Spare Tire Disintegrated

T

TXLS

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I did a quick search, but didn't come up with much on this.

I was in the trunk of my 03 LSV8 last weekend cleaning the battery terminals, and noticed that the spare tire had literally come unwrapped! The tread was separated and peeled away from the carcass around at least 50% of the tire diameter. The carcass was still holding air just fine, but the tread just let go right where it meets the sidewall. I bought this car with about 20K miles, and the spare has only been down once for 40 miles or so at around 30K miles. I always keep up with the pressure, and never exceeded the parameters the one time I used it.

The last time I checked, it was fine; this only happened in the last few weeks. Is this a common occurance, or am I just special? I realize that tires deteriorate over time, but I've never had one go bad so soon, and just sitting in the trunk. I have a Jag S-Type about the same age (04), and it shows no signs of deterioration whatsoever. I also have a couple of 89 Thunderbird Super Coupes with the original spares, and no issues at all with them either.

I don't know if I should take a chance with a salvage yard replacement, or go with a new one. I've bought lots of tires over they years, but never a new spacesaver spare. Can these be bought at any tire store? If this is an isolated incident, I'll just go with a salvage yard spare; they can't cost very much as no one wants them, and they rarely ever go bad (or so I thought).

One last question; will a full size spare fit in the well? If so, I may just buy a matching wheel (8 spoke chrome) from someone on here, and put a new tire on it.

Any ideas??

Thanks - JD
 
A full size tire will fit. Mine has a 17" 5 star as a spare. Thats sucks about the tire.
 
TXLS said:
my 03 LSV8 ...
but I've never had one go bad so soon
Click to expand...
dude if that is the orignal tire, its about 8-9 years old, there nothing "soon" about it, is it normal, probably not, but thats a long time for a tire even if its not getting a lot of use. for there to be an average tire life, some last a really long time and then some just last a long time.

TXLS said:
I also have a couple of 89 Thunderbird Super Coupes with the original spares, and no issues at all with them either.
Click to expand...
i definitely would ever take a risk on driving anywhere no matter how short or slow of a drive on a 22 year old regular tire let alone on a 22 year old doughnut.
 
You have to see the dealer about a replacement. That's what I was told by a tire shop.
 
No need for a dealer...the space will fit a fullsize tire.
 
BlackLS06 said:
No need for a dealer...the space will fit a fullsize tire.
Click to expand...

And, a cheap rim and full size tire may be less expensive than the factory spare wheel.

Alternately, get a matching rim and just add the spare to your tire rotations.
 
Spares are only good for one use. After that, it's only a matter of time before it pops.
The dealers cannot get the spares, already checked several times.
Junk yards have them for about $50 in DFW - need to do some hunting as not many have them.
Full size spare is a VERY good option - then you have a standard tire that is easy to replace. Check eBay for the full size spare option wheel. It's a nice black alloy.
 
the best part about having a full size tire as a spare is not having to drive slo having to worry about that little turd giving up, and giving you a little longer to have to deal with the blown tire and not having to drive around a car with a little doughnut on there because its like taking a girl out that has a black eye, everybody is just going to be giving you the old stink eye!
 
Didnt all LS'es come with full size spares? Mine did, my uncles did, my stepdads did...

Ive never seen an LS on a donut, that'd just be awful!
 
Makes sense....

Mine is a 2000, step dads was a 2000, and my uncles was an 03.
 
BrianDye said:
Didnt all LS'es come with full size spares? Mine did, my uncles did, my stepdads did...

Ive never seen an LS on a donut, that'd just be awful!
Click to expand...

Neither of mine did, and one is an "ultimate." (2004 and 2006)

I agree that they should have.

Note that the donut is still wider than some cars regular tires. I don't recall the widths, but the spare on one of my LSes is wider than the one on the other one.
 
I believe they did it to cut costs....just like they got rid of the strut covers.
 
BrianDye said:
Didnt all LS'es come with full size spares? Mine did, my uncles did, my stepdads did...

Ive never seen an LS on a donut, that'd just be awful!
Click to expand...

my 02 LSE came with a full size spare. looks like a old school black cop car rim/tire.
only used it once, just to get it to the tire shop and plug the hole a glass bottle left in my tire
 
I need to look at my spare see if its been used at all.

Dont think so since i bought the vehicle with the factory tires on it still.
 
The exact same thing happened to the space saver tire in my 01 LS V5 Sport - the tread separated but the carcass still held air. I picked up another unused space saver tire and wheel complete from E-Bay and threw the old one away.
I think there may be some increased rubber deterioration due to the proximity of the battery which can emit some ozone.
 
Frogman said:
Remember guys, just because you never used it, it don't mean it's still good.

Some of those spares are 11 yesrs old now.
Click to expand...

Yeah im sure mine is still good although i would prefer to never use it.
 
Thanks to all for their responses. I'm going to find a 5th. matching wheel and go the full-size spare route.

JD
 
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