A Simple Little Flat Tire.

[G-Man]

Sat night, daughter calls from train station around 10 PM says she's got a flat tire.  I was there in less than 5 minutes (2.5 miles away from home).  She's actually a block away from the train station and the front right tire is down.  Her car has no spare.  Comes with kit that includes a bottle of tire sealant and an air compressor.  I hooked her all up and we watched the sealant go into the tire and waited for the compressor to inflate the tire.  Tire got up to 25 lbs of pressure and would go any further.  So I disconnected to drive a little and circulate the sealant but as soon as I removed the air hose the tire dropped all the way back down.  I tried to drive a little anyway to circulate and try again but It was no good.  Didn't want to damage a rim over a flat.

SO I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR A FLAT TIRE ! ! ! ! ! 

Insurance company is gonna get hit with a bill for a couple hundred dollars to tow me 2.5 miles because this car didn't come with a spare. 

So, Sunday, daughter calls local chain tire shop and they say tire will be there at 1:PM on Monday.  I jack the car and pull the wheel and rest the car on a jack stand.  Screw dug in at the very inside part of the tread and then a crack in sidewall below the screw, probably from the block she drove the car before realizing. 

Monday afternoon I bring wheel to tire shop and they don't have the tire or the the order.  Says 3 days for this tire.

Local Fiat dealer doesn't have the tire.  Says 3 days at least for this tire.  Fiat dealer 25 miles away has tire.  Appt made to buy tire and put on rim for 7:00 AM Tuesday.  Daughter took my car this morning, left at 6:00 to get in line at dealers service area (was told by dealer they start lining up at 7:00 for an 8:00 opening).

Then she has to bring the wheel home so I can get the car off the jack stand.

4 days of inconvenience because the car didn't come with a spare.  So, I just bought an OEM spare and jack (no jack either with the car) package for $300 for her car.  We could have been on the road in 15 minutes, instead it's been a 4 day ordeal, over a flat tire.

BTW, my Dodge Challenger has no spare and comes with the exact same sealer/inflater kit the Fiat came with.  Gonna start looking into a spare for that car as well.  Aaaaand I better check out the wife's new CRV to see what she has.

   F'ing flat tire!

[Jess from VA]

My ex is and has always been very (very) fit.

(Soon after her coming to this country and getting her license) I explained to her that being able to change a tire is an absolute requirement for anyone who drives a car, all genders included (barring old age or infirmity).  I took her out in the drive, and proceeded to show her the spare, jack, jack placement, checking for level, full size four-way (I throw away tire irons), and how to do the whole job, easy and safe.

Fast forward to her first flat, years later:  

I have a flat tire in the parking garage.

So change it, you know how.

I don't want to.

You can take a cab home ($45), and ride up with me in the morning, but it will still be flat.

You won't change it.

I'll be in a $300 suit, no I won't (she's in jeans).

Who can I call?

Anyone you like.

Silence................................. (and anger)

Yep, I'm single now.  

Does any new car come without a spare (or stupid donut)?

 

[3fan4life]

I've heard about new cars coming with Fix A Flat instead of a spare.

Most mechanics that I know don't like changing a tire that has been filled with the stuff.

A plug kit and a small air compressor might be a better way to go for an emergency repair.

I keep this one from Harbor Freight in my saddlebag:



https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-100-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-69284.html

It's pretty strong, I used it to pump up a front tire on a full size p/u that was completely flat once.

I'm pretty sure that the wife's Camry has a spare but I'll have to check now.

[Daniel Meyer]

The wife's new Jeep normally isn't equipped with a spare. Yep, a pump and bottle of sealant.

Told 'em, "If ya want me to buy it, you'll put a full sized matching real tire with matching mag wheel."

"We can't do that. There's a spare kit we can order with a donut."

"Was I in ANY way unclear?"

I got my matching real tire and mag wheel, that evening, no cost.

