View Poll Results: Still drive with spare tire?
I am driving without the spare tire.
6
14.63%
I am driving with the spare tire.
35
85.37%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll
Still drive with spare tire?
04-14-08, 07:12 AM
#1
Driver
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Location: CA
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Still drive with spare tire?
I removed my spare tire for better gas mileage and better performance.
Are you driving your LS with or without the spare tire?
I don’t know how much the spare tire weighs but I will assume 45 pounds for these calculations.
ACCELERATION:
As far as 0-60 mph times go, see here for a basic formula:
http://www.cars-cars-cars.org/0-60-Times-Calculator.htm
According to that formula:
1655 kg (with spare tire), 290 hp = 6.34 seconds
1634.6 kg (without spare tire), 290 hp = 6.26 seconds
That's a 0.08 second reduction in 0-60 mph time.
GAS MILEAGE:
I found this interesting site:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/forum/read.php?thread=2773
According to the author of the post, a best fit estimate:
mpg improvement = 0.0106 x weight reduction in pounds
0.0106*45=0.477 mpg improvement
0.477 mpg increase for removing the spare tire seems very good.
So by removing 45 pounds worth of weight, you could get a 0.08 sec reduction in your 0 to 60 time AND a 0.477 mpg improvement!
Are you driving your LS with or without the spare tire?
I don’t know how much the spare tire weighs but I will assume 45 pounds for these calculations.
ACCELERATION:
As far as 0-60 mph times go, see here for a basic formula:
http://www.cars-cars-cars.org/0-60-Times-Calculator.htm
According to that formula:
1655 kg (with spare tire), 290 hp = 6.34 seconds
1634.6 kg (without spare tire), 290 hp = 6.26 seconds
That's a 0.08 second reduction in 0-60 mph time.
GAS MILEAGE:
I found this interesting site:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/forum/read.php?thread=2773
According to the author of the post, a best fit estimate:
mpg improvement = 0.0106 x weight reduction in pounds
0.0106*45=0.477 mpg improvement
0.477 mpg increase for removing the spare tire seems very good.
So by removing 45 pounds worth of weight, you could get a 0.08 sec reduction in your 0 to 60 time AND a 0.477 mpg improvement!
Last edited by haulin79; 05-19-08 at 01:45 AM.
04-14-08, 07:38 AM
#2
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Florida
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I don't know about you... but I'd way rather have the spare and pay more in fuel (albeit very minor price difference...) and know if I have a blow out I have a spare just in case, but I drive between FL and VA all the time, so maybe I need that more cause Im often not at home or anywhere I know.
With that said... in my 5.0 Mustang notch, I did remove the spare along with the carpeting, along with pretty much the entire interior, and I never had a blow out or needed a spare. I think if I was at home all the time, I might remove the spare, because I do have tow-trucks at my diposal, to save a little money on gas....
With that said... in my 5.0 Mustang notch, I did remove the spare along with the carpeting, along with pretty much the entire interior, and I never had a blow out or needed a spare. I think if I was at home all the time, I might remove the spare, because I do have tow-trucks at my diposal, to save a little money on gas....
04-14-08, 07:48 AM
#3
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I use my car for my daily 60 mile commute, mainly on the freeway. If my tire blew out, there is no way I would get out of the car to change it. I would have AAA tow or change it for me.
I had an acquaintance get hit and die on the shoulder of the freeway by a stupid freeway driver that wasn't paying attention.
If I were to take a long family trip then I would for sure put the spare tire in.
I had an acquaintance get hit and die on the shoulder of the freeway by a stupid freeway driver that wasn't paying attention.
If I were to take a long family trip then I would for sure put the spare tire in.
04-14-08, 08:01 AM
#4
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I use my car for my daily 60 mile commute, mainly on the freeway. If my tire blew out, there is no way I would get out of the car to change it. I would have AAA tow or change it for me.
I had an acquaintance get hit and die on the shoulder of the freeway by a stupid freeway driver that wasn't paying attention.
If I were to take a long family trip then I would for sure put the spare tire in.
I had an acquaintance get hit and die on the shoulder of the freeway by a stupid freeway driver that wasn't paying attention.
If I were to take a long family trip then I would for sure put the spare tire in.
04-14-08, 08:39 AM
#5
Instructor
I have a question. If you don't have a spare for AAA to change to or it's midnight on Sunday, where will you have them tow your car? Are you going to have them tow it to a wheel shop and leave it in their lot until they open at 9:00 AM? How long will it take for AAA to show up?
I have AAA also and have had to wait for 2 hours for them to show up before. I couldn't imagine waiting that long for them to show up and tow me somewhere that may or may not be open just for a flat tire. YMMV
I have AAA also and have had to wait for 2 hours for them to show up before. I couldn't imagine waiting that long for them to show up and tow me somewhere that may or may not be open just for a flat tire. YMMV
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04-14-08, 10:10 AM
#8
What is this world coming to. A man afraid to change a spare tire???
