I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

On 12/29/2013 05:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?




My concern would be the hub.

Will the hub even fit on the car?

If so, then the 15" tire would certainly be better than one of those
mini-spares...but of course it would not be for long term use as it is
the wrong size for the car.

philo wrote:
On 12/29/2013 05:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?




My concern would be the hub.

Will the hub even fit on the car?

If so, then the 15" tire would certainly be better than one of those
mini-spares...but of course it would not be for long term use as it is
the wrong size for the car.

Why wouldn't the hub fit? Are you speculating that the spare that came with
the rental car is unusable?

On 12/29/2013 05:54 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:




My concern would be the hub.

Will the hub even fit on the car?

If so, then the 15" tire would certainly be better than one of those
mini-spares...but of course it would not be for long term use as it is
the wrong size for the car.

Why wouldn't the hub fit? Are you speculating that the spare that came with
the rental car is unusable?



If the spare was a factory original, I'm sure it's OK.

If it's something the rental agency just threw in there, I'd compare the
hub size.

On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?


I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter than
providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't play
well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik

On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 17:10:48 -0800, Erik wrote:

On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

My last truck had a "full size" spare but it wasn't the same size as
the other tires (15" vs. 16"). It was a real wheel but couldn't be
rotated with the other tires.

I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter than
providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't play
well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Wouldn't surprise me. I don't remember the last time I used the
spare. I think it was on my '78 Granada (in perhaps '84). The spare
on my last truck never left its mount. It couldn't have, for the last
eight years, or more. The whole assembly was rusted into one big
glop. It would have had to have been torched out.

In article ,
wrote:

On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 17:10:48 -0800, Erik wrote:

On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

My last truck had a "full size" spare but it wasn't the same size as
the other tires (15" vs. 16"). It was a real wheel but couldn't be
rotated with the other tires.

I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter than
providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't play
well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Wouldn't surprise me. I don't remember the last time I used the
spare. I think it was on my '78 Granada (in perhaps '84). The spare
on my last truck never left its mount. It couldn't have, for the last
eight years, or more. The whole assembly was rusted into one big
glop. It would have had to have been torched out.

the fundie guide to vehicle maintenance: do nothing, blame others when
it breaks

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:30:22 -0800, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 17:10:48 -0800, Erik wrote:

On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

My last truck had a "full size" spare but it wasn't the same size as
the other tires (15" vs. 16"). It was a real wheel but couldn't be
rotated with the other tires.

I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter than
providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't play
well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Wouldn't surprise me. I don't remember the last time I used the
spare. I think it was on my '78 Granada (in perhaps '84). The spare
on my last truck never left its mount. It couldn't have, for the last
eight years, or more. The whole assembly was rusted into one big
glop. It would have had to have been torched out.

the fundie guide to vehicle maintenance: do nothing, blame others when
it breaks

You don't need to lie, Malformed, when you could just as easily shut
up. You've demonstrated, time and time again, that those are the only
choices a lefty has.

"Erik" wrote in message ...

On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure
it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under
the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real
tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed
labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?


I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter than
providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't play
well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik


A friend bought a Toyota (minivan?) I do not recall what it is called. Had
"run flat tires" on it and no spare came with it. WW

On 12/29/2013 11:51 PM, WW wrote:

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik


A friend bought a Toyota (minivan?) I do not recall what it is called.
Had "run flat tires" on it and no spare came with it. WW

Many cars have no spare. Chevy Cruz and possibly others, Hyundai Accent
and probably others. They have a kit with fix a flat type stuff to
get you going.

Can't recall the last time I used the spare, but I'd feel more secure on
a long trip having one. Around my normal works, shopping, not so much.

On 12/29/13, 8:10 PM, Erik wrote:
On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left
front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make
sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15.
Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a
full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a
real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it.
Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed
labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little
weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?


I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter
than providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't
play well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik

Newer Volvos with larger (18"+) factory tires definitely do not have
spare tires. They come with kit of a pump & sealant. Basically a fancy
Fix-A-Flat kit. Even the donut spares of that size do not fit in the
trunk storage well. IIRC Jaguars also do this.

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to
Edmunds.com data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204
percent increase in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute.
Repair kits are standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles
available and outnumber the cars that come with run-flat tires."

On 12/30/2013 8:55 AM, Retired wrote:

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to Edmunds.com
data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204 percent increase
in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute. Repair kits are
standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles available and outnumber
the cars that come with run-flat tires."

The vehicles I've had for the last few years, tire
problems are a real concern. They go flat, and one
time I had the lugs loosen and cause trouble a
couple days after doing some brake work. I'd sure
prefer to have a full size spare if possible.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/30/2013 8:55 AM, Retired wrote:

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to Edmunds.com
data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204 percent increase
in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute. Repair kits are
standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles available and outnumber
the cars that come with run-flat tires."