[Gryphon Rider]

A year ago I bought a 2005 Grand Caravan with Stow 'n Go seats.  The spare tire is accessed from under the van, below the two front seats.  I've not yet checked how hard it is to pull out, and I have no idea whether it has enough pressure to run on.  I think some Saturday morning I'll have to have a family meeting out in the garage to go through the process of replacing a wheel with the spare.  My kids are almost 13 and 16, so they're going to have to know soon enough, and chances are that if my wife has a flat, one or both of them will be with her if I'm not.  Hopefully they'll be able to get the job done as a team.

[Jess from VA]

So we have to put up with awful expensive and unreliable computers and black boxes and air bags and all manner of expensive safety fanatic stuff, but all we need is a bottle of sealant and a pump?  They might as well throw in a loud whistle.

Hopefully, if you fail to use the sealant and pump, your warranty isn't voided.


Gryph, in addition to replacing a crappy tire iron with a good size 4-way (sometimes those lug nuts are on so tight, the effort required to break them loose is beyond what a weaker person can do with a tire iron.  And jumping on a 4-way is doable, but not a tire iron), I've always found it a good idea to include an old sheet or drop cloth or a couple big lawn and leaf bags (or even a big oversize pair of clean old coveralls).  And it's my experience that spares stored in hard to reach places are always sitting on 11lbs of air.  

[Moonshot_1]

Don't knock the donut spare. In the middle of a cold winter night with a flat do you really want to horse around two full sized tires? Gonna have to fix the flat one anyway. Just handle a lightweight spare to get you to your destination and then to the tire fix'em up shop. Think of the daughter on a cold dark road horsing around a couple 30# tires and trying to lift one onto the lugs.

[G-Man]

The wife's new Jeep normally isn't equipped with a spare. Yep, a pump and bottle of sealant.

Told 'em, "If ya want me to buy it, you'll put a full sized matching real tire with matching mag wheel."

"We can't do that. There's a spare kit we can order with a donut."

"Was I in ANY way unclear?"

I got my matching real tire and mag wheel, that evening, no cost.

That's the kit I just bought.  Fits the Jeep and the Fiat 500X (same corporation).

[G-Man]

Don't knock the donut spare. In the middle of a cold winter night with a flat do you really want to horse around two full sized tires? Gonna have to fix the flat one anyway. Just handle a lightweight spare to get you to your destination and then to the tire fix'em up shop. Think of the daughter on a cold dark road horsing around a couple 30# tires and trying to lift one onto the lugs.

I agree.  Lightweight donut is the way to go.  Makes you get the primary tire fixed right away and you're off an running in 15 minutes.

[Gryphon Rider]

Gryph, in addition to replacing a crappy tire iron with a good size 4-way (sometimes those lug nuts are on so tight, the effort required to break them loose is beyond what a weaker person can do with a tire iron.  And jumping on a 4-way is doable, but not a tire iron), I've always found it a good idea to include an old sheet or drop cloth or a couple big lawn and leaf bags (or even a big oversize pair of clean old coveralls).  And it's my experience that spares stored in hard to reach places are always sitting on 11lbs of air.  

All good ideas.

I bought the van in winter, and the PO included a set of winter tires mounted on rims.  I wondered why they weren't on the van already; I figured he was just lazy so I didn't say anything at the time.  When I tried to remove the summer tires with a 4-way lug wrench, the nuts wouldn't budge.   I ended up using a 6 foot long piece of pipe as a snipe on the 4-way, and it still required a bit of force to loosen the nuts.  No wonder he hadn't put the winter tires on himself; he couldn't get the summer tires off!

Sunday afternoon I was helping a single mom from church whose 2002 Ford Windstar's washer fluid pump wasn't working.  The fluid jug and pumps are hidden in front of the right front wheel well, so I wanted to remove the wheel to get better access.  I couldn't do it.  I used the same pipe to loosen the lug nuts (They each released with a BANG!), but the wheel wouldn't come off of the hub.  Rather than take the time to figure a way to pop it free, I just turned the wheel hard to the right, which gave me enough room.

