Spare tire alert

[gkhashem]

I bet you guys are more on the ball than me.

But it dawned on me I was not checking the air in my doughnut spare. My 1989 and 2 1991s have this type of tire.

Well, they were down to under 10 lbs so I put the pressure to 60psi and am good to go. No big deal unless I need it but I have been running really without a spare most of the time. I bet they had not been filled in many many years. They still look like they have never been out of the car.

So check the spare air pressure too.

Now on my 1978 CDV I have that inflatable tire deal. Is that still good after 41 years?

[Bobby B]

Good Point and a Reminder.....Twice a year I check the spare in every car, new or old. They are always a bit low. Takes a few minutes rather than a few hours to be stuck on the road or afraid to drive on a spare that is way low on air. Preventive Maintenance......
                                                                                                               Bobby

[cadman56]

The donut spare in my 91 Brougham has never been out of the trunk.  I have not checked the air in it either, but would it be safe to inflate to the 60 psi?  If I had to use it how safe would it be to drive on?

[Big Fins]

Just hope either of you never has to find out.

[gary griffin]

At least you have a tire to check! My 2013 XTS has an air compressor and a can of stop leak. Hope I never have to use it!!

[cadman56]

Problem is, and I checked with my tire supplier, no one seems  to have a tire for the donut.  I was told I had to purchase a new assembly with the rim and they didn't think it was available.

We will pray for no problems,  driving to the Fall Festival then to Ft. Wayne then back to Wichita, KS.  I do have a brand new set of Hancooks P225/75R15 on the car now.  About 200 miles on them.

I would  consider purchasing a new donut assembly.  Until then, I will hope it holds 50 psi with no problems.

[Big Fins]

Didn't they ever consider that a total blowout might occur?

At least my Ford daily drivers have real tires and rims for spares. Even the Cadillac has a real tire in the trunk.

[gkhashem]

I see no reason why the tire is bad enough not to hold the air. It's under the trunk mat and no sun hits it.

Looks like new and I imagine if I needed it,it would be good enough to go 5 miles or so to the nearest garage. At 25-30 MPH.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

These Donuts are not supposed to be inflated over 40 psi, and they were designed to not be used until required.

The placard on one of mine says to use the canister to inflate, then once inflated, adjust the pressure to what is shown on the vehicles' placard for normal tyres.   And not to drive faster than 50 MPH.

One question for those of you with factory-installed donuts.   Is there a tyre pressure gauge supplied with the tool kit to allow for the checking of the tyre pressure once it has been inflated with the can?

Bruce.

PS.   I have been tempted to inflate a couple of mine (Spares) and put them on the car and go for a drive to see how they feel on the road.   But, never got around to it.

[Bobby B]

I have been tempted to inflate a couple of mine (Spares) and put them on the car and go for a drive to see how they feel on the road.                       

Bruce,
If the front tire goes flat, I've always put the "Donut" on the rear, and put the full size tire on the front. It doesn't feel as awkward in the rear as it does in the front, for obvious reasons. They're not as bad as you think.
                               Bobby

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Bobby,

Yes, I was aware that I would place the Donut on the rear, as in the Eldorado, there is so much weight on the front.

If I had more than enough of these donuts, I would put them on my car and do as many miles/laps as I could on my local race circuit, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskerville_Raceway) and just see how long it took to wear them out.   Checking every so often in order to not end up with a blowout.

Then I could report on my findings, but, sadly I only have 3.

Bruce.

[gkhashem]

Wrong on the inflation.

The tire states 60 PSI on the 1991 tires, so you are incorrect on these tires. Not sure about other years.

If you would like to argue about it I can post a photo of the tire sidewall.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I believe you.

I can only go by what I have here.   And these donuts are on fullsize rims, and inflate to full size.

Are yours the mini tyres like the ones I see here, with something like 4" wide rims?

Bruce.

[gkhashem]

Actually found this online.

Someone said you cannot buy these. This one looks close.

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/12249460944575532996?q=spare+tires+and+rims&biw=1708&bih=750&prds=epd:13904042756690696685,paur:ClkAsKraX-DUtODFZqXbAhfb3G6FU-6VvkObMI61r02Drx_z9QsS8iYUjTg7ZHHLtzvJjpohABXMQ1jwI-PSNvzkkP8zl57s4o-tPiYEKTgWuGdFtNXmKEwI5hIZAFPVH72EqCS5nQg5sA6dltTvFvI9Cu5AWQ,prmr:1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRnNKb8JzkAhVNiqwKHSNHCdMQ8wIIwgM

This is a used GM one note the 60 PSI on tire.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CADILLAC-BUICK-OLDSMOBILE-PONTIAC-CHEVY-SPARE-WHEEL-TIRE-DONUT-T125-70R15-TCX-/262815276739?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0

[gkhashem]

A new one here looks like the size a 1991 Cadillac would use.

https://simpletire.com/kumho-125-70r15-5003283-tires?stmodel=-121original-equipment&stcategory=other&sttype=temp-spare&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G_Shopping_NB_HighPriority&utm_content=Commercial_AllProducts&utm_term=&utm_creative=378204115149&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-S_tPOc5AIVTf7jBx3GxwvyEAYYASABEgJzofD_BwE

So these can be bought still.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Gee, that is a narrow tyre and rim.

I can see why they have to be inflated so high.

I removed my tyre and put it on my Aluminium rim

Bruce.

[35-709]

As I remember those Space Saver Spare tires (as opposed to the later donuts) could also be run flat at slower speeds.  I have one that has never been put in service but it is a 205-75-15.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

As I remember those Space Saver Spare tires (as opposed to the later donuts) could also be run flat at slower speeds.  I have one that has never been put in service but it is a 205-75-15. 

My bad.   I thought Space-savers and Donuts were the same as far as spare tyres went.

Bruce.

[TJ Hopland]

Bruce's collapsing space saver is obviously a different animal than a typical tire of the era.  The mini ones maybe are less different?  I could see the minis being made of pretty much the same materials as other tires of the era.    With both styles you wonder what did they think the lifespan would be?  How many 70's cars made it much past 10 years?  So they designed the tire to be good for 15 years? 20 tops?   Even today how many cars actually make it past 20 years?   I would guess its such a small number that there is almost zero consideration in the design for anything to last longer.   

[Glen]

I was checking the tire pressure on all my cars one day, and the 02 Buick’s spare was completely deflated.  I tried to inflate it but the air just rushed out. I found it had blown out.   There was a hole on the tread.  I went to the local tire guy and he did not have any replacements.  The only source was the dealer and he had to have it shipped in.  Once I had the tire the tire guy mounted it on the rim.