Is there such a thing as a long-lasting spare tyre
Discussion
Hey folks
As per title, a lot of vehicles like vans, pickups & 4x4 have the spare tyre exposed to the elements on the back/under the vehicle.
Is there such a thing as a optimal spare tyre with a compound designed solely to not crack after 10 years of sitting under a vehicle. Had to use the spare on my 4x4 the other day & it was in a sorry state. It seems mad there doesn't appear to be tyres marketed for this at a glance, really don't care how well it grips or how many miles it'll do, just that the compound is hardy.
As per title, a lot of vehicles like vans, pickups & 4x4 have the spare tyre exposed to the elements on the back/under the vehicle.
Is there such a thing as a optimal spare tyre with a compound designed solely to not crack after 10 years of sitting under a vehicle. Had to use the spare on my 4x4 the other day & it was in a sorry state. It seems mad there doesn't appear to be tyres marketed for this at a glance, really don't care how well it grips or how many miles it'll do, just that the compound is hardy.
The market would be limited to those vehicles where the spare isn't already kept out of the elements. Out of all the cars I've owned, only one stored it under the car (where it did indeed get covered in road filth). Every other car has kept it in the frunk, under the floor of the boot or (in the case of the S2000) in a special compartment in the leading edge of the boot. The advantage of the undercar fitment is of course that you can drop it down without unloading the boot. The disadvantage is that thieves can too 
From my experience of spare tyres that have been inside the car, or on a car stored under a cover for years and years, tyres that are not exposed to the elements are still like new (to the eye, at least) after at least 9 years.
Could this be why some 4x4s mount the spare tyre on the boot with a cover to keep it out of the elements?
Anyway, I don't think many would be sold simply because most cars don't keep the spare tyre exposed.
From my experience of spare tyres that have been inside the car, or on a car stored under a cover for years and years, tyres that are not exposed to the elements are still like new (to the eye, at least) after at least 9 years.
Could this be why some 4x4s mount the spare tyre on the boot with a cover to keep it out of the elements?
Anyway, I don't think many would be sold simply because most cars don't keep the spare tyre exposed.
Is the spare a full size matching wheel and tyre?
I rotate my spare round at every oil change on my hilux. Gives me a chance to check the lowering mechanism is working nicely and that the wheel and tyre are in good condition.
I do spend a fair bit of time on very rural roads with limited phone signal so it is quite important that i have a proper spare. In saying that, i've never once had a puncture since i started running BFG ATs (touch wood).
I rotate my spare round at every oil change on my hilux. Gives me a chance to check the lowering mechanism is working nicely and that the wheel and tyre are in good condition.
I do spend a fair bit of time on very rural roads with limited phone signal so it is quite important that i have a proper spare. In saying that, i've never once had a puncture since i started running BFG ATs (touch wood).
donkmeister said:
The market would be limited to those vehicles where the spare isn't already kept out of the elements. Out of all the cars I've owned, only one stored it under the car (where it did indeed get covered in road filth). Every other car has kept it in the frunk, under the floor of the boot or (in the case of the S2000) in a special compartment in the leading edge of the boot. The advantage of the undercar fitment is of course that you can drop it down without unloading the boot. The disadvantage is that thieves can too
These days I think you are doing well to find a car that has any sort of spare! My E46 Compacts had a space-saver stored in a compartment below the boot floor, but you needed to lift the floor to lower the compartment so emptying the boot would still have been required. But then you'd have to clear boot space because the full size wheel with a flat tyre wouldn't fit in the under-floor compartment.
Skinny spares are made with a different type of compound that works better for sitting doing nothing for 20 years. It doesn't have to survive many miles, it does need to be more grippy than a normal tyre, and it needs to be able to survive the temperature cycling, of sitting in or under the boot.
But let's face it, you are only going to use it to get you home.
I once took a "brand new" full sized alloy wheel and tyre out of my boot. That had sat there for 21 years. Looked perfect.
1st bend, I nearly went off the road. It had zero grip. Over the next 500 miles, it was clear that over the 20 years, the tyre had turned to glass.
I was relieved when it went back in the boot.
But let's face it, you are only going to use it to get you home.
I once took a "brand new" full sized alloy wheel and tyre out of my boot. That had sat there for 21 years. Looked perfect.
