I started to wonder about the fact that the sc400 spare tire is made out of steel. When I removed the spare from the trunk I realized it was a full size deep dish with full size goodyear tire. It weighed 45 lbs. then I noticed that the tire was soft, so I checked it and it had 3 lbs. of air in it. Not a good thing on a busy hot freeway. I added 30 lbs of air which changed the weight to 48 lbs. My question is I wonder what kind of a spare a Supra TT has? Lightweight I bet.

 

They have a doughnut...I think they have a different gas tank and location...So they don't have the room...

Mines not a steel spare??? Its a five spoke just like the "rollers".

 

mine is a steel spare as well... weighs a ton... I only put it in for highway trips...

 

If there was a lightweight replacement, I would think mitsuguy would be on it.

 

I replaced the heavy steel one with a spare 15" turbine I have lying around in my garage.

 

nothing easy or cheap for our cars without going to a donut... What would really be extremely small and work nicely would be the spare for a 300ZX.... they use the same bolt pattern as our cars, a larger hub bore (so it wouldn't be hubcentric, but it would fit), and they use a tire that compacts back into itself once the air is let out of it.... they are literally about 18-19" in diameter, uninflated, then you air it up and it becomes a true donut... when done, let the air out and it collapses back into tiny shape... but you need a can of compressed air or a portable air compressor to use it...

 

Yeah I would want the wheel to fit the hub, something around 20lbs. and aluminum, better yet magnesium.

 

if you are wanting a small light spare that bad, just get the nissan one and get someone to build you a hub ring... good luck finding one, I just searched ebay and nothing on the spare tires...

 

Mitsuguy,what year 300zx. would be the right year?

 

90-96..... (just one thought though, not sure if it's just the two seaters or not though)

here's one for a Porsche on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Colla...QQcmdZViewItem

the only one that I can think of that's collapsible is the 300ZX for our cars due to the bolt pattern...

 

Man I forgot about the whole collapsed and you have to air it up deal, like to mfind something more ready to bolt on in the case of a blowout.

 

don't quote me on this, but I think 3000GT VR4's use a lightweight alloy donut for a spare... I just can't remember for sure...

 

Even cheap cast 16" wheels do not weigh much when aluminum. You mod list does not show big brakes, which means almost any 16 would work.

If I were you, I would note the size of the spare tire (mine is like a 205/60 I think) and find the minimum rim width that fits such a tire. Then, I would search for that, say 16x6" rim, at any number of wheel distributers online trying to find the cheapest wheel that is tolerably light. Most 16x6 wheels are under 20lbs. Once I found a wheel, I would run over to Walmart and get the tire swapped from your steel wheel to the alloy wheel for $5.

The spare tire -hopefully- will never see action, so I would not be concerned about looks or the quality of the mounting job which is why I suggest Walmart. They will get the tire on the wheel cheaper than anyone.

Hell, you may even be able to ebay a single used wheel for cheaper than buying a new one. Just a thought...


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Edit: I have actually been considering a similar thing, although I was going to investigate the price of a steel spare for a 95-00 LS400 (to clear my brakes) from the dealer first. But, I just ran a search on the tirerack for wheels for the 2000 LS400 to see what I was working with: $84 for a 16" wheel that will clear the brakes and tip the scale at 18lbs. That is not a bad starting point.

 

17" yellow spacer saver ftw!

 

Where are you quoting that from?