I live in AK and am planning a long drive down the AlCan highway this summer on my tires. They've only got about 5k miles on them, but they're low-pro street tires. Should one blow out, I'm worried about the possibility of help. My car's a WRX and cannot be towed behind a vehicle: it must be put on a flatbed. So a spare tire is in order. However, the spare tire/rim was set to OEM spec, which is a 16 inch radius tire. My rims are currently 17 inches, but low-profile tires. Would this spare work for any time, or should i seek a 17 inch radius spare?
2007-04-09 16:17:59 · 5 answers · asked by roninbambi 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I don't need any answers from Chevy drivers who don't understand the need for a car to corner, since Chevy's DON'T, unless you drop 70k on a 'Vette.
The tires stay, and they're not ridiculous.
2007-04-09 17:15:07 · update #1
Another detail:
through measurement, there's about an inch difference, which, according to one answer, is too great. There's an LSD on the rear axle of this car. Would this create grievous damage to the differential if I drove (for any length) on a spare?
2007-04-09 18:16:42 · update #2
My WRX has eaten several Vette's, for a third the cost. Don't tell me about toys. I'm not here for flames with morons. I wanted answers about my tires. Thanks to those who did.
2007-04-09 18:18:53 · update #3
I used to manage a tire company and you really have two options. The first is to purchase a 17-inch rim and tire of the same size. It wouldn't need to be an exact manufacturer's match, but it would need to be the same size. Then when you reach your destination you would want to replace the blown/damaged tire with an exact match. That's your best option.
The second option is to go ahead and use the 16-inch rim, but have the tire shop employee adjust for the smaller rim size by setting you up with a tire of higher profile. It is absolutely necessary that you do not have more than a 1/4 (.25) inch of difference in total height of the spare as compared to the total height of the regular tires.
This is measured by placing the properly inflated tires on the floor of the shop, and measuring the highest point of the tires, although any tire shop worth its name should have conversion charts to show you the exact height of any given mounted and inflated tire. Also, and very important, this option is temporary!! If used, you would want to seek out a tire shop within a maximum of 200 miles, and less would be better.
Hope this helps a little.
2007-04-09 16:41:15 · answer #1 · answered by nivram3330 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Car tires have a flat tread. Motorcycle tires have a rounded tread so they get traction while leaning in a corner. Cars don't lean in corners. I would think it would be dangerous to use a car tire on a motorcycle, even on a cruiser or touring bike. This is because you would be fighting the bike to lean in a corner. If the bike would lean in a corner you would ride up on the side wall which would give little traction. I wouldn't risk my life to save a few bucks on a tire. Do it right and use a tire designed for the task.
2016-05-21 03:40:09 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alright i am a Pontiac man, but never mind, you need to match the ride height of the tires that you have on the vehicle. any variance would cause excessive and prolonged differential activity, potentially causing damage. be very particular about both the tire and rim that you decide to pick up, make very sure that the asssembly is very close in not identicle to the others.
2007-04-09 21:52:12 · answer #3 · answered by mdk68gto, ase certified m tech 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So much for those stupid oversize tires that look so ignorant. Go back, put the correct size back on it and use the vehicle the way it was designed to be used, and you will not have these kinds of dilemma's, make sense?
2007-04-09 16:29:16 · answer #4 · answered by Burts chevy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as the overall diameter of the tire is the same,you will be fine.
2007-04-09 16:28:57 · answer #5 · answered by gdwrnch40 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