spare tire

[Axitech]

I am planning on several 1000+ mile trips this coming Spring through Fall. I do not have a spare. The Manx has two different size wheel/tire assemblies on it. Same diameter wheels, but different widths and tire sizes. I am fairly certain I want to get a full size spare on board. Which one though is the question.
Several things to consider:
weight
front tires have less weight on them and therefore less wear/less chance of trouble
rears carry more weight= more wear, but also weigh more as a spare
a spare in the rear size COULD be used on both ends of the buggy in case of a blowout without damaging the transaxle, where a front might cause damage to the differential

Thoughts on all this? What areyou all doing for spares if anything? I do have a AAA membership, but they aren't especially great here in PA. Thanks for any input, Bob

[bim55]

You can possibly skip it all together like many do, how often do you actually get a flat, or treat it like a $50,000 BMW, Mercedes or other high end car and carry a can of fix a far with a small compressor.
_________________
Boston Bob E.
www.bimelliott.com - www.deserterownersgroup.org

[vincent9993]

We put over 25,000 miles on ours last summer with no spare tire/wheel.
Vincent and France 2011 travel recap.

If I recall correctly, Bruce suggested to mount the flat up front (assuming you get a rear flat) and drive to the nearest repair shop.

We carry a tire repair kit (plug and driver) and a small air compressor on all our long term trips.

The thing to consider is space, if you're driving a multi day trip, you'll probably going to need the space for personal gear. No sense carrying a spare imho.

[Axitech]

Vincent, Thanks for the input. I had looked all through your pics of your travels and hadn't spotted a spare. That was the answer I was hoping to hear from someone with the 'saddle time' to KNOW the best answer. I appreciate the input. Previous responder to this question had mentioned the tire repair can. I am operating in a diminshed capacity tonight due to a migraine, so I'm a bit foggy. I have had a tire plugging kit in my saddlebags on the Harley for twenty years. I don't know why it never occurred to me to buy one for the buggy.
Thanks to all for the input. Bob

[Tom_Kathleen]

We had a spare on our long trips. Never needed it. It was attached on the front of the "storage box" behind the drivers seat. It was a thin aluminum Ford Mustang rim with a tire that was 1/2 in height between the front & rear tire dia. We had Ford pattern rims on the car. But that spare made me pick the Ford pattern. Tom
_________________
Manxter #16, 1962 Manx & Kick-Out SS #16 (WIP)
Manx Club, CVA, SCCA & RBC

[jsturtlebuggy]

For the Meyers Manx Kick Out Bruce redesign the spare tire well for the use of a 4.80-8in trailer tire and wheel.
It made to sit flat under rear seat/storage compartment.
It is not in production yet that I know of, but Bruce does have one with and adapter made up to go to the wide 5 bolt pattern in his Kick Out.
Bruce's reasoning was the spare was to get you back to home/camp/store and keep front brake drum from hitting ground.

I have a trailer that has the same size tires and wheels on it.
Now I just have to build some kind of adapter to make it work.
Wheel bolt pattern is 4 1/2in and tire is about 15-16in tall.

I have a steel adapter from wide 5 to the smaller 5 bolt pattern, problem is it not deep enough to bolt the two together. Still in process of making a spacer of some kind to make it work.
_________________
Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Racing
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960
Manx Across America, coming in October 2013

[lostinbaja]

I think it cost me $4.00 a year to get "Towing" added to my insurance. Towing insurance coupled with my cell phone will get me and my buggy to the closest tire shop for the repairs. Granted, it doesn't get you out of a jam if you are off road and get a flat.
_________________
Jerry...
If it's being towed, it must be a trailer!
The Southside Buggistas - Volkswagen & Kit Car Club
www.southsidebuggistas.com

RIP Morgan

My photos
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album92

[wythac]

I'll be working on a spare tire and mount that can be attached detached when I want it/dont need it. The only time it will be on the car is when I take it out in to the desert. Most towing insurance have definitions of what is a road; usually limited to paved surfaces. If you think you are going to take it off road any distance, get a spare, if not, I wouldnt bother.