[f6john]

No Corvette since at least 1997 has been equipped with a spare of any kind. They all came equipped with run flats except for the C5Z06 that came with Goodyear “Supercar” tires and those models did get sealant and an inflator.

[Oss]

I have that same compressor, it works great !   

Use it weekly when checking the tire pressures in my vehicles

Also have a led headlamp so I dont have to hold a flashlight when working at night/

Gary get a plug kit and a compressor anyway. 
Most car   *  tire flats can be fixed once you can find where the air is escaping. 

not a car tire lol

[Pete]

I do not know how many times I have seen the same car running the mini-spare for days on end. The other day I saw a car with 2 mini-spares running down the road.

So much for reading and following the directions.

[Daniel Meyer]

Don't knock the donut spare. In the middle of a cold winter night with a flat do you really want to horse around two full sized tires? Gonna have to fix the flat one anyway. Just handle a lightweight spare to get you to your destination and then to the tire fix'em up shop. Think of the daughter on a cold dark road horsing around a couple 30# tires and trying to lift one onto the lugs.

I agree.  Lightweight donut is the way to go.  Makes you get the primary tire fixed right away and you're off an running in 15 minutes.

I have, never, (except on the Valk) had a flat during working hours where I could just toodle the little donut at 50mph to the shop less than 30 miles away. Always been deep nights, weekends, holidays, or in the middle of nowhereland for me. Just my luck (or what I use my cages for) I suppose.

Nope. Full sized tire for me please.

[Jess from VA]

Gryph, in addition to replacing a crappy tire iron with a good size 4-way (sometimes those lug nuts are on so tight, the effort required to break them loose is beyond what a weaker person can do with a tire iron.  And jumping on a 4-way is doable, but not a tire iron), I've always found it a good idea to include an old sheet or drop cloth or a couple big lawn and leaf bags (or even a big oversize pair of clean old coveralls).  And it's my experience that spares stored in hard to reach places are always sitting on 11lbs of air.  

All good ideas.

I bought the van in winter, and the PO included a set of winter tires mounted on rims.  I wondered why they weren't on the van already; I figured he was just lazy so I didn't say anything at the time.  When I tried to remove the summer tires with a 4-way lug wrench, the nuts wouldn't budge.   I ended up using a 6 foot long piece of pipe as a snipe on the 4-way, and it still required a bit of force to loosen the nuts.  No wonder he hadn't put the winter tires on himself; he couldn't get the summer tires off!

Sunday afternoon I was helping a single mom from church whose 2002 Ford Windstar's washer fluid pump wasn't working.  The fluid jug and pumps are hidden in front of the right front wheel well, so I wanted to remove the wheel to get better access.  I couldn't do it.  I used the same pipe to loosen the lug nuts (They each released with a BANG!), but the wheel wouldn't come off of the hub.  Rather than take the time to figure a way to pop it free, I just turned the wheel hard to the right, which gave me enough room.

When it's time for cage tires (2 or 4), most of us go the store of our choice and get them; mounted and balanced and new valve stems (but I never buy road hazard).  And I always say.... guys I want the lugs tight, but please don't lean on the air gun so I need Hercules to get the bastards off.  This seems to have no effect whatsoever.  I suppose it's the old liability issue.  Add 12-18 months of driving on them by the time you get a flat, and those lugs are always a SOB.  Who actually thinks about coming home from the tire store and immediately loosening and resetting the lugs to only 80lbs (instead of 1k lbs).

I have to take the battery out of my Dodge through the wheel well.  I'd like to smash the guy who came up with that idea.  Automotive batteries need to be accessible for many reasons, and the little jumper extensions are nice but no help to zero out an engine light, or simply to check your battery/cables for corrosion and snug.  I don't have to pull the wheel, just turn it to the lock, but I do have to lay on my back and remove 15 bitty screws holding in the knockout panel.  And still have to remove the airbox and other things up top too.  I think auto engineers think if they don't make things more complicated and difficult, they aren't doing their job.  Just like government employees.  

