Do you drive with your spare in?

[PorscheGuy79]

I was wondering how many of you drive around on the road without your spare tire? Ive heard that the roadside jack is dangerous and I also know that it helps to have weight over the wheels. Does the lack of the tire affect handling? Anyway I have AAA so im not too worried about changing the flat roadside, as much as I like to DIY roadside changes arnt the safest. Another good question would be if you take it out on the track, I assume most do? Your thoughts. Thanks.

[frencjas]

No spare tire in mine, although 90% of my cars use is at the track.

[84porsche]

I definitely keep it in but I don't think I will ever use it. My roadside jack is actually in 2 pieces now because it broke while attempting to jack up the car but I do know they work fairly decent. However, my car has to be pretty high up to attempt to change a tire on the road which is all the more reason why I have AAA and would happily use it in a case of damaged tire.

[curlesw]

I've had two flats in the past 1.5 years...glad I had mine.

v/r
Wayne C.
83 SC

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I dont run it. I don't like the way it makes the front end feel. In my case (83 SC) the steering response seems better, and it just feels better to me...

[unclebilly]

My car never came with one and since the car has 17's (different front and back) there's not much point. I guess I could limp home if I had to and if I had one...

[Jack Olsen]

Knock on wood. I've never had a flat tire. I keep meaning to get one of those compressed air and adhesive things, but I don't carry a spare or a jack.

[porsche356a]

Hmm... never thought of the 17'" thing...

So, I assume my spare is useless because I have 17's and Big Reds?

If so, let me know and save a few pounds

[Zeke]

Carry a spare. The AAA is not happy to take your flat and fix it and bring it back. They will tow the car instead.

84, use a scissors jack under the ball joint or under the trailing arm. You only have to jack up the car 2 inches to make the switch. Get a scissors at the junk yard.

[ChrisBennet]

Supposedly the spare is part of the crash structure. My region requires that they be left in for Driver Ed events unless the car has a cage.
-Chris

[Jgordon]

Chris, that's pretty interesting - first that it's a part of the structure, second that you know that. I wonder how it works - just as a crumple zone of some kind?

[Mike Bonkalski]

I need to have the spare in. The battery strap on the passenger side battery box is broke and the tire is the only think holding the battery in place.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by Jgordon
Chris, that's pretty interesting - first that it's a part of the structure, second that you know that. I wonder how it works - just as a crumple zone of some kind?

It used to be in the tech inspection requirements though I can't find it anymore. I know we always require it when I'm working a tech line. Sorry I don't know the original source of that info.
-Chris

[KFC911]

I carry a can of Fix-A-Flat instead. Since upgrading to 930 brakes, mine is worthless as the spare will not fit. Even prior to that...if a rear goes flat, as I recall, you'd need to transfer a front tire to the rear, and run the spare up front...a PITA if ya ask me.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I own a heavy 10 wheel truck so I'm no stranger to picking up a nail or ?. With it I'm always checking the tires and most of the time can pull a nail before it get's too deep causing a leak.

This habbit has crossed over to all my cars, though it's not easy on the 911 to see the tread surface.
If you've been someplace like a construction site it might pay to have a good look to see if you picked up anything.

And if you see a nail that looks deeply embedded don't pull it with out checking with some water or spit that it isn't going to leak air.

Most of the time if you keep an eye on your tires you'll notice one low on air that will indicate it has a leak. With the 911 you almost have to check their pressure with a gauge, which I do before going on a run that's out in the sticks.

If you keep an eye on your tires you can usually have them fixed before they go flat on you.
If you do get a flat, pick a safe place off the road to change it even if you have to ruin a tire to get there.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Zeke
Carry a spare. The AAA is not happy to take your flat and fix it and bring it back. They will tow the car instead.

84, use a scissors jack under the ball joint or under the trailing arm. You only have to jack up the car 2 inches to make the switch. Get a scissors at the junk yard.

Ditto here. I carry a spare and a scissors jack. The original factory jack is a death trap..

[CBRacerX]

This works since the car is converted to 993/996 offset wheels (993 Cups). Once big brakes go on, I might be in trouble, unless I use 993 brakes...

[MotoSook]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
Supposedly the spare is part of the crash structure. My region requires that they be left in for Driver Ed events unless the car has a cage.
-Chris

This came up a looong time ago. There is no good data out there that supports the theory that the spare is an integral part of the crash worthiness of the 911.

I will be very pissed at a DE if I am prevented from running by a tech inspector for not having my spare in place. That tech inspector better have engineering data to support the requirement.

To take that further...what about cars with fuel cells? Are they required to duck tape a spare on top of the fuel cell? Hell no...so the PCA tech inspectors/committee better get it right...and apply it across the board. AND THEY BETTER HAVE GOOD TECH DATA!

Sorry Chris, I'm not targeting you personally, but I think this is more myth than fact. I have a feeling it is one of those ideas that has seen little challenge, and thus has grown into an acceptable myth/fact by the general public (911 owners).

I run w/o my spare in one 911, and with my spare in the other (merely a convenient storage space). I carry two cans of Fix-a-flat in my road emergency kit (goes with me which ever 911 I drive). You can also buy a tire plug kit that will help incase of a large puncture in the thread...never try to fix a damaged sidewall.

[chrisp]

I think in general if the option is there to keep something OEM then they prefer that DE drivers do this. It's sort of a CYA. They can then blame the original structure/manufacturer rather than have their tech regulations be challenged.

[MotoSook]

Chrisp: I can see why some regions might have that opinion, but I don't agree (it's a piss poor way to operate...do it right and you won't have to worry about C'ingYA). There are a lot of things we do to our cars, including brake changes that deviate from stock. Like I stated above, the PCA tech inspectors/committee better get it right and apply it across the board. They are after all "tech inspectors!" Not myth inspectors or CYA auditors.

Boy I'm spending a lot of time on this box...but WTF! Bring proof or stay at home.