So, apparently my car has the Spare tire mount kit. It sits in my trunk, behind the back seat. Is there somewhere else for it to go? It is really in my way there.

The only reason I ask is because I see that you can buy the kit separately. Therefore I assume that it does not go there if you don't have it.

Help me out here.

 

It's an option that many 8 owners, including me, choose to live without. A number of owners bought the spare, but keep it in the garage. A few have decided to keep it unmounted in the trunk, but this might be dangerous, with it having the potential to become a lethal projectile in an accident.

 

...why would you buy a spare tire and then leave it in the garage? the whole point of having a spare tire is that you're driving and you get a flat or something and you need to roll home... can't do that when the spare is sitting in your garage and not in your trunk.
And dont try to explain yourself by saying that you'll use the "fix-a-flat-goo" that came with the car. That stuff destroys your tire and you'd have to buy a new one. So, it'd probably make more sense to buy a brand new tire instead of the spare and store it in your garage, since you'll end up buying one anyway if you use the goo.

If you unmount the spare tire, it is not a danger to yourself. If you got in an accident, it'd have to be a pretty big accident to cause the trunk to fly open and the spare fly at dangerously, and if the accident is that big, you've got bigger problems at hand. The bigger concern should be stuffy flying about in the cabin. The trunk is safe.

And to address the original post, no, there is nowhere else to mount the tires. It is designed for the roof of your trunk and that is it, there is nowhere else to put it.

 

'I assume that it does not go there if you don't have it.'

Unarguable logic, Brian. If you haven't got it, it isn't there!!

There isn't any black or white position to take about the spare tyre (sorry about the spelling). If you are going to do a lot of long distance driving, you need to be quite rich to afford to leave it in the garage -- if you have a flat, the goo destroys the tyre it 'repairs' and you are looking at the cost of a new tyre (maybe they are cheaper in the US than in Australia).

Around town, when you can get home reasonably confortably to get the spare, it's smart to take the tyre and the holding frame out of the trunk and leave them in the garage -- it's only a matter of taking out two bolts, about five minutes work. Not only a more spacious trunk, but the ski port opening between the rear seats becomes usuable again for carrying long items - like skis.

For the sake of the few minutes it takes to install the frame and the spare, or take it out, there's no absolute argument for always taking it out or always leaving it in.

Ron

 

I have no idea why someone would do this: I did not buy a spare. I wanted the trunk space, although I am rethinking this. If I did get one, I would travel with it.

Maybe this was rhetorical. I did not think I needed to explain myself. I simply stated my choice and the choice of others who have addressed this issue in this forum. If and when I have a flat tire and do not have a spare, I will decide at that time the best method of dealing with it. If I am in the middle of nowhere at midnight, the goo might look good. If I am in my driveway, it may not.

As far as safety goes, others have mentioned potential safety issues with a heavy object not anchored in the trunk. I have no proof; however, I am not willing to go on record as having told someone this could not be a concern.

 

The spare is pretty hefty. That's a lot of kinetic energy in a collision. Not from the trunk flying open, but from impacting the back of the rear seats. Not to mention bouncing around and damaging stuff during everyday driving. If you're going to carry the tire I would definitely use the mounting kit as intended.

 

Jellybean and I got the thing supplied with the car as standard equipment. I don't keep it in the car either, AFAIK few Australians do. If you're a city dweller, roadside assist is a phonecall away. Just keep your tire pressures up, and the tires in good condition. This way, you'll minimise the chance of a puncture/blowout. I've had two or three in twenty odd years of driving....I'll take the risk. (The spare weighs 26lbs, BTW)

Cheers,
Gomez.