Spare Tire Caution and a Question about 18" Rims on a V8

[Mark_888]

That happens very often. I suggest to people that they have their spare checked for air at least every other oil change. I feel like it's one of those courtesy things like checking oil at a gas station fill up that don't happen anymore unless you ask.

Unfortunately, it requires that the trunk be emptied, and then the donut spare be removed and turned over, just to check the pressure. I had Costco put nitrogen in my spare, because nitrogen does not leak as fast as does air (no charge for nitrogen at Costco).

 

[tuckerdog1]

What would you like pictures of? The styrafoam?

Sorry, no pics necessary. I was wondering if you might have removed those foam supports at the bottom of the pit where the spare sits. I just took a tire off the back of the car & tried to set it in there. Sitting on those foam supports, I can't get the trunk floor to come all the way down. Is your trunk floor flat & did you have to remove those supports to make that happen?

Tuckerdog1

 

[tuckerdog1]

Plus, it is not easy for one of those to fill a tire to 60 PSI. I am not saying they all can't do it, but I wouldn't bet that some of them cannot.

That's true. And most that will make the pressure are fairly large & pricey. I got lucky. When VW did their diesel buyback, I kept the air pump that came with my Touareg. Small and powerful. It fits nicely next to the donut spare ( along with a little portable battery jumper ).

Tuckerdog1

 

[Windchaser]

That happens very often. I suggest to people that they have their spare checked for air at least every other oil change. I feel like it's one of those courtesy things like checking oil at a gas station fill up that don't happen anymore unless you ask.

I have a large compressor in my garage and I just add this to the checklist every couple of weeks on the weekend when I am doing the stuff around the house. It is kind of a pain that you have to pull the sapre out to check the pressure though. When I do it though I check all of the cars at the same time.

 

[Milano]

Unfortunately, it requires that the trunk be emptied, and then the donut spare be removed and turned over, just to check the pressure. I had Costco put nitrogen in my spare, because nitrogen does not leak as fast as does air (no charge for nitrogen at Costco).

They have an extension for this kind of thing.

On Amazon it's called "Accu-gage - Chek A Spare, Valve Extender" and it's $8. I haven't pulled my spare yet, but I'm glad you told me. I'll be putting one of these on there. (And keeping pliers in the tire well because my luck it won't come off when I need it to). That's not the only one, I've seen a few more but I have no idea what's reputable. You can buy all sorts of 90 degree bends and such to extend a tire valve, someone creative may be able to buy a few things and come up with something better than I can think of.

::EDIT:: - The wheel on my spare is a pretty open, large-spoke design. Not sure if you all have the same.. I think a simple 90 degree extender would work to be able to fill it up with a truck style chuck without moving it.