Carrying Two Spare Tires

[Brian McVickers]

How many of you carry two spare tires?
When do you find it necessary to do so?


Thanks:ylsmoke:
Brian

[UncleChris]

I did on one trip through Northern Nevada in the Cherokee.

Had one on the rear bumper and I put the other one on the roof rack.

Although I didn't need either of them, it was good to have 2 just in case.

[Westy]

I think it depends alot on the quality of tires you are running and the purpose of your travels.

2 spares is probably way overkill in most cases except for those who like the high speed desert off roading. I know people in the hardcore rock crawling crowd that dont even carry a spare because they are so confident of the tires they are running, like the TSL/SX for example which has nearly industructable sidewalls.

Now, on an extended expedition, even across light-moderate terrain it would be foolish not to have a spare but on a local trail it would be much less of an issue of course. Quality tires can go a long ways and handle alot of abuse.

[pskhaat]

I carry two spares. Why? Dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid! One reason is that I got my matching second spare tire for like $10 brand new from someone getting rid of stuff in a shop.

When I was 17 I traversed southern Utah in my FJ40 with some friends for about 2+ weeks. There was a gal with us who was driving a Bronco II that had two tire blow outs. We used someone else's spare tire on it. Personally, I've never had two flats, but I have seen it happen on long treks. I honestly don't remember the brand tire; I know I had BFG ATs at the time and at least that trip didn't run flat.

I always carry spares for anything that reasonably wears and would reasonably prevent me from limping home. 2 starters, 2 batteries, and 2 spare tires. I need a spare used alternator ;-)

[+ d]

...2 starters, 2 batteries, and 2 spare tires. I need a spare used alternator...

careful, the more spares you carry the more spares you'll need!

:elkgrin:

[BajaTaco]

A spare tire weighs a ton. I tend to agree with what Westy was saying - unless you really anticipate the need for some reason (lava or shale terrain, or off-road racing) OR if you have a GVWR that will easily support it, I think it's too much of a weight penalty. I also prefer to replace tires when they get down to about 50% tread remaining.

You can also reduce your risk by carrying lots of tire repair patches, plugs and tools. Even an inner tube if you feel like it.

[goodtimes]

When I travelled over the Rubicon trail a couple years ago (with a group of 8 or 9 jeeps), we were down to one 33" spare by the end of day #1....that is one spare between the 4 jeeps running that size. With the remoteness of that trail, 2 spares isn't a bad idea at all. IMO, expedition travel is in the same boat.

I have considered carrying one spare, and one tube that I could stuff in a tire if needed. I know that the tubeless tires don't really like having a tube inside them....but it may be a *realistic* option to carrying a 2nd spare. While I certainly wouldn't want to put alot of miles on that tube...it would be better than walking out....thoughts?

[Westy]

Bajataco made some good points as well. Extra weight, no good. More weight can equate to more stress on other parts of the vehicle. Extra spares mean finding akward or bad places to mount them such as the roof or a rack up high - keep that weight low.

x2 -
Patches and plugs are a GREAT item to have along.

Brian

[pskhaat]

Where does one obtain a tube for say a 315/75r16 tire?

[Scott Brady]

Yeah, the weight of the tube and required irons might not be that great of an advantage.

Solo Expeditions= Two tires
Group trips= One spare

On this last trip there were 7 vehicles with the same lug pattern...

I have an extra spare for each vehicle. For my Jeep I use a 33x9.5 and for my Taco I have a matching second spare.

[60seriesguy]

Remote trips? No doubt, two spares. There were areas in the Northwestern Amazon where the roads are covered with quartz and tires get shredded, not punctured. Most people carry two spares and at least one tube and patches, and that's not overkill.

[upcruiser]

I've been using one and its on my basket as I found the spare under the back of the 80's tends to get hung up on things. Also a 33 was a tight squeeze there anyway. I've thought about bringing 2 spares on some trips but haven't yet. The spare I keep on the roof is a 33x9.50 which is a bit more compact when laying flat and lighter as well. If I needed to, I'd throw an extra 33x9.50 on top if a trip needed it. Most of the stuff I do is solo, so I like to be a bit overprepared.

[paulj]

The Dempster in the Yukon has a reputation for being hard on tires. Many blame the shale roadbed - slivers of the rock work their way into the tread. I've even read speculation that bald tires are better, since they are less likely to pick up those slivers.

paulj

[Hltoppr]

I have 2, but have only ever carried one spare, even through baja or in areas with extensive, tire slicing shale deposits.

My theory is to get five of the best tires I can (BFG MTs, IMHO...) and have them in very good condition prior to a big trip. I carry patches, plugs and air just in case.....

-H-

[CLynn85]

Also, as scott said, it depends on who's running with you. If you're in a group that has the same size/lug pattern, it'd be far less of a concern than if you were running in a group that had a variety of vehicles with different bolt patterns and sizes.