The vehicles I've had for the last few years, tire
problems are a real concern. They go flat, and one
time I had the lugs loosen and cause trouble a
couple days after doing some brake work. I'd sure
prefer to have a full size spare if possible.


Who did the brake work? Lug nuts don't typically "loosen" on their own. It
usually starts with a incorrect tightening procedure, such as not enough
torque or not using the "crisscross" tightening pattern.

What "trouble" did the loose lugs cause that would have made a full size
spare desirable?

On 12/30/2013 8:05 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/30/2013 8:55 AM, Retired wrote:

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to Edmunds.com
data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204 percent increase
in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute. Repair kits are
standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles available and outnumber
the cars that come with run-flat tires."

The vehicles I've had for the last few years, tire
problems are a real concern. They go flat, and one
time I had the lugs loosen and cause trouble a
couple days after doing some brake work. I'd sure
prefer to have a full size spare if possible.


Buy one and quit yer bitchen. :-)

Irreverent Maximus wrote:
On 12/30/2013 8:05 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/30/2013 8:55 AM, Retired wrote:

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to Edmunds.com
data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204 percent increase
in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute. Repair kits are
standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles available and outnumber
the cars that come with run-flat tires."

The vehicles I've had for the last few years, tire
problems are a real concern. They go flat, and one
time I had the lugs loosen and cause trouble a
couple days after doing some brake work. I'd sure
prefer to have a full size spare if possible.


Buy one and quit yer bitchen. :-)
Hi,
You know what? When I buy new vehicle one condition is getting a full
size spare tire on a matching rim. The dealer has to include it on a
deal. Up front I tell them that is what I want/need
on my new car.

Retired wrote:
On 12/29/13, 8:10 PM, Erik wrote:
On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left
front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make
sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15.
Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a
full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a
real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it.
Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed
labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little
weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?


I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter
than providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't
play well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik

Newer Volvos with larger (18"+) factory tires definitely do not have
spare tires. They come with kit of a pump & sealant. Basically a fancy
Fix-A-Flat kit. Even the donut spares of that size do not fit in the
trunk storage well. IIRC Jaguars also do this.


I met up with my brother on the road trip that I rented the car for. When
the tire went low he lent me the portable air compressor he carries. It's
just like the kit you described. You can use it to top off a tire with air,
or you can hook up a different hose and put the included "slime" in the
tire if it's flat.

His van has a spare, but he carries the kit just in case. All he's ever
needed was the pump, but he's got the sealant if need be.

Regarding the "trunk storage", the donut for my Odyssey is stored inside
the vehicle, under the floor mat behind the front seats. I've had vans
where the spare hangs from the bottom the vehicle on a cable. That just
sucks.

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:55:02 -0500, Retired wrote:

On 12/29/13, 8:10 PM, Erik wrote:
On 12/29/13, 3:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left
front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make
sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15.
Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a
full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a
real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it.
Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed
labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little
weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?


I 'heard' manufactures finally realized compact spares were impacting
sales... decided they wanted something that at a quick glance in the
showroom looks like a full size spare, but still cheaper & lighter
than providing an actual 'real' tire/wheel assembly. A compromise...

Anti lock brakes, traction control and some other stuff also don't
play well with compact spares.

More he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_tire

An (unreliable) acquaintance said he'd herd at least one mfg is about
to, or maybe already is selling cars sans spare altogether. Don't know
which one/s, and it may in fact not be factual.

Erik

Newer Volvos with larger (18"+) factory tires definitely do not have
spare tires. They come with kit of a pump & sealant. Basically a fancy
Fix-A-Flat kit. Even the donut spares of that size do not fit in the
trunk storage well. IIRC Jaguars also do this.

Read this article from Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/th...pare-tire.html
where they say
"Edmunds has only been tracking the use of repair kits since 2009, but
the list of cars with no spare tire is growing. According to
Edmunds.com data, 47 more models now have repair kits. That's a 204
percent increase in cars that use them as a spare tire substitute.
Repair kits are standard in 21 percent of the current vehicles
available and outnumber the cars that come with run-flat tires."
A "repair kit" is useless if you damage a tire by hitting something
on the road, if you damage a sidewall or cut the tire, or damage the
rim, or don't get stopped before the tire carcase is damaged. Also
useless if a valve stem is damaged ( 3 of the last 4 flat's I've had
would have been more than a match for a "repair kit" - and the other I
repaired on the car with a plug.

DerbyDad03 wrote:

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was
slightly smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use,
reduced speed labels on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the
handling a little weird. Could that be the reason they label the
spare as "limited use", etc?

Since it's not the same exact rating as the OEM tires it will not
perform the same way. The warning is to cover their own ass in case
you lose control of the car by going too fast.

