Has anyone ever used the space-saver spare?

[scotricker]

Do they hold air? I have one , but am I just carrying it around for the extra weight?
What happens if I try to pump it up? Can I get a new tire put on the rim?

[Dueller]

Used mine last year...2 a.m. sidewall blow out on rear. Middle of nowhere on way to parents for Thanksgiving. Had no choice. Held air fine. Limped along at 65-70 mph for 200 miles. Next morning looked at it and it was dry rotted/cracked...scary in hindsight.

Pull it out and inflate/inspect...mine was 21 y.o. If its cracked buy a replacement tire...if its OK, deflate/collapse it and put it back in the trunk if you will be somewhere you can get stranded.

[Winter]

+1.

Take yours out, inflate and inspect. If OK, then deflate and put it back into the car. You're guaranteed to get a flat if you take it out and leave it out.

---

Tom '75 targa

[billroth]

Can you still get replacements?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I don't carry a spare--fuel cell's too big. If I'm going on a trip, I put a full-size tire on a Fuchs in the trunk on top of the fuel cell and carry whatever little luggage I need where the rear seats used to be. If I'm driving locally, I'll call my wife. She can fix anything. I threw out the quarter-century-old collapsible spare.

[SCWDP911]

Unfortunately I too had to use mine last Thanksgiving (weird)... long story short, I had to limp across South Dakota on it (Sioux Falls to Rapid City). I was glad to have it onboard.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Shane Van Wey

Unfortunately I too had to use mine last Thanksgiving (weird)... long story short, I had to limp across South Dakota on it (Sioux Falls to Rapid City). I was glad to have it onboard.

Even weirder...I'm in Jackson, MS.
My car's red also. Parallel universe?

[SCWDP911]

You're in Jackson, MS!? You need to come up for one of our MTFR's! We're only about 5 hours north!

[911pcars]

I drove about 250 miles on my spare following the Monterey Historics a few months ago. LR tire blew. The sidewall says 60mph max. speed. At that speed on the open highway, I was a rolling obstacle. It took about 7 hours including gas and inspection stops along the way to complete the journey home. BTW, if you carry a collapsible spare, don't forget the requisite air compressor.

Sherwood

[jwetering]

I never used the spare in my 911, I stopped carrying altogether at one point. Day to day I carried a can of fix-a-flat. On long trips I took full size 6" fuch with a 205/60 installed in the back seat rally style. Never once blew a tire in my 911 in 12 years.

The other night though I had a flat in my big ass Audi Allroad. I inflated the collapsible spare to the indicated pressure and it wobbled and shook to beat all hell. Drove the 5 miles home and got the flat repaired the next day. I sure wouldn't want to go tripping with one of those.

As a by-the-by...my 996 has one of those mini spare things. One of those would probably work for a 911 better than the collapsible. I remember seeing a show once where they put four mini spares on a Corvette and flogged it for a day. The mini spare performed miraculously well IIRC.

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by jwetering

As a by-the-by...my 996 has one of those mini spare things. One of those would probably work for a 911 better than the collapsible. I remember seeing a show once where they put four mini spares on a Corvette and flogged it for a day. The mini spare performed miraculously well IIRC.

sounds like something the top gear guys would do ...

Anyway took my 32 year old spare out , blew it up and the damn thing looked like brand new ,,, collapsed it and put it back .. hopefull for another 32 years , if it goes then no worries .. I'll already be dead ..

[Hugh R]

I carry an unlimited mileage towing AAA card.

[sdeason1]

I've always been curious about those things. Helped an elderly guy with a 928 that had flatted a while back. I was cringing and semi-arm blocking the 20+ yr old spare as it inflated. It expanded with no problems or bloodshed. Neat.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by billroth

Can you still get replacements?

You can but your tyre place would have to order it. (stating the obvious)

I bet it's expensive!

[SCWDP911]

there was a guy selling them here in classisfieds for $50 I think. Not sure if new/used etc,

I laughed at Sherwood's story about the time. Try doing 400 miles across SD (speed limit 75) doing 40-45 mph. I also was nursing a bent strut as well, but had to get it somewhere ( a lot of middle of nowhere out there). Took me 8 hours with the stops, most of which, like Sherwood's were for my comfort of knowing it wasn't falling apart.

So who has a 996 and can test that one out for us?

[cbush]

I pulled out the one in my 75, inflated it, and despite a little dry rot, it seemed in great shape. I think it would work in a pinch. I cleaned it up, deflated it, and it collapsed just like it should. I think it will be OK for another 30 years. (But yes I keep towing coverage on my insurance as a backup)

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Shane Van Wey

So who has a 996 and can test that one out for us?

you know... A couple years back I had a 987 with no spare (and got a flat) so I bought one of those 986/996 spare wheels... The 987 is gone (dumb move right there) but I still got the wheel... I'm keeping it for my future CaymanS ;-) I could try it on my SC this w/e... I wonder if the acorn nuts are long enough to secure it tightly though.... I have other "open" wheel nuts for my superlites since I have extra studs now, so even if I can get this to work for me, it may not be for everyone! Sounds like a good replacement for the collapsible wheel though, if it works !

[Roc Doc]

I used mine a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised that I had no problems with it, even though it had been unused in my trunk for 30 years! I didn't drive far, but it got me there, and now it's re-collapsed and ready for another flat...in 30 years.

[jwasbury]

I couldn't resist posting this pic of Justin's (aka "juicersr") 934 replica wearing the impossibly skinny space saver. He flatted one of his meaty rears on the way to Carolina Motorsports Park during last summer's "TurboPalooza" gathering. The space saver got him to the track, where a fellow Pelican was able to lend him a set of wheels with track rubber that got him through the day.

[Deschodt]

Reminds me of a WRC car on snow... Same look !