And don't you just know that the first time I needed a new battery in that car, I bought a near top of the line, high CCA, battery, spent the hour to get it all in and the knockout all screwed back in, and the new battery was crap and had to be returned/replaced.  That'll teach me not to check it out before buttoning everything all back together.  On the upside, I got to do it twice in one day, so now I can do it in 35 minutes instead of an hour.  
Rant off.

[Bigwolf]

Gryph, in addition to replacing a crappy tire iron with a good size 4-way (sometimes those lug nuts are on so tight, the effort required to break them loose is beyond what a weaker person can do with a tire iron.  And jumping on a 4-way is doable, but not a tire iron), I've always found it a good idea to include an old sheet or drop cloth or a couple big lawn and leaf bags (or even a big oversize pair of clean old coveralls).  And it's my experience that spares stored in hard to reach places are always sitting on 11lbs of air.  

+1  Good advice there.  Also, I like to keep a pair of gloves and a light in my "road kit".  A light that can be recharged from 12 volt auto system is best in case you forget to regularly change/charge batteries for the light.  I prefer a light that attaches to ball cap or head.

For several years now, nearly all shops dealing with tires/wheels have had to use torque limiting equipment to install lug nuts.  If they don't, they run a serious risk of damaging the wheel, rotor, and/or hub.  If you are having to use an inordinate amount of force to remove lug nuts, you might want to verify that your shop is using the proper torque specs and equipment.  Torque settings on larger vehiclse can be substantial.  The setting for my Suburban is 110 ft lbs.

Full size spare on the correct rim for me.  The donut tires put a serious strain on suspension and gears and reduce handling.  Plug kit is great if weather is fitting and the tire is plug-able.

Bigwolf

[semo97]

Just wait a few yrs. and a full spare will be back. I have seen it from donuts to a can of sealant back to full spares. It is just a circle thing. Just complain to the dealers and manufacturers. I was buying my wife a new 85 impala it had a donut, before I signed for it I looked at the spare and said no deal I want a full sized tire that matches. I got one. I have seen the low riders/cruisers with all for donuts.

[cookiedough]

a new 2014 hyundai accent only had the sealant and air compressor, NO spare tire at all.  So, I went with the 20134 hyundai sonata.  some of the smaller or cheaper cars nowadays do not offer a donut or any type of tire.  I have no issues with a smaller tire/donut if you will since suppose to drive say under 50 mph and can be on it for weeks if need be. 

One thing I have always wondered and puzzled me in any type of spare tire is from the factory all new vehicles have the spare tire whether in the trunk or down under the car/suv/truck the valve stem facing the opposite direction you need to get at it.  So,  how the heck you suppose to check EASILY the spare tire air pressure without removing the spare tire?  DUMB!!!

[old2soon]

The donut in my 94 Oldsmobile looks like it mite could fit good on the back of my Phatt Ghurl. Udder den da speed restriction thingy!  I was out east Somewhere and I had a flat bed trailer so I already had a 7 foot cheater pipe. Damsel in distress and I pulled over and gonna help da nice lady. Little did I know at the outset how cursed wrong I were gonna be bout dat situation. Was I believe a smaller chevy something and she had a 4 way and before I attempted to loosen her lugs I dropped the jack some the lady had gotten the right rear up prior to my arrival. Tried to loosen the lug(s) and met no joy. Went to my truck box and got my 7 foot cheater pipe. After dropping a LOT of sweat and Still no joy I asked damsel-you got towing? Yup sez she and I sez call someone and after she got someone I splained to the guy what I was up against. The service truck that showed up could and did normally change out wheel/tires on semis. Two lug nuts came off and two broke. AND dats when I departed. But the service guy told me before I left that chit happens a lot-way too tight lug nuts,  RIDE SAFE

[cookiedough]

that being said about too tight of lug nuts, the opposite happened to me and I did it just tightening up the lug nuts on my wifes SUV just REALLY HARD and what I thought tight by a socket set, NO 4-way figured it was tight enough.  1 week later the wife complained the front made noise when braking.  So, found that odd so checked and some of the front tire lug nuts were not tight at all almost enough to loosen by hand. 

from here on out I use a 4-way to tightened until the lug nuts creak a tad knowing they are tight.

