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Pages: 1

Probably the stupidest question ever, but...

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Posted by: Baas140

I'm wondering where I should mount the spare tire due to a flat. I know on front wheel drive, you mount the spare on one of the rear tires. For a RWD, does the spare need to be up front? Thanks for the help. And please pardon my stupid question.

Posted by: PGA2B

Unless you have a doughnut spare (which you shouldn't)just replace the flat with the spare until you can get it fixed.

Posted by: Baas140

Oh jeeze, I didn't even realize there was a fullsize spare back there. I walked out today and the pass. rear was flat, so I just drove the Grand Prix today and will worry about the flat tomorrow. Thanks for the info though.

Posted by: thethirdeye88

keyword there is "should"...you should have a full size spare, but i have seen several that do not...i wonder if anyone out there is rolling on 4 spares?..

Posted by: Baas140

Lol, okay. Just in case it doesn't have a full size spare, where should I put the doughnut?

Posted by: thethirdeye88

not the front...because then the weight tranfer will roll onto that tiny little spare...and probably also provoke understeer...

Posted by: Baas140

Good deal, thank you very much!

Posted by: thethirdeye88

i wouldnt roll around with a spare donut for too long either...just go check and let us know what you have...

Posted by: Baas140

Yeah tomorrow I'm going and getting 4 new ones cause I need them. So I'll only have it on for like 10 miles or so. I just don't want to mess something up.

Posted by: Eric0508

Via Wikipedia (dont know how accurate it is):

Early 2000 LS models included a full-size spare tire. This was changed (starting in February 2000) to a space-saving spare tire, to reduce weight in order to keep the car in the midsize class to government specifications. The spare tire well in all LS models still has space for a full-size spare.

Posted by: NateRW21

I think mine is a full size... I'll have to look again.

Anyway, what all these guys said. The ONLY reason you wouldn't want to run a spare on the rear for RWD is if you're running a LSD (limited Slip Differential). The difference in size has the potential to destroy your LSD. But, for safety sake you still are pretty much forced to run it on the rear. What's all this confusing BS amount to? For RWD (applies to all, but especially important for LSD equipped)... Put your spare on the rear when not full size, but find a new tire ASAP (we're not talking 200 miles later here...).

Posted by: TrickVert

Which begs the question (and please forgive the noob if it's common knowledge): When did LSD become available in the LS?

Andy

Posted by: thethirdeye88

almost positive its an open differential...but i am also pretty sure that you can place a ford 8.8 pumpkin in there...which means better gears....

Posted by: NateRW21

thirdeye said it... LSD was never an option... from the factory. It is now an option if you want to upgrade from the 8" to the 8.8".

BUT... That was also for general reference. Might be an LS forum, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to throw things out there not specific to the LS

Posted by: aaronearles

My 03 also has a full size spare, thanks for the info though!

Posted by: TrickVert

Quote:

Originally Posted by NateRW21

thirdeye said it... LSD was never an option... from the factory. It is now an option if you want to upgrade from the 8" to the 8.8".

BUT... That was also for general reference. Might be an LS forum, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to throw things out there not specific to the LS

Gotcha. I saw the thread about the 8.8 retrofit. I'll need to go back and re-read, but it looked like a lot of work.

Andy

Posted by: SoonerLS

My '04 and '06 both had "space-saving" donut spare tires, but they are/were also both close to the stock diameter. (My '06 now has one of the OEM 16" wheels with the stock Conti on it, which is the same diameter as the 17" with the OEM tire size.)

Personally, I put the spare tire on the hub from which the flat tire was taken.

It's a low-speed, "get my butt to a tire store" spare, not something on which I'll be driving a lot.

Posted by: PGA2B

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric0508

Via Wikipedia (dont know how accurate it is):

Early 2000 LS models included a full-size spare tire. This was changed (starting in February 2000) to a space-saving spare tire, to reduce weight in order to keep the car in the midsize class to government specifications. The spare tire well in all LS models still has space for a full-size spare.

Uhh......I have a 2002 and I have a full size spare. But I also have a Sport. Don't know if that makes a difference.

P.S. I thought about getting 3 more full size spares and changing the tires on them and running them for the winter

Posted by: 97stscaddy

Quote:

not the front...because then the weight tranfer will roll onto that tiny little spare...and probably also provoke understeer...

This is why you don't drive fast when using a spare. Just don't give it a reason to lose traction and its fine on the front.

Posted by: SoonerLS

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGA2B

Uhh......I have a 2002 and I have a full size spare. But I also have a Sport. Don't know if that makes a difference.

Do you have a "full size spare" as in another wheel and tire that match the others on the car, or as in the 17" donut spare? My '04 had the 17" donut; it was the same diameter as the OEM wheel/tire combo, but quite a but narrower.

Posted by: eastcoastLS

FWIW My 2000 LS spare is the non-sport 16" model all black with a conti on it. Definitely not a donut. Per invoice, it says "Full Size Spare."

Posted by: Pef85

Have had too different 2000 LS's. Sport V8 had a full size spare, but was an all flat black and only 16 inch. The wheel looked kind of cool, it wasn't just a steel wheel. My V6 sport i have now has a matching spare wheel and tire.

Posted by: Jayce 1971

My '00 sport has the full size, 17" aluminum spare with a firestone firehawk mounted on it. It looks exactly the same as the other 4 rims.