Fullsize spare for Mirage? 14 inch

[nickels]

Looks like we have a maxxis with a 75mph, 1200lb, 3000mile rating.

[Dirk Diggler]

Hell I rode on a spare with dry rot for 300 miles on the highway no problem. Its just tire manufacturers trying to avoid lawsuits IMO.

[Mark]

I find this to be a very minor issue. I can't even remember the last time I had a flat...

I remember my last flat. My 2017 Mirage had a Dunlop Enasave sidewall give out at 15,000 miles (summer of 2018). In all honesty, that particular tire didn't even have 15,000 miles on it (because it wasn't used during the prior winter months).

I was a short distance from school (where my student driver's car was parked) when this happened, & I limped the car into the parking lot. I was actually going there for a driving lesson. By the time I reached the parking lot, the rear tire was toast. To my surprise the steel rim and TPMS were perfectly fine. I used my student driver car to get my floor jack and a pair of winter tires from home. I used those until I got a replacement pair of tires. I replaced two Dunlop tires with Federal tires at the time. I still have a spare Dunlop sitting in my garage.

I could have dug out the tiny spare, but I would have switch things over at home anyways. I just saved myself a step by doing it at school. I also had a spare car at my disposal at the time.

[Mark]

Put it on a free wheel like the rear, don't do any drifting, and you'll have no worries on a few hundred mile trek back to civilization.

A tiny spare is better than nothing, and they will get the job done (especially on the rear of your Mirage).

I really like full size spare tires. With some of my past vehicles (1st & 2nd generation Honda CRV), I would actually use the full size spare. I would buy 3 used rims that matched the spare. This gave me two full sets of four tires for an AWD vehicle. I would use the newer set during the winter months, and other older set during the summer months. Three tires not being used were stored in the garage, and one was used as a spare. I actually preferred the swinging rear doors with a mounted full size spare tire on it. In my case, I used that tire as part of a set of 4.

I use 3 pairs of tires on my Mirage (depending on the time of year). On my AWD vehicle Forester, I used two different sets of 4 wheels. It makes a difference when climbing a winter ridge road to get home.

[nickels]

A tiny spare is better than nothing, and they will get the job done (especially on the rear of your Mirage).

I really like full size spare tires. With some of my past vehicles (1st & 2nd generation Honda CRV), I would actually use the full size spare. I would buy 3 used rims that matched the spare. This gave me two full sets of four tires for an AWD vehicle. I would use the newer set during the winter months, and other older set during the summer months. Three tires not being used were stored in the garage, and one was used as a spare. I actually preferred the swinging rear doors with a mounted full size spare tire on it. In my case, I used that tire as part of a set of 4.

I use 3 pairs of tires on my Mirage (depending on the time of year). On my AWD vehicle Forester, I used two different sets of 4 wheels. It makes a difference when climbing a winter ridge road to get home.

Why on earth not do a proper 5 tire rotation?

[Mark]

Why on earth not do a proper 5 tire rotation?

What would that accomplish?

I want relatively new or winter tires on my Forester during the winter months!

I want to use my older tires during the summer months!

Tell me how you would do that with just 5 tires?

I presently have 4 Cooper Weather-Master S/T2 snow tires on my Forester. It's a beast in the snow!

In the spring time, I will put my 4 older Cooper CS4 Touring tires back on. One summer may be left in them. When these tires were new, they did quite well in the snow. Thus, I used these for a few winters years ago while using up my horrible factory Bridgestone tires during the summer months.

I have zero interest in a 5 tire rotation. Despite what anyone else may think, AWD systems are designed for matching sets of tires to used at the same time.

[Fummins]

Not this again!

[Eggman]

Don't AWD systems allow some slip? I thought that's how they can get away with a donut spare.

[Mark]

Don't AWD systems allow some slip? I thought that's how they can get away with a donut spare.

I think some are missing the point here. My Forester has a donut spare, & I would surely use it during a flat tire situation.

My Forester with its slightly worn factory tires was the worst vehicle I have ever driven in snow. It didn't take much to get it stuck, & it was especially horrible braking on snow/ice. Adding a second set of tires made the same vehicle a totally different machine. I used up the factory tires during the summer months, while extending of the life of my winter tires at the same time. Newer or winter tires allow make a huge difference where I live during the winter months.

What I liked about vehicles like my former 1st generation Honda CRV was that they came with 5 matching tires. The spare tire mounted on the rear hatch matched the four tires on the car. Thus, picking up 3 matching used tires gave you a second set of tires for winter or summer use. Honda CRVs are popular, & finding used tires was easy.

I guess my point was that I like a full size spare and when it matches the other 4 tires that's even better. Donut spares are great for an emergency, but they are pretty useless beyond that.

[Fummins]

Don't AWD systems allow some slip?

I would like to think so, I haven’t seen an awd experiment wheel hop on dry pavement like an actual four wheel drive does when turning. I wouldn’t want to run a donut that’s noticeably shorter than the others on an awd though.