where do get a spare tire? other solutions?

You should already have a spare tire in your hatch

 

Call a local salvage yard or go to car-parts.com and look them up there. Should be plenty, I'm assuming that spare fits other Toyota models like the Corolla and other smaller Toyota cars.

 

+1 to what JC said.

You both should check under the storage tray in the back, or consult your owner's manual.

 

Yes, as asked and brought to light, you SHOULD already have a spare tire in your hatch.
Do you?
If you do, and haven't been aware of it? Be sure to check the condition and PSI. No good to have a spare, that isn't any good when you need it.
Assuming you have a spare, in good usable condition? Problem solved.

 

I've checked under there and there is a spare (that I've used a few times. ) He asked where he could get one, so I'm assuming he didn't have one (maybe got it used and for some reason the spare wasn't there?) I was giving him a little credit, assuming he has already looked and didn't have one in the usual place most cars keep their spares.

 

Dave, I appreciate where you are coming from, but I tend to shy away from assumptions and would rather have the OP check to see if there is already a spare than send him off to buy one and then find later he already had one.

The OP's post came across as he was not aware the Gen II prius had a spare, rather than the spare was missing and where could he get a replacement.

 

Do you have the jack (sits in the carrier), lug wrench, jack handle (those sits in the bottom off the storage box), carrier for jack (sits in the center off spare wheel), and the bolt for carrier and spare wheel? If not you need to get all those. Spare wheel is useless if you can not get it on. Maybe you can get the deal on all the stuff you need from junkyard.

 

One place not to go is the Discount Tire / America's Tire store you started this thread with. I was there today and they quoted me $189 for the Prius spare. $199 for the spare on the '03 Echo. The Echo spare is still the original, now flat with cracked rubber. I haven't actually looked at the Prius spare and my wife has that car today. I think the original spare is in it, though, so I just priced spares for both cars.

At least the Echo will handle a full size tire in the spare spot under the trunk floor without giving up much trunk space. I'll just find a cheap rim and put a cheap tire on it.

I'll watch this thread and check the suggestions for the Prius. Thanks, all.

 

I've got a pdf of the 2005 owner's manual, think that's the same as 2008, not sure. Anyway, on page 315, there's tire spec's. While the regular tires are 15", it appears the spare is 16", specifically: T125/70D16 96M.



Here's a TireRack example:

Bridgestone Tracompa-3

 

Does the dealership try to sock it to you with tire spare is optional when buying a new car? I know most dealers are crooks
trying to weasel AS much cash as potable when selling cars. One I will never pay extra for driver and front driver carpets

 

You should stay with the EXACT tire mentioned in the documentation Mendel provided, unless you KNOW for absolute, positive that any other size will fit and you try it out BEFORE you need it.

Junkyards and tire dealers can help you out, but most junkyards are run by licensed pirates and you are going to pay top dollar. My local Blackbeard wanted $135 for a used Corolla jack.

One option would be to troll Craigslist. If you are in a larger Metro area, you may find someone selling off parts of a wrecked Prius and could possibly get a better deal. Otherwise, be ready to end up paying $300 or even quite a bit more if you need the tire, the wheel, the hold-down, the jack, the jack accessory

 

I would spend the $80 and buy off ebay to save time.

WIthout a spare you will need to carry a 12v tire inflator and plug repair kit is the other way to go.

 

A decent quality manual pump will work too.