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Should i eliminate my spare tire?

12K views 34 replies 24 participants last post by  Steve2012 
#1 ·
I am in the process of deciding to add 35 inch tires to my 2012 JKU Rubicon along with a Teraflex coil lift kit (with shocks). This comes about since I want to add black and chrome wheels with the 35 in tires for a more aggressive look for my pavement princess. I've read a lot about the pros and cons of hanging a 35 in tire and wheel off the stock spare carrier and will soon blow the budget on the lift, wheels and tires, which got me to thinking......(always a place where I get myself into trouble).

I run my 2007 Corvette without a spare (run flat tires for now) but when it comes time to replace them I am going to buy normal tires, not run flats, and carry a small compressor and a plug/patch kit with me. Why wouldn't I do the same thing with my JKU and save the money on the 5th tire and wheel.

Has anyone done this? Any pics would be appreciated. What are the pros and cons?

Thanks in advance.

Bob
 
#2 ·
Last weekend, I cut the sidewall on my driver's rear in the middle of a trail. My tires were all caked in mud and I could not imagine making a plug repair on the trail, given the wet conditions. Changing to the spare was easy and I resumed wheeling and completed the trail section.

I have never had a flat while on the road (figures, I have auto service) but I have had to change out my tire while wheeling on more than one occasion.
 
#3 ·
Personally I'd never run without a spare. I have some friends that have done this, primarily for the look, They just carry the tine inside.
This is a doable option if you have roadside assistance and you never go off road. In fact, now that I think about it, you can just throw the tire in if you will be going someplace you can't get assistance.
There are cheap options for reinforcing your tail gate other than getting a swing out tire carrier. They sell replacement hinges as well as things to strengthen your existing hinges you may want to look into.
 
#9 ·
How much weight difference are we talking about between a stock JKUR tire and wheel and an average 35" tire and alloy wheel?
 
#12 ·
If they care that much about MPG, they should get a Prius, not a Wrangler. IMHO. It is sort of like claiming you are a vegetarian and then occasionally eating chicken and fish. Or, claiming that you love the water, but hate getting wet. Huh?

I met this cutey at work who claimed that she was a Jeep Girl, but wouldn't get a Wrangler because of the gas mileage. I told her that we don't buy Wrangler's for the gas milegae. lol. We buy Wrangler's for the fun!! I have to question if she was truly a Jeep Girl. Well, I'll take her for a ride later and let you know. (hehe, I wish).
 
#14 ·
No, no, and no..........:nonono::nonono::nonono:
 
#16 ·
I find the argument that you shouldn't have purchased a Jeep if you care AT ALL about MPGs. It's an absurd argument.

Nobody buys a Jeep thinking it's going to be a gas sipper. But that doesn't mean you can't try to get the most out of it that you can. I'm not trying to get 30 mpg from my Jeep. But I would much rather keep it in the 18 to 20 range than be at the 14 - 16 that some people get.

And it's asinine of anyone to think that they get to determine what should be important to everyone else.
 
#17 ·
If you live where there is snow the jeep handles differently without it. Not necessarily worse exactly but the balance is different so it behaves differently. Of coarse this is experience with my YJ. The electronics may make it unnoticeable in the JK, just something else to keep in mind.
 
#18 ·
I would never run without a spare, on or off road. In my 27 years I have had numerous blowouts while driving down the highway. A patch kit could not fix the shredded tires. You just never know when you will get a badly damaged tire. It may be in the middle of town during the day or it may be when you are in a remote area late at night. I drove home from a Halloween party last night at 10:00 in a rural area and if I had gotten a bad flat, I would have been screwed. I always want to be prepared for the worst.
 
#19 ·
I run my 2007 Corvette without a spare (run flat tires for now) but when it comes time to replace them I am going to buy normal tires, not run flats, and carry a small compressor and a plug/patch kit with me.
I did the same with my 2012 BMW 328 sportline, The runflats were horrible so I switched to the Michelines and never looked back , great improved the ride. I also bought a green slime/compressor kit for around $80..Never once used it though.


I find the argument that you shouldn't have purchased a Jeep if you care AT ALL about MPGs. It's an absurd argument.

Nobody buys a Jeep thinking it's going to be a gas sipper. But that doesn't mean you can't try to get the most out of it that you can. I'm not trying to get 30 mpg from my Jeep. But I would much rather keep it in the 18 to 20 range than be at the 14 - 16 that some people get.

And it's asinine of anyone to think that they get to determine what should be important to everyone else.
I think what the OP was stating was more of a general statement that its hard to complain about the gas mileage of a Jeep because you should know going into the purchase of a jeep that your not going to get great gas mileage and that if a higher MPG vehicle is important to you then you may want to consider another vehicle. I have other vehicles for my longer drives/daily commutes. Its like getting a Ferrari and then complaining about the insurance. just my opinion.
 
#20 ·
Oh yeah, Get the spare tire, looks better. When my wife sees a jeep without the spare , she always comments " Look another Cheap ass !!! "

BTW, I also contemplated cheaping out on getting the spare. Didn't happen I pick up my $1600 set of 5 next week
 
#21 ·
I have had 3 flats on all of the Jeeps I have owned over the last 30 odd years. 2 of them were in the driveway after I ran over nails. (still building on our subdivision).

Bottom line I removed the spare on the TJ but do put it in if I am going "out of town" or "wheeling". Other than those 2 circumstances I am never more than 20 minutes from home. and my wife COULD always bring me the "spare" from the garage.

Although if I ever get my, "Rear TJ storage solution" done I will strap down the spare in the tub like I have it when I am going wheeling....right now there is just other things that get put back there instead of spare......
 
#26 ·
My tailgate stopper broke and smashed my tail light so I took it all off and just throw it in the back when I wheel.
I like it a lot better than factory set up.

 
#28 ·
Looks shiity with the spare missing. That is the "mod" for someone who can't afford a real mod. NC
Oh ya sorry we are not all the coolest like you. Let's see your "real mods" how about some of your "real wheeling" photos and some of your other "real" opinions on things that have no effect on your life.
 
#32 ·
If you have someone at home that can come to your rescue with the your spare 35" sitting in the garage, then it just becomes a matter of patience while they get to you. However, off road it's a bad bad idea unless one of your wheelin' partners has the same size tires and is willing to let you use his/hers if needed for a price ...
 
#33 ·
Well since I stated the thread, I have to admit, I like the look without the spare and poor or rich has nothing to do with it in my mind. While I admit I was originally thinking of the money for a wheel and tire that will likely never get used, I was thinking about it from how would it look too. From the pics supplied I like the look. Now the question is how far would I roam without a spare even with AAA????

Thanks for all your input.
 
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