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...

I rented a car this weekend. . . .
After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under
the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real
tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal?

What did the rental agency say when you asked?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Don Phillipson" wrote:
"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...

I rented a car this weekend. . . .
After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under
the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real
tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal?

What did the rental agency say when you asked?


They were closed when I returned the vehicle, so I didn't ask them. I left
a note for them to call me about the "inconvenience" of having to top off
the tire (twice). I'm hoping they'll credit me for some amount, although
they already gave me a pretty good deal - a one day rental credit if I paid
for the insurance coverage, which was less than the one day rental. In
other words, I got the coverage but still paid less than I would have if I
had declined the coverage and paid the full rental cost. I'm assuming they
make more money on the insurance than the rental, so we all made out on the
deal.

Anyway, when they call me, I"ll ask about the spare. Of course, I'm sure I
can already tell you what he'll say. "If the spare says stay under 50, then
I recommend you stay under 50.€œ What else could he say? It's not like he's
going to tell me to ignore the warning and drive at whatever speed I want.

I've changed one tire since 1986 (it may be longer than that).

I think the advantage of a spare tire is overrated.

YMMV, if you drive a lot of miles over bad roads.

TimR wrote:
I've changed one tire since 1986 (it may be longer than that).

I think the advantage of a spare tire is overrated.

YMMV, if you drive a lot of miles over bad roads.

I've lost track of how many tires I've changed just in the past year.

On my daughter's car alone I've had the spare on at least 6 times since we
bought the car (used) in April.

In the first month, 3 of the 4 tires went low because of the aluminum
wheels. I'd throw the spare on, drop the low tire off at a local shop, have
them clean the wheel and fill it up. Over the summer she ran over a nail
and a screw with a week of each other. She doesn't drive any place "bad" -
just normal roads and parking lots. She works at a YMCA, so it's not like
she parking in industrial areas with trucks, construction vehicles, etc.

We bought her new tires for winter and she hit a pothole within the first
week, damaging a sidewall. It was covered under the road hazard warranty,
so I threw the spare on, drove it over to the shop and they put a new tire
on the rim without making me wait. If I had left it on the car I would have
had to wait my turn until a bay was open.

With a floor jack, my cordless drill and a pipe to use as leverage, I can
put the spare on in under 15 minutes, less than half hour total on and off.
If I leave the tires on the vehicles when they need service, it's hours of
waiting to get into a bay. I don't have that kind of patience.

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:26:00 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:



We bought her new tires for winter and she hit a pothole within the first
week, damaging a sidewall. It was covered under the road hazard warranty,
so I threw the spare on, drove it over to the shop and they put a new tire
on the rim without making me wait. If I had left it on the car I would have
had to wait my turn until a bay was open.

With a floor jack, my cordless drill and a pipe to use as leverage, I can
put the spare on in under 15 minutes, less than half hour total on and off.
If I leave the tires on the vehicles when they need service, it's hours of
waiting to get into a bay. I don't have that kind of patience.

Whatever works for you. I call first and if I'm told there's going to
be a wait I have the come along in the second car, and just drop off
the car getting the work done. Call me when it's done.
But there's a Just Tires less than a mile away.

In article ,
DerbyDad03 wrote:
...snipped...

I've lost track of how many tires I've changed just in the past year.

On my daughter's car alone I've had the spare on at least 6 times since we
bought the car (used) in April.

...rest of story snipped...

When my daughter got her driver's license I taught her how to change
a tire. You may want to consider doing the same...

--
There is always an easy solution to every human problem -- neat,
plausible, and wrong." (H L Mencken)

Larry W. - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org

On 12/30/2013 1:26 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
TimR wrote:

With a floor jack, my cordless drill and a pipe to use as leverage, I can
put the spare on in under 15 minutes, less than half hour total on and off.
If I leave the tires on the vehicles when they need service, it's hours of
waiting to get into a bay. I don't have that kind of patience.


I used to average about 3 tire changes a month when I towed stuff all
over the south. Mostly trailor tires, but the cordless and floor jack
made my average roadside stop less than 10 minutes. My wish list does
have a cordless impact on it, but I don't have such a need for it
anymore, other than man-toy desire, of course.

In article ,
TimR wrote:

I've changed one tire since 1986 (it may be longer than that).


does that mean you had no flats or that you had someone else change the
tire?


I think the advantage of a spare tire is overrated.

YMMV, if you drive a lot of miles over bad roads.

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:28:13 -0800, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:

In article ,
TimR wrote:

I've changed one tire since 1986 (it may be longer than that).


does that mean you had no flats or that you had someone else change the
tire?


I think the advantage of a spare tire is overrated.

YMMV, if you drive a lot of miles over bad roads.

