TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

GOLDCYLON · 11-21-2017

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 · 11-21-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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 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 · 11-21-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by secondchance

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=- · 11-21-2017

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 · 11-21-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=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

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

Ccmano · 11-21-2017

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

henryr · 11-21-2017

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 · 11-21-2017

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 · 11-21-2017

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.

Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

GOLDCYLON · 11-21-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

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

11-21-2017	#1
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,123	TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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 __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V Last edited by GOLDCYLON; 11-21-2017 at 10:32 AM.

11-21-2017	#4
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,155	Re: TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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 __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Shelby Series 1 - Wilwood Brakes Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

11-21-2017	#6
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,843	Re: TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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

11-21-2017	#7
henryr Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Atlanta Posts: 93	Re: TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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

11-21-2017	#8
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,715	Re: TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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.

11-21-2017	#9
lfalzarano Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clayton, North Carolina Posts: 1,133	Re: TOW vs. Spare doughnut a discussion 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. Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry