It happened. Flat tire. No spare.

Hi Washingtonian - Thank you for that suggestion, but are you certain that would fit and work properly? It seems like Henri has thoroughly tested his. Thanks - Lee

 

Hi Mendel - Thank you for that suggestion, too, but I have the same question as for Washingtonian: Are you certain that those 3rd and 4th generation Prius tires would fit and work properly? It seems like Henri has thoroughly tested his. Thanks - Lee

 

I bought a spare tire online that is, I'm told (thought I can't know for certain), from a 2012 Prius. I'm attaching some photos of it, and listing some of the relevant numbers from the wheel and the tire:

On the wheel: J16X4T DOT CMC 2 15 TL 18
On the tire: Firestone "Radial Tempa Spare", and "T135/80R16 101M"

As others have suggested, I intend to test this spare before presuming it works (and I'll report the results here). However, before I do that, I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone here could answer:

1. Looking at the spare tire I bought and the numbers on the tire and the wheel, can any of you tell me whether it should or should not work? I don't want to go to the trouble of trying if it clearly won't work.

2. If I try it, how will I know for certain it fits? I mean, would it be possible that I could get it on my Prime and tighten it up and it seem to fit but actually not be the proper size? Or would it be clear whether it is? I really don't want to put it on and think it is good only to find it damages my Prime when I try to drive around on it a bit.

Thanks for any tips.

 

Checked mine:

Tire has identical size, albeit different make.

The rim is close, except:

1. Mine is tractor-yellow on front face.
2. The letters on mine start out the same, that vary a bit, not sure if it matters:

 

My 2017 Prius Prime Advanced has 15 inch tires . Don’t all Primes have 15 inch?

 

This is the temp spare.

 

Yes, but you have to use a tire calculator to see how the outer diameter compares. These are 16" wheels on our spares, but the tire is noticeably less tall. My spare tire/wheel combination ends up being 24.5" in diameter vs. 25" in diameter for the 15" OEM wheel/tire configuration. So, even though the wheel the spare is mounted on is larger (16" spare vs. 15" OEM), the overall diameter of the spare wheel and tire together is actually 1/2" smaller.

There is a tire calculator here that shows you comparisons (measurements and graphic representations) of different tire sizes you enter: Tire Size Comparison

 

Out of curiosity, do you know the tire size of your spare tire (the tire mounted to your yellow spare tire wheel rather than the size of the wheel itself, which you have already provided).

 

Fellas,
My solution to the spare tire/rim question was not to find the cheapest combo, it was to find a NEW, and universally (I hope) wheel/tire combo, that anyone could order from a vendor in North America. I wanted my solution to be fairly reproducible, and wanted new components for safety. The other suggestions offered by other posters are probably ok, and certainly cheaper; I just did not have access to used components or time to screw around. I then tested the results to be sure I, and others following my suggestions would not be left stranded with a flat.

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AChoiredTaste.com

 

I now have winter and summer tires so I have four full size spares. I just need to put one in the car.

 

It was same as your pic.

I've laid my temp spare atop one of our regulars, then lined them up with a carpenter square: they're VERY close in diameter, less than 1/8" variation, I forget which was bigger.

 

Okay, great, thanks. Now I just have to try it out (to be 100% certain it fits) and find a bag to carry it in when it's in my car.

 

I would guess that even if you buy a compact spare new there is a good chance you are buying an old tire. Do they really sell that many?

Is a flat tire a real emergency or just an inconvenience?

 

Depends. There's Work, the Kids, Doctor visits, car full of groceries, ect... I can't speak for anyone else, but when I'm going "anywhere" there's usually a reason and a schedule to that purpose...and 10 minutes is the best option. Perhaps once I just get to old, sickly and/or weak to change a tire...I might call someone. By then however, my driving days are probably just about over.

 

There was a story on a news show years ago (I think it was 60 Minutes, but maybe 20/20 or another) about how many of the full-size tires you buy new are actually years old. They warned that you must find the date code and know how to read it. That's why I always like to go to a big retailer like Discount Tire or Costco. I think if you have a relatively common tire size, they won't be selling anything old. However, I must admit I still don't read the date codes.

Your suspicion about "new" spare tires seems logical. I guess you really need to check the date code on them, though I don't know how to.

 

I am guilty of not looking at tire dates myself at least when I buy new ones but here is how you read them.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

 

I just checked my new tire dates from Tire Rack they were made on the 44th week of 2017.

Not too old I guess.

 

Even then, it's gonna go fast if you've got a spare: 20 minutes help from the AAA guy, and you're on your way. Without the spare, you end up with a tow and interminable delay.

I kinda avoid reading the dates, on purpose. It'll just stress you out, should you or shouldn't you, call them on tires that are getting on a bit?? And: warehouse stored tires age slowly, I've read.

 

We both know you're preaching to the choir. I do plan to stop slinging Aircraft Wheels long before then though.