Poll: Are you getting a spare for your prius plug in?

I did get a full size spare. It is heavy - 36 pounds with steel rim and tire. I just like the security for road trips. For local driving it stays in the garage. In fact this weekend is the first road trip that I will take in the PiP. I am anxious to see what mileage I get driving it almost entirely in hybrid mode. We are going 450 miles round-trip. I will put the spare tire behind the driver seat and fold down the rear seat to hold that snug against the back of the driver seat. I must say that in 44 years of driving there have only been a few times that I needed a spare. However, it only takes once.

Perhaps the better question is for those of us that have spares in our 2nd car: have we checked them to see if they are road ready? In my Big Red Dodge Caravan that I just sold I came out one night from visiting my father-in-law in the nursing home and the tire was flat on the van. In the caravan the tire is underneath the back side of the car. We tried to get it to drop down but it was rusted up against the bottom of the van. I used my roadside assistance and called for help. A strapping young man showed up and he could not get it down either. He inflated the flat tire and we checked it for leaks as best we could and we could not hear any air coming out. His advice, "giver a try". I was only about 10 miles from home. The roads were good with nice shoulders and the speed limit was 45 mph or less. So I did try it and it did not make it. Got about halfway home and it ran flat again. So I pulled into a neighborhood and had someone pick me up. The next morning I went back and had a flat bed come out and take it to my local service station. The service station put it on the lift and said the spare was rusted up against the bottom of the caravan. They eventually got it down, lubricated the system so that it worked again. They just patched the tire on the van. Fortunately I never had to use it (the spare) again.

The point? We may have spare tires but are they road ready and inflated?

Rob

 

One of the reasons I really like my Toyota RAV4 is that is came with a full size spare, and a TPMS sensor. Not sure if they put TPMS sensors in donuts, but you are right, most people forget about keeping the spare at proper pressure.

 

How about half way between LA & Vegas, on a weekend?
Good luck with Barstow Toyota helping you

 

I agree, my car is leased as well and I am looking for a cheap donut spare etc. The junkies don't have anything yet. Earlier this year I had a blowout on my Lexus. Simple call to AAA and they put on the spare. If it had been the prius I would still be waiting for a tow and that was 7 mos ago.

 

i got a $150. credit from my dealer for screwing up my pip order. so i'm going to buy a compact spare from them. $400. for tire, wheel and mounting! -150. = 250. and 15% off coupon = $212.50 plus tax, yikes! i'm only going to throw it in the back for longer trips.

 

I've only had 2 flats in the last 15 years. Both last year with the PIP. DAMN.
Toyota Care sent a flatbed truck for the 1st one and I was able to drive to the dealer for the 2nd.

I have NO plans to get a spare and waste the cargo space.
I also removed the fix-a-flat and its compressor, since I would never use it either.

 

Most flats I've had, I noticed with the car at home. Most common cause was a nail or screw still in the tire creating a small leak. I've had three flats while driving, running over something in the road. Those resulted in damage to the tire requiring new tires. One of my most terrifying experiences was changing a tire on the side of a busy interstate. I removed the factory 15" wheels on my PIP and replaced with 17"s. Doubt I'll ever carry one as a spare. Toyota would have been smart to provide a donut tire with the PIP and give us the option to carry or store at home.

 

Not planning to get a spare. When would I carry it in my car? All the time? Some of the time? Only the day I actually get the flat?

Last time I changed out a flat tire was 1988, while an undergrad driving my 1967 Dodge Dart with non-steelbelt tires that were nearly worn bald. Haven't had a flat since. 25 years.

I do think it's important that I (and other drivers of my PiPA) learn how to access and use the PiP's repair kit. But even if I get a flat tire and I know how to use the repair kit? The PiPA has SOS roadside assist, baby! I've got to get my money's worth somehow.

 

I would risk not running carrying a spare since I have roadside assistance (AAA & Toyota). However, if I was to go on a long road trip (over 5 hr drive), I would use one of my OEM wheel/tire for peace of mind (I'm running 17s but still have my stock wheels).

BTW, if any of the paranoid SoCal PIP owners need a spare for a road trip, let me know. I can let you borrow one of my OEM 15s.

 

Hey ! I graduated from Barstow High School. How can you demean one of the garden spots of America!!

 

No, I never change tires myself. Plan to get AAA with towing coverage, or Toyota's Platinum care with free towing.

 

You already have Toyota's coverage with the purchase of your car. They will send assistance if you have a flat, and will tow you to a dealer if the onboard repair kit won't fix the flat. I think Toyota added an extra year after getting lots of backlash over not having a spare.

 

That's fine, if you get rid of the car and buy another in 3 years.

 

I couldn't afford even one Prius Plug-in, let alone a spare!

 

i would rather change a tire and continue driving to my destination or a repair facility than wait for a flatbed and have my car taken to a dealer. especially when the dealer is closed.

 

I think most people would like to have a spare, no question. However, PIP owners don't have that option unless they want to use up the limited space in the trunk to carry the spare. Personally, it would be tough for me to carry a spare and still have room for our double stroller, baby bag, etc.

 

Just the thought of getting a flat or blowout at 11:00 or 12:00 pm then calling for flat bed and be taken to a CLOSED dealer. Then what? Wait all night, call a cab to go where? AAA or Toyota help is all fine provided everything is open, tire is in stock, etc etc. With a spare you or help can change it and your on your way, get the blowout replaced whenever.

 

I wouldn't be driving that late on long road trips so I wouldn't worry about if shops were open or not. I'd be at a hotel sleeping. If I'm out on the town and I get a flat then I'd just get it towed to the nearest dealer and taxi home. It's not like I live in the middle of nowhere.

If you're into driving long hours late at night then yes, you risk of being SOL if you get a flat with no spare.

Everyone's opinion is going to be different. If you want to throw a spare in your PIP to have that peace of mind then be my guest. The OP was asking for a survey. There's no right or wrong answer here.

 

How about an option "When Toyota figures out a way to include a spare I'll consider getting one"? If Toyota keeps an eye on this site it might motivate them to actually do some engineering on PIP, make the plug-in more than just a bolt-on to a regular Prius.

I know Toyota's not alone in not supplying spares. Honda, in one instance with their Fit line, includes a compact spare with the Manual transmission model, but with the automatic only provides an inflation kit. The compact spare can be purchased optionally, for maybe an additional $300.

There's no fit problems, the omission of a compact spare was solely to reduce weight of the automatic model, to gain them a better fuel economy rating, maybe tip them over some threshold.

 

There is no hint of this. At one time one member of the US Marketing team (who has no part in design) frequented PriusChat, but he no longer does, and his replacement is not a frequent visiter. (and again has no part in design, just marketing. Remember, these are the folks who thought Prius v would be a good name in the US for the Prius Alpha/Prius+)