Anybody remove your spare tire to shed some vehicle weight?
#26
I spend about 20-25 a week for gas too and fill it up exactly to halfway. Right now, it's $20 to get from 1/4 to 1/2. Living in an island, there isn't much long trips and if I need to go on a long drive, I'd fill it up.
On my previous cars, I removed the spare and kept it off because I was just too lazy to haul it back out after Auto-X and track day events. I actually removed the rear seats too but that was probably a bit overkill.
If you don't plan on driving it competitively, I wouldn't bother. I like that peace of mind I can replace a tire if something does happen.*knock on wood*
On my previous cars, I removed the spare and kept it off because I was just too lazy to haul it back out after Auto-X and track day events. I actually removed the rear seats too but that was probably a bit overkill.
If you don't plan on driving it competitively, I wouldn't bother. I like that peace of mind I can replace a tire if something does happen.*knock on wood*
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#29
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i work 5 miles from my house, so it always ends up working out like that, plus i like keepin the car light...
of course if i take a drive after work or am makin moves on the weekend, i go way over $25 which is no issue of course, just a little guideline i like giving myself...
i bought a c class not an s class and i am obviously not rich...
budgets are not a bad thing, even if u have a good amount of cash flow
of course if i take a drive after work or am makin moves on the weekend, i go way over $25 which is no issue of course, just a little guideline i like giving myself...
i bought a c class not an s class and i am obviously not rich...
budgets are not a bad thing, even if u have a good amount of cash flow
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2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
I know it is a bad idea to drive without a spare, but i am just curious.... do any of u drive without your spare to save weight in the vehicle? If you have AAA its not really that big of a deal if u get a flat i guess...
i was lining the inside of my spare compartment with sound dampening material today and was just thinkiing of not putting it back in to save about 50 pounds...
i was lining the inside of my spare compartment with sound dampening material today and was just thinkiing of not putting it back in to save about 50 pounds...
I weighed the spare at 25 lbs, and the related "hold down" hardware at another 5 lbs.
Last edited by kevink2; 09-23-2009 at 04:38 PM.
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I choose to keep my spare tire in my car.
IMHO, even though I have AAA and there is FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance, in my past experiences it can take well over 2 hours for either one (especially the FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance) to get to you (especially on busy weekends or holidays). Also, I regard the "fix" they do on your tire on-site as temporary, with no guarantee how long it will hold up (compared to a proper inside-out patch done at a competent tire shop), and would much rather be riding on a 100% hole-less spare than a temporarily "fixed" tire (of which they probably would use the "fix-a-flat" self-inflating foam stuff that will screw up your TPMS anyway). Not only that, but if your tire can't be repaired, they can only tow you one-way within a certain mile radius (which would in turn basically cancel the plans for the rest of your day... AND you'd have to make separate arrangements to get back home if the tire couldn't be replaced same-day).
With a spare tire, you can mount the tire yourself in minutes (or have AAA or the FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance do it for you IF they can get to you in a reasonable amount of time), and go about your business for the rest of the day, then drive home. Then at your earliest convenience, you could bring your car into a tire shop or dealership and get a new tire, putting your spare back in your trunk. You wouldn't have to cancel ALL your plans for the rest of the day, nor would you be unexpectedly stuck without your car until your tire is replaced.
And as someone mentioned earlier, while the spare tire adds weight to the vehicle, I believe it also contributes to structural rigidity and becomes a force-absorbing obstacle upon rear impact.
IMHO, even though I have AAA and there is FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance, in my past experiences it can take well over 2 hours for either one (especially the FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance) to get to you (especially on busy weekends or holidays). Also, I regard the "fix" they do on your tire on-site as temporary, with no guarantee how long it will hold up (compared to a proper inside-out patch done at a competent tire shop), and would much rather be riding on a 100% hole-less spare than a temporarily "fixed" tire (of which they probably would use the "fix-a-flat" self-inflating foam stuff that will screw up your TPMS anyway). Not only that, but if your tire can't be repaired, they can only tow you one-way within a certain mile radius (which would in turn basically cancel the plans for the rest of your day... AND you'd have to make separate arrangements to get back home if the tire couldn't be replaced same-day).
With a spare tire, you can mount the tire yourself in minutes (or have AAA or the FREE Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance do it for you IF they can get to you in a reasonable amount of time), and go about your business for the rest of the day, then drive home. Then at your earliest convenience, you could bring your car into a tire shop or dealership and get a new tire, putting your spare back in your trunk. You wouldn't have to cancel ALL your plans for the rest of the day, nor would you be unexpectedly stuck without your car until your tire is replaced.
And as someone mentioned earlier, while the spare tire adds weight to the vehicle, I believe it also contributes to structural rigidity and becomes a force-absorbing obstacle upon rear impact.