GC

I don't have much choice. With 18/19s F-R, there is no single tire/wheel combo that will do the trick. Especially w C6Z06 calipers on the corners. So I bought a
Continental fix a flat kit similar to the one provided by BMW.

[GOLDCYLON]

I don't have much choice. With 18/19s F-R, there is no single tire/wheel combo that will do the trick. Especially w C6Z06 calipers on the corners. So I bought a
Continental fix a flat kit similar to the one provided by BMW.



Yep its a pretty much a tow situation for you Dom

[32valvesftw]

All the spare tire hardware is removed from my car, Is that easily replaceable? I have not even looked yet. I may turn the Z into my daily, if so I would like a spare.

[BigJohn]

It has been a long time but I had a 275-35zr17 on 9.5-17 wheel in the spare tire rack!

[Franke]

Fix a flat doesn't work on a sidewall blow out either. My friends know as I had to give them a ride home.

[GOLDCYLON]

It has been a long time but I had a 275-35zr17 on 9.5-17 wheel in the spare tire rack!

I would imagine not John what is your current race setup?

[GOLDCYLON]

Fix a flat doesn't work on a sidewall blow out either. My friends know as I had to give them a ride home.

Concur that would be an automatic tow call from if it was the sidewall

[GOLDCYLON]

All the spare tire hardware is removed from my car, Is that easily replaceable? I have not even looked yet. I may turn the Z into my daily, if so I would like a spare.

Yes are the mounts still there on the underside or were they removed as well ?

The carriers are readily available as are the retaining bolts and oblong rolled pin washer

[GOLDCYLON]

Yes are the mounts still there on the underside or were they removed as well ?

The carriers are readily available as are the retaining bolts and oblong rolled pin washer


Put this number into an eBay search 171231540704 those brackets are $15?

[BigJohn]

I would imagine not John what is your current race setup?

That was on my 89!
With the exhaust coming out the middle there is no room for a spare!

[GOLDCYLON]

That was on my 89!
With the exhaust coming out the middle there is no room for a spare!

That makes sense !

[XfireZ51]

Altho I can’t use a donut, I kept the spare tire shelf and filled it w fiberglass insulation packed into a heavy duty plastic bag. I thought that the original spare acts as a buffer/sound deadner for the hatch area. Plus the tire up against the hatch floor helps kill vibration and booming from the structure. Trying to recreate that w insulation instead.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

GC,
Good discussion. I ended up with the GTO spare since I upgraded to Wilwood brakes. I also had to take off some material from the center hub to fit our cars, but it only took a couple of minutes and a dremel tool. Due to touring around in a foreign country, I want every option available. The insurance that I have includes towing, but not too far. I also have a C5 flat kit with goop and compressor just in case, as well as a plug kit.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171122/1109f37bb31cda85558aa1c9669d7a14.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171122/b727e80f6f5e8afbacce15d274734b3f.jpg


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[Dynomite]

Daryl.......should make this a poll on how many ZR-1 Owners have had a flat tire and front or rear :p

With Wilwood C5-Z06 Brakes on front seems I could remove rear A-Mold wheel and install spare wheel moving the rear A-Mold wheel to the Front for a short slow ride to nearest gas station anywhere I am. And only applies on longer trips whereas on shorter trips I can just call for my wife to drive my Tacoma to where I am which has 12 volt air compressor and Tire Repair Kit :thumbsup:

Actually I would just ask "My Wife " to throw a ZR-1 A-Mold or Saw Blade Front or Rear Wheel in the Tacoma and bring it over.....she would call me "ARE YOU KIDDING" when she sees the rear ZR-1 A-Mold or Sawblade :sign10:

Just saying or in this case just guessing as I have never had a flat tire :D

Now....Statistically.....we are talking about avoiding a Tow only because if we have a Tow....the situation is solved. That is however NOT THE CASE if you lose function of an engine part and are dead in the water.....then (some carry spare parts such as a Starter or Alternator and with Starter you can simply Push Start). If you do not have the Spare Part you are dead in the water even with a Tow until Jerry Delivers (another reason to BLOCK TB Coolant) :p

[secondchance]

GC,
Good discussion. I ended up with the GTO spare since I upgraded to Wilwood brakes. I also had to take off some material from the center hub to fit our cars, but it only took a couple of minutes and a dremel tool. Due to touring around in a foreign country, I want every option available. The insurance that I have includes towing, but not too far. I also have a C5 flat kit with goop and compressor just in case, as well as a plug kit.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171122/1109f37bb31cda85558aa1c9669d7a14.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171122/b727e80f6f5e8afbacce15d274734b3f.jpg


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Hey, Craig!

CTS-V spare looks very similar except in 18" diameter.

[XfireZ51]

The CTS-V/GTO tire option doesn’t really work if ur wheels are size staggered as in the C6Z06 wheels.

[32valvesftw]

Yes are the mounts still there on the underside or were they removed as well ?

The carriers are readily available as are the retaining bolts and oblong rolled pin washer
The mounts appear to be there

[32valvesftw]

Thanks, I definitely do not have those parts in place

[secondchance]

The CTS-V/GTO tire option doesn’t really work if ur wheels are size staggered as in the C6Z06 wheels.

How do you mean? As long as the spare clears the largest rotor and caliper and bolt up staggered size is irrelevant.

[Ronstar]

Daryl,

My doughnut spare had gone flat and also after 20+ years I felt was history. Furthermore, I have gone to 14" Wilwood rotors up front and 13" on the rear plus 6 piston and 4 piston calipers front and rear respectively negating the use of OEM spare.
Luckily, a local former Zr-1 owner had advertised 18" spare that came with CTS-V. I had to have a machine shop enlarge the opening in the center to mate properly to the hub. Worked out to be a perfect solution for my over-sized braking system.
What brake set up do you have on your car?

[Kevin]

I have AAA and my collectors insurance has tow coverage. No way i'm putting a 30 year old spare on and driving on it.

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

I have AAA and my collectors insurance has tow coverage. No way i'm putting a 30 year old spare on and driving on it.



This is an answer I completely agree with!
Why risk it?
Rear tires may take time to find and or order in an emergency, but that would be far less of an imposition than an exploding spare, or simply driving with one 12 inch tire and one 4 inch spare.
If far from home, I'll take a couple of days off while sourcing a replacement.
If closer to home, well that is exactly why I have towing in the first place!
The car is far more important to me than any inconvenience.
My tow is either 100 or 200 miles. Fifty miles on the spare, if it could handle it, would likely still leave me with miles to go.
No thanks, I'll call AAA!
They take me home too!
Marty

[GOLDCYLON]

I have AAA and my collectors insurance has tow coverage. No way i'm putting a 30 year old spare on and driving on it.



Concur which is why I suggested buying new spare rubber. Also that new doughnut may facilitate the car being pulled up onto the flatbed easier if you are a long way from home

[GOLDCYLON]

Hey, Craig!

CTS-V spare looks very similar except in 18" diameter.



Great point Craig... If you though it was hard to find our tires here it must be a real challenge abroad especially for the rears. Yikes


I would have a stack of Summi's just incase. A front and rear throw down pair until I could get what I wanted in an emergency.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey, Craig!



CTS-V spare looks very similar except in 18" diameter.



Hey Yun,

Yes indeed. I can’t remember why I decided on the GTO and do remember looking for both. My cheap azz probably got a good deal on the GTO 17” that I could not refuse.....lol. I don’t have such huge calipers and rotors so it works. As you mentioned to Dom, as long as it clears rotor/caliper and the spare tire diameter is close to same for the rear with posi I think good to go. I got my idea for brake upgrade and spare from you. Thanks again!!!


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[GOLDCYLON]

What brake set up do you have on your car?



I have wildwood 6 piston narrowlites up front and wildwood 4 piston rears. They all fit under a stock 17 inch wheel

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Great point Craig... If you though it was hard to find our tires here it must be a real challenge abroad especially for the rears. Yikes


I would have a stack of Summi's just incase. A front and rear throw down pair until I could get what I wanted in an emergency.



Daryll,

Thanks for your thoughts. For now I’m okay while I have SOFA status and can receive tires/wheels through USPS from Tirerack/Discount Tires Direct, etc. it will cost a first born child after I retire and no longer have a US address.

Yes, I do think about that a lot. The towing here is very expensive too and not being able to communicate well enough. I plan to drive south to meet up with some Z brothers next spring about 6 hour drive so gotta prepare all maintenance. Best wishes and nice to hear you share stock size spare tire replacement option.

[secondchance]

What brake set up do you have on your car?

14" wilwood 2 piece drilled rotors with 6 piston wilwood calipers up front and 13" drilled rotors with 4 piston wilwood calipers on the rear. Separate mechanical spot parking brakes for parking.