Spare Tire Rim

[Cancerman]

Here is my story, sad but true!
We were going to take a short trip to Shreveport for some fun. So I went to wash my truck late Saturday afternoon and found the left rear tire almost flat. It is too late to get into town and get it fixed.
No problem I think to myself, I will just back it into the garage, put the spare on, and get the flat fixed in Shreveport. (Hopefully not getting another flat on the way!)
I drop the spare down and the rim is black steel not aluminum! Is this right? Even my Buick Roadmaster has a full size spare on an aluminum rim.
O.K. it may be ugly but at least it is the same size. I put it on and go to attach the plastic center piece and it does not fit the rim! Is this right?
Now it is really ugly!!
O.K. we go to Shreveport Sunday and I get to show off my ugly wheel for 250 miles.
Monday morning I get up early and go to a Goodyear on Spring street. (Saw it on the way to the casino) and ask them to fix my flat. Of course they are busy and ask me to leave it. And of course they don't have a crank or anyone to help me crank down the spare. So I do it my self and leave the tire.
Come back about 3PM and they have fixed the flat, shot a plug in it for $12.95. Ask them to put it on for me. They are too busy! They ask can I leave it? obviously NO! Said I would wait. Waited about 30 minutes (only person waiting!) and saw bays being emptied and good "Ole Boys" vehicles being worked on, and still no move to spend 10 minutes to put my tire on!
Pretty steamed by this time, so took my tire and cranked it back up under the truck, really steamed by now 100F with about the same humidity.
So, got to drive back home with the ugly rim and put my tire back on myself.

Moral to the story:
1. No Aluminum rim on the spare
2. Plastic center piece does not fit steel rim
3. Go the extra mile and find a Discount Tire.
4. Goodyear on Spring Street in Shreveport Sucks

O.K. I feel better now!

[DURA-MAX3]

Mine is the same way, 42,000 thousand list price and a two dollar spare tire, really makes sense dosen't it. Where is Tioga, tx. I'm at Runaway Bay tx. It's up just west of Bridgeport,tx.

[DURA-MAX3]

Mine is the same way, 42,000 thousand list price and a two dollar spare tire, really makes sense dosen't it. Where is Tioga, tx. I'm at Runaway Bay tx. It's up just west of Bridgeport,tx.

[Lawnboy]

Cancerman,
I guess your new to trucks?

Well, your Roadmaster and maybe a handfull of other cars are going to be the ONLY ones with a matching aluminum spare. I agree, they SHOULD offer one, but I know of no vehicles that offer matching rims.

Most don't even have a fullsize tire!

Some dont even have a spare!!!

I don't think the aluminum would last long under there over time. The steel ones get pretty ugly to begin with.

[bora]

Almost all BMWs come with a full size alloy spare. The ones that don't come with a full size spare have no spare at all and these are mostly the new M3, M-coupe, M-roadster and M5.

I think for a 40K+ truck, they can afford to spend 200 bucks on a proper rim.

Aren't their margins on these trucks something like 10K a truck?

[Lawnboy]

bora,
You CANT get a BMW with steel wheels! So there really isn't a choice.

$200 wheel....Upcharge from a steel maybe. A lot more for one at a dealer!

[6X]

I wanted to rotate my tires and include the spare tire in the rotation sequence, until I lowered it and found it to be a steel rim. Can a person get a factory alum. rim somewhere after-market?
Or is it not advisable to have your spare be alum for some reason?

[Lone Eagle]

Gee wiz guys! Is this the worst think you can find to bitch about? My last four trucks came with aluminum wheels and a steel spare. I broke a wheel on my 89. It was $300 to replace. So do you think I would pay for the option? I don't think so! Later! Lone Eagle tongue.gif

[Diesel Dan]

I have a set of aluminum wheels on the "for sale" board. If I can get enough people interested I'll split them up for spares. $75ea + shipping.

[stretch]

Like Lawnboy said, I don't think an alloy wheel will last under the truck. It's not a BMW, which has the spare in the trunk, not under the car exposed to the elements.
Cancerman, I agree, Goodyear service sucks, on my work van, they bent me over the barrel and gave it to me hard on price, took almost 3 hours to change 4 tires, did not balance the tires despite charging me for it, and when I complained about it they acted like it was my fault they did not do the job they were paid to do. Go figure... Does Goodyear train there personnel to be this way?

[crafty]

Diesel Dan,

I'd be interested in one if you are splitting the set. Would I be correct in assuming that you want $300 for the four? I'm thinking about it but I just have to find the cash as $300 means over $500 for me by the time I exchange the money. For that I can go aftermarket and get a nice rim. :D :D :D

[Cancerman]

DURA-MAX3, Tioga is north of Dallas almost to Sherman.

Point taken on the aluminum getting dinged up from rocks flying under the truck, guess a cover would have to be put over it?

Like 6X said you cannot put the spare in rotation, so you just have to leave it under the truck to rot. I plan on getting Michelins when these BridgeROCKS get worn out, so I won't use it unless for an emergency.

Sorry about the bitching, but there is always room for improvemment. (Us Engineers have to change something!)

I will brag on the spare tire lock, it was easy to use, plus I did not have to buy an aftermarket lock.
I had my spare stolen off my 1990 GMC extcab in broad daylight in a hospital parking while visiting my Grandmother. (go figure!)

Stretch, I know a former manager of a Goodyear and I could not believe the stories that he told me of stuff that they pulled on customers. He quit due to all of the monkey business.
I thought I would be O.K. with just fixing a flat tire, but I should have thought again!

[Diesel Dan]

crafty,

Yes, $300 for the set of 4. I was going to put them on my '88 suburban. However I since sold it and bought a '91 with 16.5X9.75 Weld aluminum wheels. If I can get 3 spoken for I'll split 'em and keep one for a spare for my truck, they weight so much less than a steel wheel.

[Black Dog]

NO, they're mine and you guys can't have 'em!


Like 6X said you cannot put the spare in rotation, so you just have to leave it under the truck to rot.

Just leave it under there. I sold my '88 K1500 in Nov. 2000 when I got the Dmax, and the original Firestone 245 spare was still under there, and still in perfect condition. No sun = no rot. The wheel was rusty, but the tire was fine.

[6X]

Diesel Dan

I'd be interested in one of your Al rims,(only if they would be identical to 2002 factory rims) I can't seem to find the "For Sale" board on this forum. Drop me a line if you split the set.

6X

Wsmann1@cs.com

[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: 6X ]</p>

[Diesel Dan]

6X,
Black Dog is coming out wed to make sure the wheels are what he wants. If for some unforseen reason he decides not to purchase them I'll let you guys know.

The "for sale" board is at www.thedieselpage.com, not the forumn address. There may be a way to get to it from here but I don't know how. And it's called "classified advertisments".