Can the Collapsible spare be removed and replaced with a conventional tire?

[flash75]

I had a flat tire Sunday and had to use the 26 year old collapsible spare. I
was about 10 miles from home and kept my speed below 40 mph because I
don't trust tires of any kind that old. I'm asking the question because the
owners manual reads the tire cannot be change by a tire shop and must be
done by the factory, that is how I read it.


The wheel seems to be a standard J type rim and it seems a conventional tier
should work. The size of the old tire is 165/15. I need to check a tire size
calculator to determine which narrow tire will be a close match my road tires.

I realize it would not fit in the storage compartment but that isn't a serious problem.

Thanks for your help

Clifton 86, NA 944

[Volhv]

Good question.
When I bough my 944, it did not have a spare. It still does not.
A 15 inch cookie cutter should be easily sourced. That would definitely be a good thing to carry. If not in the trunk, in the seat behind the passenger seat....

[FrenchToast]

I don't know if you can mount a modern tire on that wheel. I believe you need to redo the valve area, convert it to a normal valve stem and weld the remaining hole.

I would look into finding a narrow spare wheel off of a newer Porsche (like a 17x4 or 3 or something) and fitting a little donut to it. That way, although it won't fit in the well it should be very slim with a 105-125 width tire or so. A lot of new cars run these very narrow spares that are proper rolling diameter (or very close) so the car isn't driving around lobsided.

As an example I'm taking new spares for Audis. Some that I've seen are 19" wheels (believe it or not) with a 105/50/19 on it or something. I think some of the newer Porsches, like a 996 or newer, should have a 17" donut that should be a similar width.

Take care!

[9FF]

I just tried the 105/95/17 from my 996 in there and it fits fully inflated. You will have to do something creative with the carpeting but at least you will have a compatible wheel for 17/18" wheels.

Should be a few available at some of the big breakers, dcauto etc.

[Catamax944]

Porsche did also offer them with a full size tire. I don't see why a normal tire would not fit the rim , people also do it all the time with the 951 spare wheels on outlaw 356's . I have heard though that the collapsible tire is very hard to remove.

Originally Posted by 9FF

You will have to do something creative with the carpeting but at least you will have a compatible wheel for 17/18" wheels.

Just get a full size spare rear carpet , these were found in many 924/early 944's and even some late 944's . It must have been some king of option to have a full size spare at the time.
I have this type of carpet in mine ,got it a few months ago ,for now i use it to carry some extra tools in there but in the future i would like to install an LPG system and hide the tank in there.
Here is a picture of one ,this is the early version with the seam around the hump , in late cars they were completely molded with no seam,that's how mine is.

[Catamax944]

found a pic of a full size spare

[Catamax944]

Originally Posted by flash75

I had a flat tire Sunday and had to use the 26 year old collapsible spare. I
was about 10 miles from home and kept my speed below 40 mph because I
don't trust tires of any kind that old. I'm asking the question because the
owners manual reads the tire cannot be change by a tire shop and must be
done by the factory, that is how I read it.


The wheel seems to be a standard J type rim and it seems a conventional tier
should work. The size of the old tire is 165/15. I need to check a tire size
calculator to determine which narrow tire will be a close match my road tires.

I realize it would not fit in the storage compartment but that isn't a serious problem.

Thanks for your help

Clifton 86, NA 944

I would like to add that you are absolutely right not trusting a tire that old.
This is how mine looked when i inflated it the first and only time .

[emoore924]

ewww.

I think your spare tire needs a spare tire.

[Stephen03]

I had to use mine a few weeks back... looked brand new. still had the grease where it folds up.

[Guest765]

That grease is what kept it from rotting, you're lucky for that.

Also, I am told the spare tire rim is part of the crash safety/crumple zone design so be sure to replace it if you do remove it.

[flash75]

I had the old tire removed today and installed a 165-80R 15 tire on the wheel. I found a
big tire shop wouldn't touch it. I went to a small shop I have used in the past and it took
less than 5 min. to remove the tire.

Only found 2 places with a tire, rather costly for a low grade tire. I took it and wheel back
to the small shop and they had it on and balanced in less than 5 min.

There is only one hole for the valve stem. I did note the wheel has no DOT markings on
but the wheel seems very well built.

I'll try to post a couple of photos

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by 9FF

I just tried the 105/95/17 from my 996 in there and it fits fully inflated. You will have to do something creative with the carpeting but at least you will have a compatible wheel for 17/18" wheels.

Nice find! Do they come in silver and black too? Maybe if anyone is interested you could post the part number. Also a great option for those running Big Reds, or other brakes over which the 951 spare won't fit.

Nice foam block in there - is that a 996 piece? Looks like it uses an identical jack and lug wrench. The 944 pieces might just fit well in that block!

Originally Posted by Catamax944

Porsche did also offer them with a full size tire.

Huh. Interesting. Thought that was only on the 4-lug 924's, but apparently not!

Originally Posted by Catamax944

This is how mine looked when i inflated it the first and only time .

That isn't just the sidewall styling?

Originally Posted by flash75

Never seen it sans tire, neat.

Originally Posted by flash75

There is only one hole for the valve stem. I did note the wheel has no DOT markings on
but the wheel seems very well built.

Its really a two piece wheel, the center is welded in four spots into the rim. Might be good for under 55mph, but not something I would take to the track. The 951 and 968 spare is one piece however, I think, don't know.

For 9FF and others who have put the full sizer in there - can the wheel still be bolted down with the eye bolt and washer? Is there enough room in the offset zinc washer? EDIT: just looked, there's two receiver holes for it (welded nuts). The upper one must be for the full sizers!

Take care!

[9FF]

Quote de 9FF

I just tried the 105/95/17 from my 996 in there and it fits fully inflated. You will have to do something creative with the carpeting but at least you will have a compatible wheel for 17/18" wheels.

Nice find! Do they come in silver and black too? Maybe if anyone is interested you could post the part number. Also a great option for those running Big Reds, or other brakes over which the 951 spare won't fit.



Nice foam block in there - is that a 996 piece? Looks like it uses an identical jack and lug wrench. The 944 pieces might just fit well in that block!

The foam insert is part of the 996 spare, it holds the jack and tool kit all inside the wheel. Will easily clear big brakes as per 996 range. I'll check the part number when I get home.

[RedBaron]

...So does a 996 jack end up fitting a 944?

[racer]

Certain countries require a FULL SIZE spare, so yes, Porsche would have offered that in some countries. In fact, I have seen for 997's a "full size" spare tire conversion kit that uses up one of the rear seats to hold it (997's have no trunk space).

And, as mentioned, it can be an issue with the carpets, but that may be worth living with if it gets you a spare you can trust.

[Brozoar]

Originally Posted by emoore924

ewww.

I think your spare tire needs a spare tire.

Lol.

9FF, I like your solution; I was thinking of doing the same thing with my spare 15" phonedial.

Of course, now that I know that there is carpeting out there to accommodate the full-size wheel, I may not. But yeah, if you look at the part of the rear panel into which the spare retaining bolt screws, there are two different threaded holes; one of them is for the space saver, the other for the full-size spare.

Edit: Oh nevermind, you already looked. =P