OEM spare tire install

Now its just a matter of finding it, or an importer who wants to order what amounts to a tiny item.

I wonder if there's an alternative DIY option I could consider using at some point, in the event I can't get this thing. It seems like such a slam dunk low cost accessory to offer I'm surprised we don't have it in North America. I have been planning to get a generator for a long time now, ever since a really terrible storm happened here. But if the car can replace that need, I will gladly take it. It's probably significantly more fuel efficient and quieter when doing the same job too for short stints. I obviously don't think it should run 24 hours or anything doing the job.

 

Thanks for laying out the full solution in detail. When I bought a Corolla pre-covid, they all came with the boot space "enhancement", i.e. no spare. I made inclusion of the full kit part of the deal.

An alternative for some people might be just carrying a tire only. If you have a problem on the road, is the most frustrating part going to be not having a jack and wrench? Or is it going to be getting towed into a town that doesn't have your tire size?

For as often as anyone sits behind me, I could see sitting a tire in the rear passenger footwell.

 

IIRC 4th gens that came without a spare at least had the scissor jack and lug nut wrench. Toyota is applying "continuous improvement" credo, to their cutbacks.

 

It's gratifying that they put this much effort into looking out for us.

I haven't changed a wheel roadside in many years. I don't know that I would try it with the stubby wrench that comes with kits. It may weigh a lot, but a long breaker bar and socket could probably find a nook somewhere amongst all that styrofoam.

 

As long as they're torqued to the spec'd 76 ft/lb's, should be no problems with the factory supplied style of wrench.

There's other, long-gone goodies. Owner's Manual recommends to chock the wheel diagonally opposite the flat. There is a compact, steel pair of wheel chocks from Toyota, for this purpose, AFAIK it at least used to be supplied, for Japanese Domestic Market.

TOYOTA SOARER EMERGENCY WHEEL CHOCK STAND AND POUCH 91-00 – Import Nation Australia

 

The problem I foresee is the application of my old man muscles and soft hands reliably getting 80 ft/lbs thought what looks to be a one foot wrench after I've already jacked up a car gotten five nuts loose and removed the old wheel..

 

Maybe throw stow a pipe extension then. Too: try it, in advance. Check out the scissor jack operation too, Toyota supplied one is a mixed-bag, Honda's are better.

Alway good to break loose the lug nuts before raising the wheel; then it's not precariously dancing on the scissor jack. Just slightly loosen them; leaving them snug.

 

Spare Tire, foams and boards all stay intact with no noise or shifting after plenty of driving. Success to all my LE peeps. Happy spare tire modding

 

I am including a 4-way lug wench to my spare tire install. Foam inserts fit our Limited great. The aftermarket donut spare i got from Discount Tire appears to be a whisker wider than expected. The deck rubs the tire but doesn't wobble. I'm not sure where I'll store the lug wrench, but I have always carried one. I end up with a roadside tire change about once a year. Twice last year in my Ford Flex. The Prius is my Wife's.

 

So, I am going to end my participation in this thread saying that I spoke today loud and clear with my money and I purchased a new car that came with a spare tire - and I did not have to pay $1800 above the car cost and I did not have to move mountains to get a factory warranty (Factory product NOT JM&A Product) (Not the same) for 100K miles.........any way it does not have a Toyota logo - Sorry Toyota - you are dead to me as the great Shark Tank Leader Kevin O Leary would say.......you are dead to me. Nice job cutting cost - how did that work out for you?

 

You guys are awesome and good luck with your new Prius and the 2.0L - I wish you all the best! Wish I could have went that way.....Thanks for all the help as well.

 

The AWD connector cover flange nut has been replaced by: 90178-A0132
Toyota 90179-06274 Clip
1996-2023 Toyota 90179-06274

• Part Description Bumper Cover Nut
• Part Name Code 33821G
• Replaced by 90178-A0132
• Manufacturer Toyota

This thread has been super helpful as I just ordered all of the parts.

Also, just happened to get a JD Power survey so i took the time to in the last question about 1 thing you love or hate about the Prius to explain the how a real spare tire is needed by many given they distance from a repair facility or even cellular access. If they at least had a reasonablly priced dealer installed kit to help those how don't have the capability to do it themselves or find the great resources here put togther the list of parts and videos to make it even easier.

SparcEE

 

The only problem (for Toyota) with doing that:

If they designed the car so it was relatively easy to add the spare plus all the associated items (scissor jack and lug nut wrench), and virtually all buyers were shelling out for dealerships to install this kit, it would make it patently obvious, what a cash grab it is.

KInda like air travel tickets included a charge for having a seat.

 

I ordered the styrofoam pieces cited in some posts here and elsewhere. However, those pieces that go around the spare tire do NOT fit the 2024 (I have an LE) The "spare tire" compartment is not as deep as the 2023 so those pieces stand up about 4 or 5 inches higher than the floor is without the tire. The only solution is plywood or shave the 2023 styrofoam.... alas.

 

This works fine on my 2024 Limited and it sits flush. The LE has the lower floor, regardless if it’s 2023 or 2024.

 

We got stuck in Chaco Canyon, 40 miles of gravel road from pavement, then farther to a tire store, with a mini-spare that had deflated to 30 psi (from recommended 65) because it is hidden under the Sienna. No room to change the flat before we had to drive to a wide spot for a change.
So I'm just hoping I never get a flat in the gen 5 Prime.