Spare Tire Without Killing Your Trunk Space
#16
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Formerly Easton, Pa. Bradenton FL, now Osprey Fl.
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
[QUOTE=WIL44;7236578]Fantastic idea Cadzilla and brilliant DIY.
Now, could you work out how I can fit one in mine, please? lol.
Best regards
Steve[/QUO
Steve, you don't need a spare! All you need is a hose, that is long enough to reach the front tyres and a connection to your air compressors and you are all set. lol
Now, could you work out how I can fit one in mine, please? lol.
Best regards
Steve[/QUO
Steve, you don't need a spare! All you need is a hose, that is long enough to reach the front tyres and a connection to your air compressors and you are all set. lol
#18
Instructor
[quote=SteadyEddy;7236627]
That's it Ed sorted, I will get a long hose and then I can also pump up the air bed and the bouncy castle. Lol
Fantastic idea Cadzilla and brilliant DIY.
Now, could you work out how I can fit one in mine, please? lol.
Best regards
Steve[/QUO
Steve, you don't need a spare! All you need is a hose, that is long enough to reach the front tyres and a connection to your air compressors and you are all set. lol
Now, could you work out how I can fit one in mine, please? lol.
Best regards
Steve[/QUO
Steve, you don't need a spare! All you need is a hose, that is long enough to reach the front tyres and a connection to your air compressors and you are all set. lol
#21
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ga
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sc430 spare tire replacement
hi and thanks,
just got an '04 sc430 (30K miles) it came w/ new (regular) tires that were obviously a replacement for the original run flats. my car has 18": wheels so my question is: will the 17" replacement proposed work as an emergency fix for a car w/ 18" wheels?
just got an '04 sc430 (30K miles) it came w/ new (regular) tires that were obviously a replacement for the original run flats. my car has 18": wheels so my question is: will the 17" replacement proposed work as an emergency fix for a car w/ 18" wheels?
#22
Rookie
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, 17" is the size of the temporary spare for the SC430. The size of the SC430 spare is T145/70R17. Finding one of them is not always easy. I found mine on Ebay or you can order the entire kit from Sewell Lexus a club sponsor for about $780.00 (with the Club Lexus discount) plus shipping.
And I just finished this DIY and laid my tire down and it worked perfectly! Thanks Cadzilla88!
Last edited by srqmark; 05-24-12 at 01:26 PM.
#23
#26
As I said in my write up, I had no idea it would work until I tried. You will only invest about an hour in disassembly and reassembly. The retractable soft cover will let you know if it fits or not. Plus there is about one inch additional clearence between the retractable soft cover and the rear windshield in the closed position. Take your time and double and tripple check the clearences on your car with your spare. The first time you lower the retractable top, open it three quarters of the way and let gravity take over. This way you are not forcing the rear wind shield against the spare if the spare is too big to fit.
#27
I tried Cadzilla's solution with a Hyundai Genesis 17" spare wheel I picked up off Ebay. The wheel fits the Lexus quite nicely with no problems being too close to the brake calipers. The Hyundai wheel didn't fair so well when it came to Cadzilla's solution. It appears the Hyundai wheel & tire is about 2"-3" larger in diameter than the RX8 wheel Cadzilla used. This larger diameter extends the wheel/tire further into the space the roof occupies in the down position. It looked like the folding roof was just barely going to touch the wheel/tire in the down/stored position. We felt this was just too close so we opted to store the spare in the rear/upright position. This confirms Cadzilla's concern to check to make sure the spare won't foul the top when stored. Try to find a spare wheel/tire close to the RX8 unit in diameter and thickness.
Here's a pic of my solution. I went to the local upholstery supply and purchased some grey carpet which was very close to the Lexus OEM carpet and sewed up a tire cover, then using cardboard templates, I made a new floorboard out of 1/4" plywood and covered it with the grey carpet.
Here's a pic of my solution. I went to the local upholstery supply and purchased some grey carpet which was very close to the Lexus OEM carpet and sewed up a tire cover, then using cardboard templates, I made a new floorboard out of 1/4" plywood and covered it with the grey carpet.
Last edited by thombiz; 11-10-12 at 09:47 AM. Reason: add photo
#28
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
Hah that funny. I've had the exact same idea since i bought the car. But i will be running air sus just like Wil44 so i am thinking about cutting out the floor and make space for the air tank etc. Remove the oem rear muffler and replace with two mufflers in each side so i have more room in the center. Its a huge project, but for more "normal" people without major car modifications this sure is a nice DIY cadzilla88
#29
Nice job Thombiz. Thanks for the feedback
#30
I tried Cadzilla's solution with a Hyundai Genesis 17" spare wheel I picked up off Ebay. The wheel fits the Lexus quite nicely with no problems being too close to the brake calipers. The Hyundai wheel didn't fair so well when it came to Cadzilla's solution. It appears the Hyundai wheel & tire is about 2"-3" larger in diameter than the RX8 wheel Cadzilla used. This larger diameter extends the wheel/tire further into the space the roof occupies in the down position. It looked like the folding roof was just barely going to touch the wheel/tire in the down/stored position. We felt this was just too close so we opted to store the spare in the rear/upright position. This confirms Cadzilla's concern to check to make sure the spare won't foul the top when stored. Try to find a spare wheel/tire close to the RX8 unit in diameter and thickness.
Here's a pic of my solution. I went to the local upholstery supply and purchased some grey carpet which was very close to the Lexus OEM carpet and sewed up a tire cover, then using cardboard templates, I made a new floorboard out of 1/4" plywood and covered it with the grey carpet.
Here's a pic of my solution. I went to the local upholstery supply and purchased some grey carpet which was very close to the Lexus OEM carpet and sewed up a tire cover, then using cardboard templates, I made a new floorboard out of 1/4" plywood and covered it with the grey carpet.