It was 1987 when I last changed a tire. But my wife called Saturday
evening that a tire was flat when shopping with my son.
Spare was flat too, even though it was checked in the spring.
Son bought a foot pump and left it in the trunk.
Went to nearby Midas and had the tire plugged. Picked up a nail.
I don't tolerate old tires or leakers. When one loses pressure I take
it to the shop and have it remounted.
I replace them with new tire every few years too.
But then you have the luck factor. Can't see the nail/screw you pick
up.

On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 23:24:21 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

How do you know it's a "real tire"? Sure, it may be 'standard load'
but does it really have the same amount of "carcass", tread plies,
sidewall plies, same amount of tread depth, same tread compound, etc.
It's pretty close in size but about 0.1" different in diameter. And
at what inflation pressure did it have "standard load"? Same pressure
as the other tires or did it need to be pumped up to 60psi like the
donut spares needed to be?

My guess is it's not a "real tire" but was specifically built as a
temporary, limited duty, spare with all that implies.

Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 23:24:21 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

How do you know it's a "real tire"? Sure, it may be 'standard load'
but does it really have the same amount of "carcass", tread plies,
sidewall plies, same amount of tread depth, same tread compound, etc.
It's pretty close in size but about 0.1" different in diameter. And
at what inflation pressure did it have "standard load"? Same pressure
as the other tires or did it need to be pumped up to 60psi like the
donut spares needed to be?

My guess is it's not a "real tire" but was specifically built as a
temporary, limited duty, spare with all that implies.

I called a local VW dealer. Spoke to a service rep. He said that they have
also wondered why they mark the spare as 50 MPH only. He said they have
never gotten a clear answer from anyone. He said it's a real tire on a real
wheel, so there is no reason that he can think of that it should be marked
as limited use.

However, here's an additional oddity: He was surprised that the rental had
a different sized spare tire than the 4 on the car. He said that typically
the spare is the same tire as the ones on the car, yet still marked as
limited use. So, I did a little research. The Bridgestone 205/55-16 came
standard on the VW Jetta SE, while the 195/65-15 were standard on the Jetta
S. Why the SE I rented had a spare from an S is beyond me.

There's another dealer I can call tomorrow. I'll let you know what they say
about the markings on the spare.

DerbyDad03 posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP


Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 23:24:21 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I rented a car this weekend. The tire pressure indicator came on. At my
next stop I checked the tires and it turned out to be that the left front
tire was low. I filled it up and decided to check the spare to make sure it
was full of air just in case I needed it. When I opened the trunk, I
initially thought that the spare was a full size spare, because it sure
wasn't a donut.

After closer inspection I noticed that the tires on the car were
Bridgestones, 205/55-16, while the spare was a Pirelli 195/65-15. Under the
numbers it had the words "Standard load" OK, so it's not quite a full size
spare when compared to the tires on the car, but at least it's a real tire.
Then I noticed that the rim had the familiar "donut labels" on it. Limited
Use, Do Not Exceed 50 MPH, etc.

So what's the deal? Why would a full size tire, even if it was slightly
smaller than the original tires, have the Limited Use, reduced speed labels
on it? Granted, the smaller tire might make the handling a little weird.
Could that be the reason they label the spare as "limited use", etc?

How do you know it's a "real tire"? Sure, it may be 'standard load'
but does it really have the same amount of "carcass", tread plies,
sidewall plies, same amount of tread depth, same tread compound, etc.
It's pretty close in size but about 0.1" different in diameter. And
at what inflation pressure did it have "standard load"? Same pressure
as the other tires or did it need to be pumped up to 60psi like the
donut spares needed to be?

My guess is it's not a "real tire" but was specifically built as a
temporary, limited duty, spare with all that implies.

I called a local VW dealer. Spoke to a service rep. He said that they have
also wondered why they mark the spare as 50 MPH only. He said they have
never gotten a clear answer from anyone. He said it's a real tire on a real
wheel, so there is no reason that he can think of that it should be marked
as limited use.

However, here's an additional oddity: He was surprised that the rental had
a different sized spare tire than the 4 on the car. He said that typically
the spare is the same tire as the ones on the car, yet still marked as
limited use. So, I did a little research. The Bridgestone 205/55-16 came
standard on the VW Jetta SE, while the 195/65-15 were standard on the Jetta
S. Why the SE I rented had a spare from an S is beyond me.

There's another dealer I can call tomorrow. I'll let you know what they say
about the markings on the spare.

Like I stated before the rental place stole it out
of another car. Why mess with the details? They
needed a tire and some clunker or crashed car had
one...

--
Tekkie

DerbyDad03 posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

I rented a car this weekend


Sorta answers the question doesn't it? Not trying
to be a smart guy here but it's what they had...

Why do they put 50 cent jacks in cars? Because
they ran out of 25 cent ones.

--
Tekkie