The Mercedes spare works fine front & rear: Mercedes E320 Run Flat Spare Tire T155/70R17 Bought on Ebay (& have - unfortunately) used it. IMPORTANT - stock wheel bolts too long, you'll need shorter ones

 

Skip thanks,

similarly the 16" inflatable spare from the Mercedes C Class works. I have attached a photo.

Steve

 

On non-SRT cars, has anybody tried a stock rear fullsize Crossfire wheel & tire assembly on the front as a spare?

I worry much more about ruining the differential with a different diameter than confusing the computer.

If it will fit on the front without tearing up any bodywork, even if it takes restraint with movement of the steering wheel in parking situations, I would gladly carry one as a spare.

 

I have been driving an XF Roadster for three years now. Total of just over 50,000 miles (DAMN!) and only just recently did I have a leaky tire. I'd picked up a small sharp piece of metal in the parking lot at work (I am SURE that is where it came from).

I nursed it along for about two weeks by putting air in every three days - then FINALLY got wth the program and took the tire off hte car, found the offending intruder, and pulled it out with needle nose pliers - which caused air to escape at an alarming rate! I used what I call a "Tire Worm" and rubber cement and plugged the tire in about a minute. I pumped it up to 35 psi and have not touched it since, about a MONTH now.

I carry a few tools and a "worm kit" in the trunk - I have had a tire blow out only ONCE in 33 years of driving, when I hit a big piece of metal in the road.

After 33 years and good luck with "Tire Worms", I have no need to carry a spare. I pride myself on not having a spare and still taking off across the country when I want to.
If I get stranded, then I guess it'll cost me a night on the road - no big deal.

 

How about a stock 18" front wheel with a used 225-45-18 tire (instead of 225-40, thus being the 26" diameter of the rear instead of 26") installed on it?

Has anybody tried this?

This would:
1) Be approximately the same 26" diameter of the rear so you do not put too much wear on the differential.
2) Be the stock width if used in the front (it looks like the extra 1" overall diameter-1/2" at the tread at any one point-will clear the bodywork for most of the steering movement).
3) Live much longer than a temporary spare if you are many miles from home.
4) Not need any special length bolts like using a MB spare.
5) Be inflated and ready to go right when you need it beside the road.

Thoughts anyone?

 

Ole Doc had the answer. Buy AAA and you don't need a spare. I've carried it for years and used it many times. A few months ago I had a blow out on a one year old tire. Called triple A and was back on the road in about an hour, maybe a bit more. No worries.

 

Mike1118,

AAA, that makes me smile.

I spend a lot of time driving in a western county that is 4500 square miles and has 9000 people for a density of 2 people per square mile (Athens county is 128).

Most of those 9000 are in the county seat, the county is sparely settled, mostly ranches. AAA can be a LONG time in coming, and that is if you can get a passerby to call them when they get to a place where a cell phone actually works!

I like to have a spare, anybody ever tried the front wheel with a 225-45-18 tire iead I wrote about earlier?