Are Fiero Spare Tires Usable? (Page 2/4)
pmbrunelle DEC 11, 08:35 PM
According to Michelin:
https://www.michelin.ca/CA/...-need-new-tires.html

a tire is "good" for 10 years.

The spare might be OK, seeing as it's in a cocooned environment, but nobody would put their butt on the line to tell you it's an acceptable practice.
Why would anyone spend money to prove the road safety of old tires?
The only thing that could accomplish is to reduce new-tire sales at best, and an invitation for lawsuits at worst.

Basically, you're on your own to either find a replacement, or roll the dice with using it.

[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 12-11-2018).]

Red98422 DEC 12, 12:38 AM
I’ll go ahead and be that guy. I used the factory spare tire from my car about a month back for a total distance of 30 miles, top speed was about 45mph for about five minutes or so. Seemed to do just fine. Including a panic stop because some kid fell off his bike in front of me

That being said there are a couple of things if you find yourself with no other option at least don’t mount it to the front if it was a front that popped switch it with a good rear and put the spare back there.

I am not advocating this in any manner, just stating that I have in fact used it and in my case nothing untoward happened
theogre DEC 12, 02:30 AM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:
I'd like to know if the spare tire has a specific role / purpose during a crash.
OR, is the story more along the lines of: the Fiero was crash-tested with the spare, therefore crash test results without the spare in place cannot be guaranteed.

You need to watch available crash test videos (several on YT) and know what "Crumple Zones" are and how their done for a given car.
The Fiero videos available only shows full crash in front and rear. Fiero is ok in those tests but could likely fail in current testing done by IIHS like frontal offset/overlap tests.

Example: Do you know how just the hood is design to fail in a wreck and not get push thru the windshield?

I believe Fiero Spare Tire likely does little in a crash but Any help it does is better then just air. The tire is above and behind the front cross member in plastic tire well held by that thin rod attach to same plastic at one end. (Brake end bracket is not attach to metal.) Too bad none of the NHTSA videos open the hood after.

Is odd that owners think spare is good for safety yet many of same people put ~35# battery with whatever bucket held there by same plastic tire well. The tire and battery can quickly break the plastic and can turn cannon ball and worse short out the battery dumping 300+ amps causing a fire or an explosion. Shouldn't keep gas etc in the front for same reason but many do just that... (Gas cans in trunk have problem too. If cans leak, can open the deck lid to a fireball. Fiero trunks can get hot and many gas cans leak vapor when hot.)
fierosound DEC 12, 09:16 AM

quote
Originally posted by Steel:

I've now removed the spare from my car as it will not clear my brake upgrades. I'm working on a compartment modification and a new spare that will clear my brakes front/back when needed. I drive my cars very hard and do a lot of long trips and don't feel like sitting on the side of the road begging for help in the middle of nowhere. .



Do you need a 16" or 17" spare?

I have the LeBaron 11.25" brake rotor upgrade on my 87 GT.
A Subaru 16" wheel with Firestone T115/70/16 clears the brakes and fits the Fiero wheel tub perfectly.
We found a BRAND NEW T115/70R16 tire in a Chevy Sonic (but the wheel is 5x105)

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[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 12-12-2018).]

Dennis LaGrua DEC 12, 09:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by Red98422:

I’ll go ahead and be that guy. I used the factory spare tire from my car about a month back for a total distance of 30 miles, top speed was about 45mph for about five minutes or so. Seemed to do just fine. Including a panic stop because some kid fell off his bike in front of me

That being said there are a couple of things if you find yourself with no other option at least don’t mount it to the front if it was a front that popped switch it with a good rear and put the spare back there.

I am not advocating this in any manner, just stating that I have in fact used it and in my case nothing untoward happened



If I had no other choice I would also use the old spare, but where does the flat tire go when you are on a trip and the trunk is full.? From what I can see a full size tire won't fit in the place of the spare. The only Fieros that could transport it are the few with the luggage racks on the deck. The solution might be to carry a fender cover and bungee the tire down on the deck lid.

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Red98422 DEC 12, 10:18 AM
Definitely doesn’t fit in the front....I tried.

In my case I threw it on the deck lid, I have a god awful huge “fast and furious” wing which actually came in use as a support for it to tie down.
however with most folks actually having decent paint jobs/nicer cars this becomes less of an option. I suppose that you could keep a movers blanket tucked under the spare tire for that pourpose (I have two wrench sets there now) shouldn’t take up a bunch of room and you can keep some line with it as well. That is if you haven’t relocated the battery there. Maybe store a movers blanket behind one of the seats? It’s definitely doable with some thinking

In a slightly unrelated note....have you ever seen what an unmodified Fiero with a spare looks like? Good lord it looks absolutely ridiculous!
theogre DEC 12, 11:11 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
If I had no other choice I would also use the old spare, but where does the flat tire go when you are on a trip and the trunk is full.? From what I can see a full size tire won't fit in the place of the spare. The only Fieros that could transport it are the few with the luggage racks on the deck. The solution might be to carry a fender cover and bungee the tire down on the deck lid.

Owner's book shows full size tires doesn't fit there and use the trunk. (Get them from http://www.fieronews.net/ )
Fiero type Luggage racks work too but need more tie down then simple, often way cheap, bungee. Anything heavy can move and be a cannon ball in/thru the rear glass or windshield behind you. (New racks on SUV and most others have load limits too and some even printed on the car somewhere. Many are 100# max because of how there made and heavier make a top heavy vehicle that easily rolls.)

In Most places... Remember If you have a wreck and whatever gets loose and hurt/kill someone, you are on the hook for everything any load does in/after a crash.

I use my rack often. Heavy and/or dense loads often need all tie down points in the rack and more to carry safe even for a few miles. The rack doesn't have strength to carry much and could rip out or break tie points easily even tho a load is < 50#. Sometimes I use ropes/straps to tie to/under the lid directly. Even remove vents to get better access/clearance for them even only driving 2-3 miles to bring stuff home from HD, flea market, etc. Is a pain to do this but I have several driver cut off me off etc over the years and loads don't move.
Cajun DEC 12, 12:05 PM
To respond to the original question; I had an opportunity to utilize my spare last year on a road trip returning home in the middle of the night. My spare is new or was new at the time I used it. Drove over 250 miles on it at highway speeds without any problems or issues.
pmbrunelle DEC 12, 12:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:
In Most places... Remember If you have a wreck and whatever gets loose and hurt/kill someone, you are on the hook for everything any load does in/after a crash.



You guys' liability insurance doesn't cover for such mistakes?
theogre DEC 12, 04:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:
You guys' liability insurance doesn't cover for such mistakes?

Ever Read any Ico Policies?
If they paid for crap like that.... Ico have Caps on pay out even for the best policies. Most drivers have "State Minimum" policies that won't even cover many hospital E-room cost let alone if admitted for a few days so can sue in most place. Even when they have Health Insurance... Copays etc will be a problem and likely billed to your car insurance easily reaching the Cap. Car Ico doesn't pay for criminal costs if ticketed/arrested.