[Jess from VA]

I was performing my first (W-2) job as a pump jockey for a Mobile station, riding shotgun in the station truck going on a service call down Fort Street in Trenton MI, when the front left tire fell off and dropped the hub to the pavement at about 45 MPH.  That was exciting.  The tire continued on straight down the street for about 75 yards, then made a perfect left on a side street and out of sight.  

It was later determined that the guy who had changed that tire the day before never got past finger tightening (and was fired for it).  I knew it was not me; at 16 and the FNG, I was not yet trusted with lug nuts.  I was trusted with sprinting down Fort, making a left, and retrieving the tire before someone made off with it.  The lug nuts were never recovered.

[Ramie]

Years ago when my daughter was still living with us she left around 10:30 at night to go out with some friends.  I got a call about 10 minutes after she left saying she got a flat tire on the freeway and there were all types of cops around.  Turns out she got caught in a stop strip the sheriff threw out trying to stop a suspect who had robbed a convenience store down the road.  The guy had ditched his car in the ditch about 50 yards from where my daughter stopped and they were still looking for him.  When I got there they had a helicopter searching for him with heat seeking radar and one the sheriff cars had pulled up behind my daughter to protect her.  The Sheriff got out a floor jack, changed her tire for her then gave her some papers that said the county would pay for a new tire.  They did, brand new $160 tire.

[Daniel Meyer]

Mmm...I don't "get" the too-tight/too loose lug thing...any reputable shop torques them to spec (different for alloy vs steel as well)...and if ya do it on the road, you should check the torque when ya get it home (or they will at the shop when you get the repair).

I've been doing this for like...35 years...and the shops I use even record the torques. I won't use one (except in an emergency) that doesn't do this rather fundamental and basic thing...

[solo1]

Thanks for reminding me.  My Miata has a donut spare. I need to get a breakover bar to use instead of that poor excuse for a wrench.  Unfortunately, if I have a flat on the rear I will have to transfer the front wheel tire onto the back and put the donut on the front. The Miata has a Torsen rear limited slip and Miata says don't drive with tires of unequal size on the rear.

[G-Man]

I have that same compressor, it works great !   

Use it weekly when checking the tire pressures in my vehicles

Also have a led headlamp so I dont have to hold a flashlight when working at night/

Gary get a plug kit and a compressor anyway. 
Most car   *  tire flats can be fixed once you can find where the air is escaping. 

not a car tire lol

The car comes with an air compressor and a bottle of sealant.  The compressor is staying with the car, just adding a donut, jack, and tire iron.  I have plugs in the garage in one of the saddlebags.

Been looking for a spare for the Challenger but they don't make a donut that I can find for my model.  I don't think a full size rim and tire will fit in the wheel well of the trunk as the wheel/tire is so big and fat.  I may have to invent a smaller spare by getting a narrower 20" rim and narrower tire to use in a pinch.  I can't find a smaller rim that will fit over the front brakes, so I am told by every customer service person at several wheel sellers.  They don't even make a plain old steel wheel that will fit this car.  But it does also come with that bottle of sealant and air compressor.

[northernvalk]

  Torque Wrenches Were invented for a reason and steel/thread torque values have been calculated by engineers.........Over torquing is a MAJOR problem and will cause lugs to break...... Use the right tool for the job and this won't be a problem. Also, INSIST on seeing the RECORDED torque values from ALL service shops after getting your vehicle serviced, different rim designs and materials call for VERY different numbers.  My Ram Truck steel rims call for 180lb but my friends subaru alloys call for only 80 lb max so over torquing in VERY easy!!! Know your numbers and USE THEM!!!!!!!