1st bend, I nearly went off the road. It had zero grip. Over the next 500 miles, it was clear that over the 20 years, the tyre had turned to glass.
I was relieved when it went back in the boot.
Seen plenty of underslung spare wheels on Peugeots that hadn't a chance of coming out, seized solid winders. Used to replace the bolt and hook and liberally grease them to stop the same scenario happening again.
Spare wheel on Discovery 1 and 2 rear door with a protective cover was ideal, even if it did make the door very heavy.
Spare wheel on Discovery 1 and 2 rear door with a protective cover was ideal, even if it did make the door very heavy.
I am sure that if you actually dug through the small print and guidelines you'd find that its reccomended to change your spare tyre after a set time anyway, regardless of use.
That then sort of precludes the tyre manufacturers from seeing a need to make a tyre that doesnt need replacing.
Just like that out-of-date aerosol of squirty tyre foam that so many folk have in their boot - that it also supposed to be replaced after a few years.
Your right though, its an issue.
I bought a dirt cheap shed a few years ago that had needed two tyres for the MOT the seller promised to put on it. As they were tight as a
holes, they took the (original, continental IIRC) but 15 year old never used tyre off the spare, fitted it on one of the rear wheels and a budget black n' round on the other.
An hour after picking it up, I pulled onto the motorway and the first time it span up to 70+mph i suffered what I thought was a blowout - it turned out not to be - the tyres belts had failed internally, and thus is 'ballooned' like motorycycle tyre and completely out of round, massive vibration, nearly spat me off in a spin, I recovered it just, and I ended up on the hard shoulder. The rubber/nylon/cords inside had completely failed - although it didnt lose any pressure.
It was, to be frank, terrifying.
That then sort of precludes the tyre manufacturers from seeing a need to make a tyre that doesnt need replacing.
Just like that out-of-date aerosol of squirty tyre foam that so many folk have in their boot - that it also supposed to be replaced after a few years.
Your right though, its an issue.
I bought a dirt cheap shed a few years ago that had needed two tyres for the MOT the seller promised to put on it. As they were tight as a
holes, they took the (original, continental IIRC) but 15 year old never used tyre off the spare, fitted it on one of the rear wheels and a budget black n' round on the other. An hour after picking it up, I pulled onto the motorway and the first time it span up to 70+mph i suffered what I thought was a blowout - it turned out not to be - the tyres belts had failed internally, and thus is 'ballooned' like motorycycle tyre and completely out of round, massive vibration, nearly spat me off in a spin, I recovered it just, and I ended up on the hard shoulder. The rubber/nylon/cords inside had completely failed - although it didnt lose any pressure.
It was, to be frank, terrifying.
Seems a common problem then with no solution other than replace every few years. I daily a van (Nissan nv200) and unfortunately the spare is a steel which doesn’t match the alloys, so would rather not rotate. Wheel is stored on a hung cage underneath the rear.
It just seems weird that such a huge market if particularly commercial vehicles have exposed spares but nobody has came out with a product to suit, particularly as the rubber compounds definitely exist on space savers that last an eternity.
It just seems weird that such a huge market if particularly commercial vehicles have exposed spares but nobody has came out with a product to suit, particularly as the rubber compounds definitely exist on space savers that last an eternity.
Wrap the tyre/wheel in a thick black bag leaving the valve poking through for the odd time someone might check pressure.
Sign of the times that seemingly no one (bar the above pick up driver) has the nous to lower the spare now and again and grease the lowering cable mechanism and/or bolts as necessary.
Sign of the times that seemingly no one (bar the above pick up driver) has the nous to lower the spare now and again and grease the lowering cable mechanism and/or bolts as necessary.
Calite said:
Seems a common problem then with no solution other than replace every few years.
But the thing is, it isn't a common problem, certainly not common enough for a company big enough to offer a solution, or they would.There aren't really that many cars that do this now & that leaves vans/commercials & as they are primarily owned/driven by companies, they will always just have to pay for a new tyre every 10 years ish if unused.
Any owner/driver who doesn't look after the deployment process for the spare deserves the failure when/if it happens.
It is only the equivalent to periodically checking the spare tyre pressure in a car.
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