Anyone tried this Spare Kit from Modern Spare?

they get high marks over at bolt.org

 

I just got the spare not the kit though as I already had the jack and wrench

 

I just received my spare from MS. Just the wheel/tire though.
Pretty nice. Paid the price....

 

are you going to check the fit and ride?

 

Yes… as I have a 2024 Prime there so was no option to stow a spare under the cargo floor and it really eats up the cargo space. If you read the manual on flat tires, they indicate how the mini inflator and the slime injector work. Well here is my rationale for this expense - they work in specific cases.
- The low profile tire injects additional risk for a “pinch flat”mwith a possible sidewall tear if you smack into a curb or deep pothole and that will not be remedied by the sealant and injector… the manual cites nail punctures.
- And if you use their kit, the sealant will clog and ruin the pressure sensor. The tire shop or Toyota dealer will need to repair the puncture, install a new pressure sensor, and then reprogram the new sensor. Likely very costly.
- The dealer advises if your sealant and inflator don’t work, call Toyota Road Assistance. If local, that is fine but they would have no means to repair your tire and do not carry a mounted spare that fits the Prius (I asked them when they came and jump started my 12 volt battery). I also travel to areas of Vermont and northern NY State where there is no cell service so calling for assistance is not an option.

So, bottom line, I have occasions where I need to be self sufficient with tire repair. I will carry my new Modern Spare on long journeys in rural New England and Canada but will mostly leave it in my garage while driving local to my home. Modern Spare was actually recommended by the Toyota parts guy who I asked to get me what I needed for a spare. He was #1 not sure he could get the materials and #2 he indicated the cost would be near or over what I would pay for a commercial solution at Modern Spare. I had an independent mechanic also point me in their direction rather than Jerry rigging something from the parts bin. The Modern Spare is very well done as a package. My only concern now is strapping it down; in the event of an accident I don’t want it flying around the inside of the car.

 

I have mine behind the drivers seat so I can use the whole cargo area

 

For about the same cost of the Modern Spare, I'd much prefer buying a used wheel exactly the same as the ones that came on the car and the same exact tires.

This is very important, especially if you have an all wheel drive model.

RV tire covers are cheap on Amazon.

 

The MS is just about the same height as OEM. A full size tire as a spare won't fit in the back where the spare would go.
For now mine is behind the drivers seat but it will eventually go where the spare is intended.

Not worried about driving 50 miles on the MS if I'm in the middle of nowhere

 

So it does fit there. I have the seat all the way back- will it still fit? Thank you

 

It's narrower than the OEM. I'm 5'-11" and it fits. The seat isn't all the way back to the max though

 

Thank you.
I found the $350.- price tag from MS too high, did some research and bought a used 135-90-16 donut with the 5x114 bolt pattern on Ebay (95.-, free shipping) Turns out, these are readily available - same size/bolt pattern for Nissan Altima (many years). I do like the look of the MS, though

 

The thing about the MS spare is that it's about the same height as OEM so if i'm in the middle of nowhere I can drive on it for 50-100 miles

 

Can drive even further with the full size spare that I carry.

 

Nice. How do you secure the full size spare in the trunk?

 

There are tie down points and an OEM strap that allows a full sized wheel to be secured on the top of the cargo area.

When the donut is installed, the take off wheel will not fit the space from which the donut is removed.

Two of the same kind of strap can be had at any Walmart for less than $6. in the hardware department.

Not actually needed, but I used a RV tire cover over the full size spare.

 

Ah gotcha, thank you. If you’ve a moment, could you snap a photo for reference?

 

Indeed. So is the one from Ebay.

 

I've uploaded a file on the Toyota approved method of strapping a tire to the cargo area. It is not very clear but gives you the information that you need.



Laying the Modern Spare with its case without strapping it down would be dangerous.

The Gen 5 Prius has these tie down cargo hooks shown on page 375 of the owner's manual.

I strapped mine in with the inside of the tire facing up, so I can store stuff in the "bowl" and cover the whole assembly with the RV tire cover.

 

Has the bolt pattern changed for the gen5? I believe my gen4 is 5x100 bolt pattern. I think some of the Subarus are 5x114. I grabbed one of those at a junk yard, my first time through. They were nice enough to swap it out for the correct one.