[Gryphon Rider]

My Grand Caravan's lug nuts are made with aluminum (or maybe stainless?) covers on them that help them stay nice-looking.  The problem is, it doesn't take much rust on the underlying steel nut between the nut and the cover to cause them to swell enough that a proper socket can't fit on them.  That prevents using a torque wrench on them.  The lug wrench that comes with the van will still fit, as will my cast steel 4-way lug wrench, though even the 4-way needs to be wiggled onto some of the nuts, so I'm restricted to using my calibrated elbows to set the torque.  I'm not worried, but I'm the kind of guy that likes to do things the right way.  What I need is a slightly over-sized 3/4" or 19mm socket, like 25/32" or 19.5mm.

[Psychotic Bovine]

My 1978 Datsun 280z (no, it wasn't new, I'm not that old!) had a folding spare.  It was this wheel with what looked like a very low profile tire on it.  It came with a large bottle of co2, and when inflated the sidewalls would unfold and POOF, a tire!  I, thankfully, never had to use it.
Anyway, I picked up a 2002 CRV for my "winter" car, since my Accord coupe is still pristine (2008, but doesn't go in snow very well).  I wish the new CRV's had the spare on the back door like the old ones.  You don't have to unload the cargo to access it, and it's a full size spare.
I can't believe cars come with sealant.  I have heard that a tire is irreparable if sealant is used (not sure if this is true).  Anyway, a plug and compressor seems like a better idea.

[Jess from VA]

I'm surprised these new cars don't come with nothing but a small container  "Open in case of flat tire."

You open it, and it's a dime for a pay phone.

Ha. There's still dimes.  But there are no pay phones, and even if there were, they wouldn't be a dime.

[Skinhead]

I bought a new to me Pontiac Vibe (Toyota Matrix) in December, and when I test drove it, I knew it needed rear brakes, so I ordered rotors and pads, but the weather turned cold before I could install them.  Luckily we got a short warm up and a coworker let me do the job in his heated garage.  My purpose in telling you all this story is that, never owning one of these vehicles before, I discovered something.  After removing the lug nuts, I grabbed the (steel) wheel and pulled, it didn't budge.  I got a 10 lb dead blow hammer, laid on my back under the car and whacked that sucker while my buddy spun the wheel.  I have no where near the strength now, that I did when I changed tires for a job in high school, but it took several full swings to get those wheels off.  I could not imagine trying to change a flat, in the slush, on the side of the road, on this vehicle.  The center of the wheel is an interference fit on the hub.  I plan to buy a Harbor Feight dead blow and keep it in this vehicle just in case.  Moral of the story, if you haven't had the wheels off your vehicles, I'd check them, or make sure you have road side assistance.

I also have a wheel came off a trailer story I could share, but I'd have to change the names to protect the guilty.

[Jess from VA]

The center of the wheel is an interference fit on the hub.

I've never even heard of this. What the hell is it?

[Robert]

The center of the wheel is an interference fit on the hub.

I've never even heard of this. What the hell is it?

The rim centers on the hub of the wheel and the real term is centering hub. They either rust or corrode on the hub making it near impossible to get off. I would loosen the nuts on the ground and if on the front try turning the wheel side to side with the lugs nut loose enough to give some play. The rear all you can do is move forward and back or try pushing the car side to side while on the ground with the nuts loose. Otherwise its hammer time.

G man try Tire Rack and overnight them, they still may be cheaper than the dealer.


As for spare tires, cars are changing.

Many new cars dont even have space for a spare.

There are a few options that were mentioned here, Tire sealant, I would put that in before there is a problem, not the factory stuff but something like Ride On. The next is a donut, or a space saver spare or a regular tire with rim or get run flats. Again without a space for a spare or a rim and tire, where are you going to put them, if you want a spare?