I check mine every month to see if it has air. I dont want to wait for some Tow truck, or be looked upon by some cop. I' can change a tire in 10 minutes fllat, even less. I even carry the TireFIX can, it seals the tire and pumps it up a little so you can get to a station and either fix it or add more air.
I check mine every month to see if it has air. I dont want to wait for some Tow truck, or be looked upon by some cop. I' can change a tire in 10 minutes fllat, even less. I even carry the TireFIX can, it seals the tire and pumps it up a little so you can get to a station and either fix it or add more air.
04-14-08, 10:39 AM
#9
meh, i keep mine in the car, unless your racing CONSTANTLY it isnt worth the performance, and as far as mpg, if you can take a cheeseburger combo you can take ur spare wheel.....
theres a reason when you go to races (of any type, circuit, drag, or drift) that you see everyone taking EVERYTHING extra out of their cars.....
theres a reason when you go to races (of any type, circuit, drag, or drift) that you see everyone taking EVERYTHING extra out of their cars.....
04-14-08, 11:35 AM
#10
Driver School Candidate
Shoot, a gallon of gas weighs six pounds - keep your tank at a quarter full and you'll save a lot of weight.
Me, I see the spare tire as a valuable piece of safety equipment. And I didn't buy the car for its stellar gas mileage, nor do I regularly explore its zero to 60 times. But to each his own.
Me, I see the spare tire as a valuable piece of safety equipment. And I didn't buy the car for its stellar gas mileage, nor do I regularly explore its zero to 60 times. But to each his own.
04-14-08, 11:42 AM
#12
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I commute in "The OC", so AAA can make it anywhere there within 10 to 30 minutes max. Historically, I get a flat about every 10 years, not significant enough to worry about not having a spare.
The main reason I took out the spare tire was for performance reasons. I would also remove the passenger seat if it were on a quick release like in a minivan.
The increase in mpg is a nice bonus. I don't care about the price of gas. The moment I start caring about the price of gas is the moment I know I am not making enough money.
The main reason I took out the spare tire was for performance reasons. I would also remove the passenger seat if it were on a quick release like in a minivan.
The increase in mpg is a nice bonus. I don't care about the price of gas. The moment I start caring about the price of gas is the moment I know I am not making enough money.
04-14-08, 01:15 PM
#14
Lexus Champion
I keep my spare because I'd hate to be stranded somewhere in the middle of the night.
I remember once I had a tire blow out in the middle of no where at 2AM. I had to change the tire with a cellphone light because it was pitch dark. I was thankful that I had it then.
Also, I more often drive in wet conditions than in dry conditions, so any junk in the trunk helps
I remember once I had a tire blow out in the middle of no where at 2AM. I had to change the tire with a cellphone light because it was pitch dark. I was thankful that I had it then.
Also, I more often drive in wet conditions than in dry conditions, so any junk in the trunk helps
04-14-08, 01:31 PM
#15
Lexus Test Driver
I removed my spare tire for better gas mileage and better performance.
Are you driving your LS with or without the spare tire?
I don’t know how much the spare tire weighs but I will assume 45 pounds for these calculations.
ACCELERATION:
As far as 0-60 mph times go, see here for a basic formula:
http://www.cars-cars-cars.org/0-60-Times-Calculator.htm
According to that formula:
1655 kg (with spare tire), 290 hp = 6.34 seconds
1634.6 kg (without spare tire), 290 hp = 6.26 seconds
That's a 0.08 second reduction in 0-60 mph time.
GAS MILEAGE:
I found this interesting site:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/forum/read.php?thread=2773
According to the author of the post, a best fit estimate:
mpg improvement = 0.0106 x weight reduction in pounds
0.0106*45=0.477 mpg improvement
0.477 mpg increase for removing the spare tire seems very good.
So by removing 45 pounds worth of weight, you could get a 0.08 sec reduction in your 0 to 60 time AND a 0.477 mpg improvement!
Are you driving your LS with or without the spare tire?
I don’t know how much the spare tire weighs but I will assume 45 pounds for these calculations.
ACCELERATION:
As far as 0-60 mph times go, see here for a basic formula:
http://www.cars-cars-cars.org/0-60-Times-Calculator.htm
According to that formula:
1655 kg (with spare tire), 290 hp = 6.34 seconds
1634.6 kg (without spare tire), 290 hp = 6.26 seconds
That's a 0.08 second reduction in 0-60 mph time.
GAS MILEAGE:
I found this interesting site:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/forum/read.php?thread=2773
According to the author of the post, a best fit estimate:
mpg improvement = 0.0106 x weight reduction in pounds
0.0106*45=0.477 mpg improvement
0.477 mpg increase for removing the spare tire seems very good.
So by removing 45 pounds worth of weight, you could get a 0.08 sec reduction in your 0 to 60 time AND a 0.477 mpg improvement!
The 1998-2000 LS400 weighs 1764.5 kg. With your estimage of a 20.4 kg spare, the times are as follows:
0-60 time of 6.76 seconds with spare
0-60 time of 6.68 seconds without the spare.
I still don't buy the 0.477 mpg improvement though. There are too many variables to take into account for some simple formula.