Considering Spare tire without rim - any issues?

[Djinndjinn]

Background: we take frequent 600+ mile trips with our CT. We want to be able to take a spare in and out of bed and are not physically fit enough to move a 100 lb. spare + rim, nor can we handle a tire patch kit. we carry a tire inflator and a bottle of slime. We have pirelli scorpion all season tires.

Issue: Had our first flat yesterday many hours from home. All Tesla would do is tow and we would have to pay since no close by service center. We were lucky - could inflate, drive short distance, found nice tire center that patched it. But from what we understand, many punctures cannot be patched. Additionally, the availability in real time of an identical Pirelli OEM tire seems to be rare.

Solution: we are considering buying another OEM Pirelli Scorpion and a TPM and putting it in bed on long trips. Reasoning - if we have a flat that cannot be patched, at least we have the correct tire that someone could mount and balance, and it’s a weight that we can handle together (44 lbs) So we can take it out when we are driving locally.

Appreciate any thoughts about whether for our situation - frequent long trips, want to be able to remove it and put it back in and cannot handle a full weight spare setup - that buying one OEM Pirelli tire (no rim) makes sense, or if someone has a better option! Is there any downside (other than cost)? Thanks everyone!

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[That Beast Mode]

Just curious why you couldn't handle a tire patch kit? They are always super useful to get you out of a pinch. As for your question, there is no down side to carrying a rimless spare other than it takes up space. I personally don't think it would be super useful either tho because either way you end up in a tire shop if you can't patch it on the side of the road. Unless the tire is blown out and can't be patched you really wouldn't use it.

My suggestion, go for the full size spare, get the ramp that Tesla sells and roll it in and out of the bed as needed. No heavy lifting required.

 

[JUSTICEQD]

Agreed - I ended up grabbing the spare kit from Tesla for the longer trips, but also have:

Amazon.com: Boulder Tools - Compact Tire Repair kit with Molle Storage Pouch. Heavy Duty Universal Tire Plug Kit, Easily Stores Inside Your UTV, ATV, Truck, Motorcycle, Overlanding Gear or RV : Automotive

Which had enough room in the pouch for me to also add:
Amazon.com: GlueTread Full-Size 4x4 Sidewall Tire Repair Kit | Sidewall Tire Patch Kit Puncture Repair Kit for Off-Road 4x4 Vehicles | Improved Rubber Formula No Accelerator Needed 10 Minutes Curing Time : Automotive

And strap to the Molle for in-town

 

[hemiarch]

Is there a convenient way to remove an old tire and mount a new tire without one of those machines?​

 

[That Beast Mode]

Agreed - I ended up grabbing the spare kit from Tesla for the longer trips, but also have:

Amazon.com: Boulder Tools - Compact Tire Repair kit with Molle Storage Pouch. Heavy Duty Universal Tire Plug Kit, Easily Stores Inside Your UTV, ATV, Truck, Motorcycle, Overlanding Gear or RV : Automotive

Which had enoug room in the outch for me to also add:
Amazon.com: GlueTread Full-Size 4x4 Sidewall Tire Repair Kit | Sidewall Tire Patch Kit Puncture Repair Kit for Off-Road 4x4 Vehicles | Improved Rubber Formula No Accelerator Needed 10 Minutes Curing Time : Automotive

And strap to the Molle for in-town

I keep a similar kit in both the CT and the Y. I don't have the sidewall patches you do tho, I should probably pick some up. I got a flat on the Y a few weeks ago, somehow a blunt piece of mulch or stick punctured the middle of the side wall - I was baffled on how it was even possible, I took pics because I couldn't believe it. Conveniently this happened about 2 weeks before I was scheduled to get new tires anyway. I tripled up some bacon strips from the patch kit and shoved them in the sidewall, is it ideal or safe? No.. Did it work and got me to Costco for the new tires? 100%

 

[That Beast Mode]

Is there a convenient way to remove an old tire and mount a new tire without one of those machines?​

There is a way, but I wouldn't exactly call it convenient. They sell manual bead breakers that you could use. It does the same thing as the machine does, except in this scenario you are the machine doing all the labor and sweating. Plus it wouldn't be balanced, but if it was all you had, it'll get it done.

 

[hemiarch]

Was just thinking it might save a lot of weight, money and space

 

[shopaholic]

https://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-pickup-truck-bed-crane-60732.html

I saw this a while ago that can llift the tire from the vault to the road and load the other up. Pushing a 75+ lb tire up a ramp may not be easy for myself anyway, without a second set of hands

 

[Djinndjinn]

Thanks everyone. I wound up getting a OEM Pirelli Scorpion tire and Tesla rim on eBay, a cover, and a tri-fold lightweight ramp on Amazon. Figured we could use the ramp to help get our E bikes in the bed as well so double use. The only issue is the set up. I have doesn’t have the TPMS., will need to swap that from the tire that gets flat I suppose.

 

[henchman24]

As a suggestion, when you rotate your tires, you should incorporate the 5th tire (5 tire, rearward cross preferable). Having too much difference in tread depth can wear differentials rather quickly. Should strive to never have more than a 2 or 3/32 difference side to side. More than that can be used in a pinch, but should never be for lots of miles. If there is a 5/32 or more difference, the tires should be replaced.

 

[shopaholic]

Thanks everyone. I wound up getting a OEM Pirelli Scorpion tire and Tesla rim on eBay, a cover, and a tri-fold lightweight ramp on Amazon. Figured we could use the ramp to help get our E bikes in the bed as well so double use. The only issue is the set up. I have doesn’t have the TPMS., will need to swap that from the tire that gets flat I suppose.

Don’t forget the jack!

 

[Djinndjinn]

Don’t forget the jack!

I don’t know jack (plus I am physically incapable of handling that task, but thanks!)

 

[jditom]

Agreed - I ended up grabbing the spare kit from Tesla for the longer trips, but also have:

Amazon.com: Boulder Tools - Compact Tire Repair kit with Molle Storage Pouch. Heavy Duty Universal Tire Plug Kit, Easily Stores Inside Your UTV, ATV, Truck, Motorcycle, Overlanding Gear or RV : Automotive

Which had enough room in the pouch for me to also add:
Amazon.com: GlueTread Full-Size 4x4 Sidewall Tire Repair Kit | Sidewall Tire Patch Kit Puncture Repair Kit for Off-Road 4x4 Vehicles | Improved Rubber Formula No Accelerator Needed 10 Minutes Curing Time : Automotive

And strap to the Molle for in-town

I carry both of the above and feel pretty confident I can patch almost anything except a large side blow out. And if that happened I would have bigger fish to fry.

 

[resellpanda88]

I have a plug kit in each of my vehicles. Get the one with the metal handles.

 

[Shay]

I picked up a nail last week that resulted in a flat when I got up in the morning. I pulled out the nail and tried to plug the tire, but could't push the ream tool through the tread while lying on my side. After giving up on plugging the tire at home I tried to air up the tire so I could drive to the local tire store, but the leak was too fast for that. I put a short pan head screw in the hole to stop the leak. I was able to drive to the tire store and had the tire patched from the inside.

One of the things I discovered was the compressor I was carrying wouldn't work as it uses 12 volts.

I ordered the Tesla 120v tire repair kit and am considering getting a full size mounted spare to carry when on trips.

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