Run flats are offered for some cars, but cost about twice as much and are a much harder ride. You also cannot tell when you have no air in the tire if your pressure monitor breaks. Since the tire looks the same with or without air. 

Most cars have no dipstick either these days for either the trans or the engine oil, what about that? 

Fiat is not the car to get stuck in but its not the only car without a spare in fact far from it.

A good tire shop will make the techs use a torque stick that is for an air gun and gets the proper torque even if the tech lays on the gun.

One last thing if you own a GM Truck check your spare tire. They are usually in the back under the car and held up by a winch system, these are notorious for going bad and not being able to get the tire loose from the rear carrier.

Gryph The covers are usually stainless and the nut underneath does corrode. Try to get a socket that properly fits the new lugs with a bit of room and of course 6 sided, the black impact sockets work great for this. Most sockets do have a small bit of play in them and then when you need them use this socket and gently hammer the socket on. It will stop the outside from spinning and will keep the rust together enough to get the lug off. If you damage the lug its better to have it off and be able to replace it rather than being stuck on the side of the road. Oh and keep something handy to be able to push or hammer the lug out of the socket.

[Oss]

correct me if this is just dumb, but if you put anti seize on the bolts would that help against not being able to get them off next time?
Thinking if bolt is steel and nut is aluminum that would do the trick


or spray them with penetrating lubricant first?

[Jess from VA]

correct me if this is just dumb, but if you put anti seize on the bolts would that help against not being able to get them off next time?
Thinking if bolt is steel and nut is aluminum that would do the trick


or spray them with penetrating lubricant first?

Evan, I'm pretty sure all wheel mount studs/bolts and lugnuts (everywhere) are steel, to carry the loads.  (There are aluminum and plastic trim caps that pop over steel lug nuts, which is not a bad way to keep them clean, but if you use the lug wrench with them on they get trashed.)

Anti seize is a good idea to prevent corrosion, and torqued as hard as they should be, it won't cause them to back off.  Antiseize will affect readings on a torque wrench or drive tool, but I don't think enough to worry about.  You dab a little on the stud threads, the spread it out threading on the nut.  You don't use/need a big gob of it.

[G-Man]

I bought a new to me Pontiac Vibe (Toyota Matrix) in December, and when I test drove it, I knew it needed rear brakes, so I ordered rotors and pads, but the weather turned cold before I could install them.  Luckily we got a short warm up and a coworker let me do the job in his heated garage.  My purpose in telling you all this story is that, never owning one of these vehicles before, I discovered something.  After removing the lug nuts, I grabbed the (steel) wheel and pulled, it didn't budge.  I got a 10 lb dead blow hammer, laid on my back under the car and whacked that sucker while my buddy spun the wheel.  I have no where near the strength now, that I did when I changed tires for a job in high school, but it took several full swings to get those wheels off.  I could not imagine trying to change a flat, in the slush, on the side of the road, on this vehicle.  The center of the wheel is an interference fit on the hub.  I plan to buy a Harbor Feight dead blow and keep it in this vehicle just in case.  Moral of the story, if you haven't had the wheels off your vehicles, I'd check them, or make sure you have road side assistance.

I also have a wheel came off a trailer story I could share, but I'd have to change the names to protect the guilty.

That's exactly what I had to do.  Lay on my back and after a dozen or so blows, after spraying WD40 everywhere, with a rubber mallet it just popped off.

Wheel sits on a small center lip and you have to rotate the wheel around this lip to line up the holes for the lug bolts.  No lugs sticking off the hub to line up on and no lug nuts.  Tough at night lining up the holes with the light of a cell phone.

Overall a real crappy experience over a flat tire.  Spare kit is supposed to be delivered today. 