[CrashedAgain]

There's very little room for a full size spare.

I cut the centre out of a donut spare & welded in a new centre to fit my 5 bolt Chev pattern.

....I also carry a can of fix a flat.

[LeeVW]

I carry a spare in the spare tire well of my Siggy Manx. It's the largest tire I can fit in there, which happens to be a 135 series (i.e. donut). It's mounted on a wide 5 wheel, which is what my buggy runs.

I also carry a tire plug kit and 12V air pump. If the tire can be repaired, I will use the plugs / pump and drive on. If the sidewall or rim is damaged, the spare will be used. In the case of an unrepairable rear tire, I plan to move the front tire on that side to the back and put the spare on the front. The front tires are a bit shorter than the rear ones, but it would be better than the tiny little spare. That should carry me to the nearest tire store.

The spare tire does take up a lot of room, but I consider it to be an absolutely necessary piece of equipment. I do a lot of solo traveling in the desert, and the thought of ending up dead because I didn't bring a spare doesn't appeal to me. Folks who only travel on pavement need not be as cautious.

[Yessong]

I have no spare in my Sterling or my Shalako. I remembered using "Fix A Flat" back in High school two or three times so I carry a can in each car...just in case - haven't needed it yet, though

[GTBRADLEY]

Just playin devils advocate here. How often do you change the can of fix a flat out? Does it have a shelf life? Hate to go to use it and all that comes out is a gooey mess
_________________
Brian B
1973 Surfer GT Boat
1966 Thunder Bug Buggy-current project
1949 Dodge Coronet-retirement project
that is family owned since new

[lostinbaja]

If you decide to use "Fix-A-Flat" make sure you inform the guy repairing your tire that you used "Fix-A-Flat" before he starts to break down the tire.
I have a friend that almost lost his hand when the propellent from the "Fix-A-Flat" that a customer used in his tire exploded as he broke the bead on a tire machine. The tire was already aired down and the valve stem was removed from the wheel well before it exploded.
_________________
Jerry...
If it's being towed, it must be a trailer!
The Southside Buggistas - Volkswagen & Kit Car Club
www.southsidebuggistas.com

RIP Morgan

My photos
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album92

[didget69]

Tire guys I know HATE Fix-a-Flat...

bryan
_________________
Internet listed credentials impress no one but Mom...

[Axitech]

I recall from my days as a Tech, FaF smelled a lot like dog vomit. The only thing that came close to being that bad was the green slime tire treatment that supposedly flat-proofed a tire. What a mess!!

[joescoolcustoms]

I think that each one of my riding lawn mower tires should have at least 1 gallon of Fix-A-Flat in them by now. I bought so much of it one year that a counter guy at my FLAPS asked me if it would just be better to replace my car tires!!!
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The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

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[jbreddawg]

Keep in mind that in addition to a spare, you are also adding a jack and a lug wrench to the equation. Maybe not much but in a buggy thats just more stuff to find a home for.

I am a firm believer in running brand new tires from the start and when they are worn to an acceptable level I replace them. I never go cheap on tires or brakes.
With that said, I have never had to change out a flat tire on the side of the road in my 28 years of driving (knock on wood)

I have a cell phone, Ill take my chances lol
_________________
The wheel may be turning but the hamster's dead !

[Yessong]

While I have no noticed a use-by date I assume that it is not meant for long-term storage.

The FAF in the Sterling is about 5 years old and I am swapping in a new one at the end of the Winter. I'd prefer to do it every three years but just plain-out forgot. The Shalako's FAF is only 2 years old - will wait till 2013 for that one.

...and YES - any person repaing the tire must be warned that it's in there.

[didget69]

Being that buggies are light & the fact that I'm using Porsche wheels, I'm looking to carry a late-model Porsche 3.5"x17" alloy spare & the factory Porsche aluminum scissor jack & handle -

bnc
_________________
Internet listed credentials impress no one but Mom...

[joescoolcustoms]

An Aluminum scissor jack and handle sounds sweet!

Have pictures?
_________________
The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

Member of Wagenfolks
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/870707.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=479740