Newbies - Let's See Some Pics!

Fantastic color

 

I finally decided to register on the forum. my 2013

00g0g_22sLyQYw5M5z_0CI0lM_1200x900 by southsidedakota posted Feb 12, 2021 at 7:31 PM

 

Glad you did! Welcome!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

First day in Prius chat - should be cruising through Florida in my V this Saturday! Miami Vice style... but 3x slower.

Back by clowndog posted Feb 24, 2021 at 12:30 PM

 

Pre-lift w/factory tires, fresh off the transporter:

 

Post-lift with 20 oz Yeti for scale (7.3" clearance). Also, pics of the WeatherTech Stainless Steel License plate covers. I feel that the steel matches the silver on the Prime nicely (I also got steel valve stem caps.)

 

2021 PRIUS PRIME XLE. 5% ceramic tint. 5000 miles today. Fresh oil. ready to roll

 

2021 Prius Prime, 5% ceramic tint. 5000 miles today. New Oil.

 

Four flats! Bad luck. To my surprise, I never got a flat in my '03 Prius during my six years of ownership, but I did indeed have the magic spare under the trunk mat warding off evil.
I haven't yet been willing for the space hit in my Prime. I'd have to do the "tuck behind the passenger's seat" in mine, because I need the cargo space for my gear.

 

Yeah, 2 regular flats and 2 bad shredders in the same month. All different tires. But you know what, the car handled like a dream. 75 mph next to a k- rail in the car pool lane with a flat no problem, but getting it fixed... that was the problem. Now with my little insurance in the back. no problem.

 

Next to a barrier? Terrifying! I'm glad to hear the car handles well though. I would prefer having a spare in my Prime, more than having that goop stuff. I've changed tires before, but I don't know about that goop.

 

My goop is in a drawer in the garage. It helps make room for the real compressor and tire plugging tools. Then there's the spare tire in case of a blowout.

 

The goop is no good. I used it on my first flat. They can’t repair the tire with that stuff in it.
Spare tire is the only way. It takes up space but it’s better then waiting on a tow to the Dealer, and then buying a new tire from them.

 

Ugh, this is making me wary of the goop!! So it can ruin your tire that may have otherwise been salvageable (e.g., just a nail through the tread), like mess up the TPMS?!! Shame on Toyota to put that in our cars. (I do already carry my own mini "Slime" compressor, cheap I guess but it gets the job done and fits in the rear passenger compartment.)

So what do y'all do for your spare tires? I think I'm sold that I need to carry a spare, esp. since I do some very rural backpacks every year. (I shouldn't expect my streak of lucky tires with the '03 to continue.) Did you buy a spare standard Prime wheel, then mount a full size tire on it?
I am running 215/70R15 Generals on my lifted car, so I'm thinking I would just get another same-sized General as my spare. I see @Salamander_King keeps his tucked behind the passenger seat (when I'm backpacking, I would be using all the cargo space for that gear and no room for tire there.)

At least Toyota gives us a jack and wrench.

 

My full-size spare is an old OEM tire off my previously owned Gen3 that had a non-repairable flat on one tire early on which made me to buy a set of two new tires for the axis leaving one fairly new but used tire. The rim is aftermarket cheap steely. The total cost including the cover you saw on my storage set-up was less than $80 (tire $0, rim ~$50, mount and balance ~$15, cover ~$15).

 

Hmm, on second thought, I may never use my spare (if my Prius luck holds). So why buy an expensive Prius wheel (unless of course I see one for cheap)? I just have to make sure I get the right bolt pattern for a replacement. And I don't need to buy another General tire for $90... maybe I can find a cheap wheel + tire at junkyard. (I've spent so much this year on the taxes and registration already, lol.)

 

I got a Corolla donut spare from Ebay for about $100. There is a threaded hole at each of the front corners of the cargo area with threaded plastic plugs in them. I made a d-ring and used the strap that's in one of the little bins under the cargo area to hold it in place. I keep my OEM EVSE and a heavy extension cord coiled inside the spare's rim.


As for the goop, people say it ruins the tire or the TPMS. I see that claim a lot, but I've never heard that from a repair shop. But they do hate the stuff and I can understand why. Have you ever tried cleaning the inside of a tire??? You don't just pour out the water when you're done. You have to suck it out with a shop vac or something and then blow it dry.

Besides the spare, I have a tire plug kit in my tool bag in the under deck bin at the back and, like you, I keep a Slime air compressor in the compartment in the back seat.

 

I'll have a bit of a harder time finding a wheel/tire combo that's right for me since I'm running bigger tires. Might have to get the wheel and tire separately.

Nice setup!