The Missing Spare...One More time

My understanding is that they never equipped 17" cars with spares. 15" cars had compact spares - except in Middle East (possibly Africa and South America?) where I believe they had full size spares. But I think I've heard that only 15" wheels were available in Middle East.

 

Tirerack has them. I've not bought one (yet) but they list them. Of course, your dealership as well, but pricey.

 

You could get one from the wrecking yard - but be aware that the safe life of a tyre, even if not used, is 6-8 years. There was mention on PriusChat that certain Corolla wheel/tyres will fit PRIUS as a full size spare - a search might find it.

 

Mine (w/17") came with a spare. Maybe a USA thing?

 

Great. Shows that they can if they put their minds to it. Same as full size spares in the Middle East.

In a country where you see this:


also means no Tyre Service. Nor Mobile (Cell) Phone service - and they give us a canister of "GOOP" which may or may-not work. Or a temporary spare restricted to 80km/hr and 80 or 100 km maximum distance. Crazy.

 

That is definitely a good case for a full size spare wheel (or two).

 

As Alan's posted, for fourth gen, Toyota says T125/70D17. Strangely, for 3rd gen, with the same tire sizes (in both 15" and 17"), Toyota says T135/80D16. The 17" temp spare spec is markedly smaller OD than the stock 15" tire OD (roughly 25"), while the 16" option is close to identical.

Accordingly, for sizing temp spare, I would go with the 3rd gen spec.

By "never" you mean with 4th gen? IIRC the earlier model year (US) level 3 Touring had the spare. It is the same spare, regardless if the car comes with 15" or 17" rims.

All 3rd gen's came with spares, regardless of 15" vs 17", fwiw.

There's nothing special about the 17" riims, that requires different spare: the OD is roughly the same.

 

Thanks, Mendel Leisk. I'm going to source a temp spare for my 2018 (17"), I'll be careful to buy the correct diameter.

(I'd rather trade the 17s for someone's 16s or 15s. I honestly prefer my son's 2018 Prius Two with the 15s.)

 

Our stock tires are 17", but we use 15" snow tires through winter, and I find them a lot smoother riding, set around 35 psi, with dug-up-and-patched roads, pot holes, speed bumps.

 

Yes - referring to the Gen 4 thread, and his car, a Gen 4.

 

Funny thing, the stamped out body panel hasn't changed, has a hollow ready to accept a temp spare, or even a full size spare, in some parts of the world. Toyota alters the filler panels, and/or drops an AWD motor into the hollow, making it difficult/impossible to retrofit a spare.

 

...and the threaded hold-down bracket is there, welded into the floor...

 

Silly question: how are the white plastic fasteners, which hold down the foam blocks, removed? These don't screw out, and I fear pulling may damage them.

 

Those little voids look promising:



A slim screw driver blade might release something? Or some sort of two pronged grabber?

 

That may be worth paying a toyota dealership to remove them, alone. Like worth hanging out, looking for a mechanic to walk by, and offer them $20 to use their special tool to remove 'em.

 

Paint can opener would be my opening gambit:



I'd never noticed: it's paint can and bottle opener...

 

I guess painting can be thirsty work.

 

I'm usually very good at finding the hidden "tab" to disassemble virtually any household/automotive/electrical item. How do I do this? I always BREAK one first, then have an "Ah-HAH!" moment.
I've not been able to figure these out, either. When I do, I'm sure I'll administer yet another "dope slap" to myself...yes, I have an extremely high forehead from years of doing so.
PLEASE...someone...anyone...explain it to us!!!

 

They do unscrew, just use some upward pressure on the foam piece while unscrewing. It’s slow but eventually it comes out. If you use force and pry up the white piece it will break.