[Robert]

I always use Belray when putting on a wheel or nuts. Even when the lubricant disappears it leaves a coating that stops the severe rusting and corroding that makes it hard to remove the tire. I also put a dab around the hub if there is a problem getting the thing off. A plumbers flux brush is perfect for doing this. This usually does not alter to much extent the tightening torque and actually may be more accurate since the very same galling will stop the appropriate torque. 

 Most damage I find from nuts not coming off is because if tightened to much or at the speed of a torque gun they are actually galling when going on and this stops the easy removal of the nut and actually welds the nut to the stud or bolt. Then when you go to take if off your screwed. Once welded on like this and you go to take the thing off the metal inside breaks loose and a glob is left on between the thread and the nut and as you back off the nut it crushes the threads or pulls them off entirely. The Grease stops this.

 The wheel nut with the stainless are actually made that way and its a permanent cover for the ugly lug nut and not just a cap. They are crimped at the base so as never to be able to remove the cover and once rusted you have to replace them.

Land Rover are notorious for this design and actually are not a standard nut size either. The lug nut for a Land Rover can run as much as 12.00 ea also.

 

[cookiedough]

I bought a new to me Pontiac Vibe (Toyota Matrix) in December, and when I test drove it, I knew it needed rear brakes, so I ordered rotors and pads, but the weather turned cold before I could install them.  Luckily we got a short warm up and a coworker let me do the job in his heated garage.  My purpose in telling you all this story is that, never owning one of these vehicles before, I discovered something.  After removing the lug nuts, I grabbed the (steel) wheel and pulled, it didn't budge.  I got a 10 lb dead blow hammer, laid on my back under the car and whacked that sucker while my buddy spun the wheel.  I have no where near the strength now, that I did when I changed tires for a job in high school, but it took several full swings to get those wheels off.  I could not imagine trying to change a flat, in the slush, on the side of the road, on this vehicle.  The center of the wheel is an interference fit on the hub.  I plan to buy a Harbor Feight dead blow and keep it in this vehicle just in case.  Moral of the story, if you haven't had the wheels off your vehicles, I'd check them, or make sure you have road side assistance.

I also have a wheel came off a trailer story I could share, but I'd have to change the names to protect the guilty.

had something near similar on the 04 vibe changing summer tires to winter snow tires with steel rims.  The darn rear tires were locked on, well sort of, and only 6 months on the car before dealer installed new tires on it to sell to us.  I had to take a rubber mallet and pound 4-5 times VERY HARD on the back of the rear tires to dislodge it - stubborn suckers.  

Another thing I found out buying steel rims for the snow tires is the darn OEM lug nuts will NOT fit the steel rims since the OEM rims on the 04 vibe are MAG rims/MAG lug nuts so when I put on the MAG lug nuts being OEM they did NOT fit all the way in towards the tapered steel rims holes.  Had to spend another 45 bucks on 20 tapered lug nuts to fit in the tapered grooves on the steel rims.  cheapest I found were 2.50 each.  I guess at least I have shiny new lug nuts on black steel rims that are less apt to rust on or break on a 13 year old car vs. the OEM mag lug nuts.

[northernvalk]

ive read that the spares wers removed to reduce weight, thsre by increasing fuel economy.

[Jess from VA]

I'm surprised we still get seats.

[Titan]

BTW, my Dodge Challenger has no spare and comes with the exact same sealer/inflater kit the Fiat came with.  Gonna start looking into a spare for that car as well.  Aaaaand I better check out the wife's new CRV to see what she has.

   F'ing flat tire!

@G-Man... You don't say what year or trim Challenger you have so I don't know if this information will help. Here's a couple of links to where you can get spare tire kits for the Challenger.

My daughter hit a pothole one night and blew out the front tire and bent the wheel on her '15 Dart and had to call a tow truck because of not having a spare.

I drive a '16 Scat Pack and am considering getting a spare for it. I don't travel a lot but I'd sure hate to be stuck with a flat somewhere.

https://modernspare.com/product/2008-2017-dodge-challenger-complete-kit-all-trims/


https://performancespare.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=87&search=Challenger