When you guys get new wheels for your car in a different size from what you have, do you get a 5th wheel for the spare or just hope you don't get a flat tire?

 

FIRSTS

if i get a flat i slap the spare (stock wheel) back on until i get it fixed.

 

apply for AAA.

 

Even though people get larger diameter wheels, the sidewall will be thinner than the factory ones and the overall diameter of the wheels/tires should be the same or close. You could use the spare with no problem.

 

The KEY thing is to have the proper lugnuts for your OEM spare when you do get a flat. I am assuming you are going with aftermarket wheels . I wouldn't worry too much if the OAD is slightly different. My OEM spare has never been used on my '03... the tire manufacture date is 2002

 

oh yeah very important point that i learned the hard way one day on the side of the highway. my tuner lugs did not hold on the stock wheel/spare so i was assed out literally on the side of 495 now i carry 5 stock lugs with me always

 

Spare tire with spare lugs! Now thats a good reminder.

 

Cool, thanks, didn't want to buy a 5th wheel and another tire to boot.
Hell, I guess people drive on donuts so didn't think it would have mattered much anyway.
Its my kids car, and we all have AAA.
I will make sure to keep the lugs for the spare 17" wheel but I think they are the same since its a Lexus wheel copy of the OEM 18" wheel and only a bit larger.

 

also need to make sure you custom trunk sub box isn't made from the inside out and that you can't get it out if you get a flat. learned this one dark night around 2am in PA as well

 

You know, I've been driving for about 25 years and have never once had a blowout! Just blessed, I guess.

 

I had same experience until about 3 years ago and since then I have had about 4 flats while driving - all due to nails/screws or sharp metal debris on the road. I was super lucky for my first 35 years of driving I guess.

Anyway I was shocked at how much heaver a current wheel/tire is on a modern car than those 1960's era 13-14 inch wheels (I was also a little younger and stronger). The last one occurred in the heat of last summer here in DFW, thought I was gonna have a heart attack getting the spare back on the hub and bolted down in the July afternoon 99 degree heat.

If you are not in fairly decent shape and you have a flat its likely better to call a tow truck.

 

This.

I have both sets at all times for this reason. Winters are OEM rims, so bigger lugs [in a box in the trunk] and summer's require thinwall 'tuner lugs' [FTL], had a blowout a couple years back running over some debris falling from a dump truck

Ran on the spare for a week or so.

 

When I scuffed one of my chrome wheels I purchased a replacement and put the scuffed wheel in the trunk. No problem or embarrassment when I get a flat!

 

I had my front right 18" wheel busted about 4 months ago, put on a stock 17" spare that was in the trunk and drove for two weeks with no issues at all.
IMHO to have a stock spare while having different wheels on car just makes you repair a flat faster since the looks are weird.

 

I don't even have a spare at all! My air system, amp, and sub/ported box takes up so much space!

I think I should sign up for AAA.