New car no spare tire- suggestions?

[KyDan]

I recently bought a gently used car 2021 Chevy Bolt. There is no spare
tire. Reading the owners manual it seems like it might have come with
some sort of tire foam/fix a flat. I know tire shops HATE that stuff-
Wmtire I'm talking about you! I feel just a little bit -- exposed driving
with no spare. I do have roadside assistance but what would they do
if I called them? Come with a roll on wrecker and haul me somewhere?
Suggestions- like keep a tire plug set in the car with a 12v/rechargeable
tire pump? What would you do?
Maybe I can buy a temp spare and jack that would fit in the trunk?

 

[jjscsix]

I did a little homework and it appears that the Bolt has self sealing tires. I don't know if that applies to every generation.

I would carry a bottle of slime sealant or whatever. If you are really in a blind it does not matter if the tire dealer likes it or not.

I have motorcycles and carry rope plugs and a compressor. I have fixed many tires on the side of the road. I have never been stranded on a car or motorcycle due to a flat. And I’m 72 years old a drive a LOT.

 

[wmtire]

I recently bought a gently used car 2021 Chevy Bolt. There is no spare
tire. Reading the owners manual it seems like it might have come with
some sort of tire foam/fix a flat. I know tire shops HATE that stuff-
Wmtire I'm talking about you! I feel just a little bit -- exposed driving
with no spare. I do have roadside assistance but what would they do
if I called them? Come with a roll on wrecker and haul me somewhere?
Suggestions- like keep a tire plug set in the car with a 12v/rechargeable
tire pump? What would you do?
Maybe I can buy a temp spare and jack that would fit in the trunk?

Some people do purchase a spare tire/rim and carry it with them after realizing they have none...usually after a terrible experience roadside. Your vehicly may not have any dedicated design space for this and you have to carry the spare in the top of the trunk.

Some OE manufacturers do provide an "Emergency Roadside mobility kit" which can range from fixaflat and possibly an air compressor.

Just beware if using a fixaflat product (which rarely to ever seal a hole) of the possible future costs.....especially any EV owners reading this. Certain tires, and are very common on EV's now, have a silencing foam cell inside the tire to lessen road noise. Once you put fixaflat in these tires, you are pretty much going to have to junk it out as the foam cell will absorb it and it will never balance again, nor can you remove it properly.....and that's if it doesn't harm/clog any internal TPMS sensor.

I do have vehicles towed in to me that either did not come with a spare or the owner lost/sold theirs if equipped.

EDIT: Here is an article from tire rack on these type tires with the foam dampener. Repairing these tires is always fun. You have to cut out a section of the foam, grind the tire, put your patch in, then glue the foam piece you cut out, back in the tire.

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-ga...IrRFHSPBAF4f--n2AJsKhkZWayiH-J1bEceJej43ZE02Z

 

[aceinspp]

When I bought my Volt it came with no spare however chev had a spare tire kit for the Volt. Came with a hard tire and all tools to jack up car. Might check and see if there is one available for the Bolt. Cost was around $350. Most new cars do not come with spares any more. My 2016 dodge did not and my 2017 Vett did not. Later RJD

 

[GolfingDave]

Aftermarket Spare? Smaller size?

This was interesting.

This company

https://modernspare.com/product/2017-2023-chevrolet-bolt-ev-spare-tire-kit-options/

linked to this company since they do not manufacture a spare.

https://valuespare.com/product/spare-tire-for-all-2017-2023-chevrolet-bolt-ev-and-euv-models-with-optional-tire-changing-kit/

I carry a plug kit also. Only dilemma is if you pull the problem out and the plug doesn't take care of the leak, what then? Slower leak no problem, you just wait and keep adding air.
The plug kit just keeps from having to put a spare on until I can get to a shop.

 

[Hoginedgewood]

From seeing vehicles on the side of the road it appears to me that Some people just abandon the car once it gets a flat

 

[aceinspp]

Aftermarket Spare? Smaller size?

This was interesting.

This company

https://modernspare.com/product/2017-2023-chevrolet-bolt-ev-spare-tire-kit-options/

linked to this company since they do not manufacture a spare.

https://valuespare.com/product/spar...d-euv-models-with-optional-tire-changing-kit/

I carry a plug kit also. Only dilemma is if you pull the problem out and the plug doesn't take care of the leak, what then? Slower leak no problem, you just wait and keep adding air.
The plug kit just keeps from having to put a spare on until I can get to a shop.

My Volt had a different size tire that what the spare was but it does not seem to matter. I did not have to travel far on it. Later RJD

 

[KyDan]

I'm surely jinxing myself but.... my last 2 trucks never had a flat. Same for
wife's car and the little Hyundai Accent I just sold had a couple but I got
home both times and was easily able to change to spare in my own driveway.
Thanks for suggestions- I see the spare tire kit at value spare.
I'll probably check their dimensions and see if I can get it in the
spare tire well. Also about to check chevy store for same.

