Forum Discussion

Beverley_Ken's avatar
Beverley_Ken
Explorer
Dec 27, 2020

Value of Spare Tire and wheel

RV or car. My personal experiences this year. When I replaced the tires on the MH this year, I asked the store owner if I should use one of the 9 yr tires that were 'on the road' or keep using the existing spare 2006 year. He said that it did not matter as long as it was used only as a spare to drive to a tire dealer, for a new tire if needed. He said not to spend the money on a new spare that would probably never be used.
In Sept of this year, Friday evening of the long holiday weekend, I had my flat in 15-20 years. I hit debris on the highway, (it came through the guardrail from an accident on the opposite side). Lucky for me, I had the donut spare and a jack. It got me through until Tuesday when stores/auto recyclers were open and I could by a new tire and WHEEL, the old rim was also destroyed by the debris.
Christmas Day, my friend was coming for a visit and had a tire blow out on the highway. It was a 'run flat tire' and car is not equiped with a spare or a jack. The run flat tire would not run, too badly damaged. CAA/AAA had to tow the car and now it sits, not driveable, until at least Monday, hopefully we can locate a tire then, but with Covid, all none essential store are closed for 4 weeks. Of course these are an oddball sized tire,

Hopefully better luck on Monday
Ken
Class B
  • stickdog's avatar
    stickdog
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    Always good to have a spare cause s*** happens when least expected.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    It looks like the nonessential stores are really essential.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    gbopp wrote:
    It looks like the nonessential stores are really essential.


    my friend in New Jersey owns a print shop. it is essential so they can stay open and print up menus for the restaurants that can't open up.
    way to go gov.
    bumpy
  • Sjm9911's avatar
    Sjm9911
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    Depending on the rv and the size of the tire, i would get a new spare. When i had a pop up the tire size wasn't readily available, and if i got a flat on a long trip i wouldn't want to wait a day or two to get a spare to drive home on. So , its like insurance, you may never need it, but if you do you probably want a newer tire and not a 9 year old one. The decision, and risk is up to you. For me the money for the new spare is cheap insurance for my trip.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2020
    Glad you are ok. I carry two spares for the TT and one for the truck for exactly what happened to you...tire stores closed for Sunday, weekends etc. Nine year old tire wouldn’t be anywhere on my rig.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2020
    gbopp wrote:
    It looks like the nonessential stores are really essential.


    Call a truck tire shop. They are all open. They can get tires 24/7.
  • BarabooBob's avatar
    BarabooBob
    Explorer III
    Dec 27, 2020
    I would never travel without a good spare tire for both my TT and truck. Something that many people forget is that many of the spares hanging on your vehicle are for all practical purposes useless because you have not checked the pressure since you bought the vehicle. I always carry a Viair compressor compressor in my truck for my own use plus to help others. I have used it many times.
  • covered_wagon's avatar
    covered_wagon
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    Related to having the things needed while on the highway, I carried what I call my highway tool kit. However, missing a 9mm socket, I started asking for one any place I went that might have one. Amazingly no one did and O'Reilly's said 'there's very little need for one and no one ever asks for it and we don't sell it'.

    So off to Snap-On tools all decorated inside with shiny new everything imaginable, I asked and the first word was Yep, got it right here.... as if it were the first reason anyone ever shows up at a Snap-On tool wagon. It was funny to say the least.

    Long story short...... sitting along I-5 with the tow truck driver under mt rig at 130 in the morning asks for a 9mm socket and goes on to say he has to disconnect the driveline to be able to tow my rv out of a this dangerous spot..... You got one? I don't, he says.

    Yep, I just happen to have one... gee, I thought, I wonder why?
  • Beverley_Ken's avatar
    Beverley_Ken
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2020
    For the MH, if I were going on a long trip or to remote areas, I would buy a new tire and possibly a jack as well. The truck tires are much easier to come by through road side tire services than car tires, the services around here don't look at car tires on the road side. We have to wait until tomorrow, Monday to see. So the car is still sitting on 3 tires, until a replacement is found.

    Ken
  • Beverley_Ken's avatar
    Beverley_Ken
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2020
    Quick update. Tuesday 29th, found a used tire on the internet and were able to replace the blown tire. Now driveable. New tires not available without a special order for that size, from any tire dealer. They had to be ordered from a warehouse, unknown where. All stating that delivery would be 5-10 business days. This was same response from different tire dealers/tire manufacturers. We are in a major area, Toronto ON. P245/40 18. This is more of a car problem not an RV one where commercial truck tires are used, even with different sizes.

    Ken

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