[BajaXplorer]

It depends on the trip, but I frequently throw an extra spare tire (no rim) on the rack when going to Baja and doing extended boondocking. While there is no shortage of places to get a tire fixed or mounted, it can be really hard to find a 16" tire. Destroying a sidewall is not hard and I have managed to do two within hours of each other in Baja.
BX

[VikingVince]

BX and others who carry a second spare (no rim)...how do you get the tire on the rim? What do you use?...what specialty tools do you carry for that?...do you need CO2 to set the bead or can you accomplish it with your compressors?

[paulj]

A reason for carrying an unmounted tire in a place like Baja (and other parts of Latin America and Africa), is that it easy to find a shop that can mount your tire, and hard to find a shop that has the right size tire.

Even in parts of the USA it can be hard to find certain sizes of tires. The Element, for example, has a stock 215/70/16 tire, which falls in the crack between large car and small SUV sizes. I know of one Element owner that had to run all around the Cedar City, UT area on his spare before finding a replacement.

When I drove to Alaska some years ago, the guide books were recommending taking along an inner tube, on the theory that a local shop could install that in an unpatchable tire in a pinch (and a replacement size was not available). With relatively new 235/75/15 tires I didn't have occasion to test that idea.

paulj

[BajaXplorer]

Hi Vince
I haven't mounted a truck tire in years, but I do carry two tire irons and a BFH primarily for pitting motos. I could probably use one of my rachet straps around the tire to get enough bead contact for my quickaire II to inflate the tire.
I carry the extra tire to be mounted at one of the million or so llanteras (tire shops) to be found all over Baja. They're literally everywhere, so when you get a flat you can get it fixed, or have the extra tire mounted, at the first one you come to.
BX

[VikingVince]

hey BX...ah, I see...that makes sense.
What does "BFH" and "pitting motos" mean:confused:

[BajaXplorer]

VV,
BFH=Big F___ Hammer
pitting motos=I do radio relay and remote pit stops for refueling and minor repairs of motorcycles of DP Racing in SCORE Baja 250, 500 & 1000 offroad races. Also serve as an emergency pit for a 5/1600 car. A BFH can be very handy at times.
BX

[VikingVince]

BFH...:jump: :jump: :hehe:

I even carry one...am glad to now know its proper nomenclature:exclaim:

[Desertdude]

Most of my flats have been sidewall cuts ( even on brand new tires) - this is a hard one to fix - it can be threaded then a tube inserted for a bandaid tire - If I get a flat ( other than sidewall - I try and plug or patch it first and save the spare.

Getting a tire un-mounted and mounted on a rim can be a fun game played out on the trail( meaning: can be an easy affair if you know a few simple tricks)- Scott - at the next Fall Forum we should have a seminar on this ;)

[Mike S]

I like to carry two spares on a long trip to remote areas. Since I always have my trailer along, it is no problem - on spare on the cruiser, three on the trailer. I like GY MTRs for the strong sidewalls.

I was on a trip two years ago with a buddy who had only one spare. Of course, he suffered a cut sidewall. He didn't want to run without a spare, so he drove over 100 miles back to ALturas to get another tire mounted.

So, two spares is a good idea on a trip to remote areas if you have the room to carry them.

M

[Seeker]

I carried two in my Taco when I ran the Old Mojave Road alone in '04. Stock tires and two factory spares (one under, one in, the bed). Didn't need either until I had completed both the OMR and gone up over the Clark Mountains by way of Coloseum Gorge. All my offroading was done and it was almost all pavement for the remainder of the trip.

Coming back down through the Mojave National Preserve I pulled off the Kelbacker-Sima Rd. to look at one of the NP signs and apparently picked up some glass.

Only consumed one spare that trip but, I'll tell ya, alone in the desert, two spares is good peace of mind. I don't think I'd have done the trip alone w/o them. Of course, that's not to say I had all the other appropriate spares but I've only been on the forum for a limited time so I'm working on it. :p

I'm currently considering having my Sonoran Steel bumper modified to carry a heavy-duty, bolt-on, swing out tire carrier. This way I can mount up a second spare for trips but not have to carry arround the extra weight driving to work every day.

[Mike S]

Always a good idea if you are going far from a place to fix/replace tires. An advantage of having a trailer is that you can carry several extra tires. I carry one on the rig, and one on the trailer. Of course they are all the same rims and tires, so I actually have FOUR spares.

Even with the best tires available sidewall cuts can toast your trip in a hurry.

Ask me how I know.

M

[pskhaat]

Ask me how I know.

I'm game. Story time, what happened? :)

[Desertdude]

Even with the best tires available sidewall cuts can toast your trip in a hurry.


yup and eat a hole in yor pocket :eatchicke