I have had a near miss recently see photo attached. I found this as I was
checking tires and pressures in prep for a trip to Gulf State park recently.
It appeared to be a #10 machine screw minus the head. It was about 1 1/2
inches long and had been in the tire long enough to wear a point on the end.
It went in at a very shallow angle and was in the thickest part of the shoulder tread- I do not believe it did any serious damage.

 

[timfromma]

I figured that that the most likely scenario for a flat tire is running over something sharp such as a nail. I went and bought all the necessary supplies to repair my tire on the side of the road.


jack
lug wrench
pliers to remove nail
repair kit
inflator


This won't help in the event of sidewall damage but I figure it will cover most flat tire scenarios.

 

[NJKris]

My Corvette has no spare, but I'm on run flat Michelins. If I can't find a shop in 50 miles, I'd just call for a flatbed.

 

[D W]

Back in 2011 I bought a leftover 2010 Chevy Cobalt for $6K. It didn't come with a spare either, just a 12V air compressor and a can of Fix-a-Flat. I talked the dealer into giving me a spare wheel and then went to Walmart and bought a tire for $55. Never had to use it.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

If you've got room, you can buy a spare and sleep well at night.

If you don't have room, they sell battery operated tire inflators. They work well if you've had the valve fail. Just bought this one that works well on all my vehicles. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CGLTPKBZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Your roadside assistance may work well depending on their practices. When we had problems, they asked if we had a spare so that they could bring a tire if necessary. Turned out to be a valve extender that flattened the tire.

Of course, if you have two blowouts at the same time, roadside assistance will be your only option.

 

[aceinspp]

My Corvette has no spare, but I'm on run flat Michelins. If I can't find a shop in 50 miles, I'd just call for a flatbed.

That is what mine has. Not a big fan of it tho but no other options available. Later RJD

 

[aceinspp]

KyDan I see the spare tire kit at value spare.
I'll probably check their dimensions and see if I can get it in the
spare tire well. Also about to check chevy store for same.
The Volt had room to spare and they had made provisions to put a spare in the trunk and tie it down. Later RJD

 

[KyDan]

I have Michelins and they say self sealing on the sidewall. I looked pretty
good and I did not see anything about sound reducing (foam) like the
link Wmtire gave in post 3.
see here=--> https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-ga...IrRFHSPBAF4f--n2AJsKhkZWayiH-J1bEceJej43ZE02Z
Thanks for that Bobby- I had never heard of such a thing.
I'm asking Mrs Santa for a rechargeable tire pump. Engineer son has one that
he says he used to bump up tires on 3 different cars and it was still going
strong on single charge. That will ride in the Bolt but also come in handy
for RV and my other rolling stock- especially in the Fall when it seems like
every one of them needs a few more PSI.
Finally- I have not yet but will very soon- measure the well in the trunk of
the Bolt. I -think- I remember seeing a styrofoam insert in there that
could be removed to make room for an actual tire of some sort.
That might have to wait until after the Holiday$. I just bought a car,
annual property taxes due, annual home and auto insurance paid last
week- I know there's more.... a bit of a cash flow problem- it's all flowing
in the wrong direction!
Thanks everyone for the great discussion and suggestions!
Happy Trails!
Dan in Kentucky

 

[aceinspp]

Dan ya I know about cash flow always seems it comes in Dec and Jan. I bought a battery power pump from Harbor Fright. Carried all the time I was camping. Later RJD

 

[Oaklevel]

Dads 2012 Cobalt had no spare either since he didn't drive far I did not get too worried, when I inherited the car I put new tires on it and kept driving until it self destructed at 100K. ( The Chevy dealer and my mechanic told me that was common, (normal))........ Got lucky with the tires though....

 

[NJKris]

My 2nd suggestion for no spare: Stay away from sides of road as much as possible. That's where all the screws, roofing nails, etc tend to collect.

 

[KyDan]

Final followup for the 2021 Chevy Bolt.
The "spare tire well" has a Bose bass speaker and amp in it.
It's plenty wide enough but way too short -front to back for even a
space saver spare.
I could lay a spare on top of the deck above the speaker but there's
be no way to secure it.
Looks like I'm gonna rely on Karma and a good rechargeable tire pump
and those "self sealing" Michelins.
Thanks for the great discussion.
Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[aceinspp]

Final followup for the 2021 Chevy Bolt.
The "spare tire well" has a Bose bass speaker and amp in it.
It's plenty wide enough but way too short -front to back for even a
space saver spare.
I could lay a spare on top of the deck above the speaker but there's
be no way to secure it.
Looks like I'm gonna rely on Karma and a good rechargeable tire pump
and those "self sealing" Michelins.
Thanks for the great discussion.
Happy Thanksgiving!

I never secured my spare. Any way to secure with bungee cord? Later RJD