Source For "Real" Spare Wheel

[SnowStorm]

What is the best source for a spare wheel like the one on the car?  Has anyone purchased from FinishLine or Midwest?  Was it a good wheel and did you get good service?  Any other source?  I want a real spare for out-of-the way trips!

[fotomoto]

When you say "real" do you mean full size?  If so, ebay and this forum both occasional have OEM wheels for sale; usually with tires too.  A full size wheel/tire combo will take up a HUGE amount of room in the hatch.

[obob]

Two topics that have a lot of spare tire discussion

 

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/258-spare-tire/?hl=spare

 

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/1116-spare-tire-solution-for-c-max-hybrid/?hl=spare

[Tom]

What is the best source for a spare wheel like the one on the car?  Has anyone purchased from FinishLine or Midwest?  Was it a good wheel and did you get good service?  Any other source?  I want a real spare for out-of-the way trips!

 

 

When you say "real" do you mean full size?  If so, ebay and this forum both occasional have OEM wheels for sale; usually with tires too.  A full size wheel/tire combo will take up a HUGE amount of room in the hatch.

 I bought my spare wheel and tire from the dealer where I bought my car.  It also came with Ford's tire air pressure measuring devise.

 

As to the space it takes up in the hatch area, I place my spare upside down so that I can use the concaved side  to hold things such as grocery bags, etc.  Seems to be worth living with for the security of having a real spare -- which I have had occasion to use.

[DaveofDurham]

 I bought my spare wheel and tire from the dealer where I bought my car.  It also came with Ford's tire air pressure measuring devise.

 

As to the space it takes up in the hatch area, I place my spare upside down so that I can use the concaved side  to hold things such as grocery bags, etc.  Seems to be worth living with for the security of having a real spare -- which I have had occasion to use.

Tom -

 

What jack did you get to go with your spare?  The first jack I got was from an Escape.  I learned the hard way that it was too tall to slide under the car when a tire is flat.  I still need to get another jack to go with my donut spare (which performed flawlessly after AAA put it on for me).

 

Dave

[SnowStorm]

When you say "real" do you mean full size?  If so, ebay and this forum both occasional have OEM wheels for sale; usually with tires too.  A full size wheel/tire combo will take up a HUGE amount of room in the hatch.

Yes, full size OEM wheel - just like on the car.  There is usually plenty of space.  I figure if I have to haul it in the car, cover it, strap it down, all that bother, it might as well be the real thing so I don't have to worry about limited speed/distance, swapping back to front or whatever.

[Tom]

Tom -

 

What jack did you get to go with your spare?  The first jack I got was from an Escape.  I learned the hard way that it was too tall to slide under the car when a tire is flat.  I still need to get another jack to go with my donut spare (which performed flawlessly after AAA put it on for me).

 

Dave

Dave,

 

I bought a scissor style jack and a lug wrench from the same Ford dealer for an Escape. Part numbers CP9Z*17032*A and CV6Z*17088*B.

 

Tom

[Smiling Jack]

Dave,

 

I bought a scissor style jack and a lug wrench from the same Ford dealer for an Escape. Part numbers CP9Z*17032*A and CV6Z*17088*B.

 

Tom

 

Tom,

 

Please clarify.  Does your scissor jack collapse low enough to get under the ac-max jack points with a completely flat tire?

Edited June 6, 2014 by Smiling Jack

[Tom]

Tom,

 

Please clarify.  Does your scissor jack collapse low enough to get under the ac-max jack points with a completely flat tire?

Well, you ask a question that I cannot truthfully answer.  I just went out and measured the jack. It's 5.5 inches at the highest point collapsed.  I also measured the space from the base of the plastic trim that runs along the door bottoms to the ground and it looks to be about 8 inches. So with a flat tire -- I don't know.  I just assumed it would fit.  I'm glad you asked and I will do more tomorrow to see what the story is. 

 

The one time I did have a flat tire I got AAA to put my spare on and I was not able to see what jack they used.

[Smiling Jack]

Well, you ask a question that I cannot truthfully answer.  I just went out and measured the jack. It's 5.5 inches at the highest point collapsed.  I also measured the space from the base of the plastic trim that runs along the door bottoms to the ground and it looks to be about 8 inches. So with a flat tire -- I don't know.  I just assumed it would fit.  I'm glad you asked and I will do more tomorrow to see what the story is. 

 

The one time I did have a flat tire I got AAA to put my spare on and I was not able to see what jack they used.

 

Thanks, Tom.

 

Let's not hope for a flat just so that we can measure !

[DaveofDurham]

Well, you ask a question that I cannot truthfully answer.  I just went out and measured the jack. It's 5.5 inches at the highest point collapsed.  I also measured the space from the base of the plastic trim that runs along the door bottoms to the ground and it looks to be about 8 inches. So with a flat tire -- I don't know.  I just assumed it would fit.  I'm glad you asked and I will do more tomorrow to see what the story is. 

 

The one time I did have a flat tire I got AAA to put my spare on and I was not able to see what jack they used.

 

 

Tom -

 

Your jack is too tall to fit under the car if you get a flat.  The jack I have is 5.75 inches when made as low as possible.  I had a flat on the right rear and it was not even close to fitting.  My jack has an "extension" from the top of the scissor to the contact point that adds a good 2.5 inches to the jack height.  Without this I suspect it would fit when a tire is flat.

[Tom]

Tom -

 

Your jack is too tall to fit under the car if you get a flat.  The jack I have is 5.75 inches when made as low as possible.  I had a flat on the right rear and it was not even close to fitting.  My jack has an "extension" from the top of the scissor to the contact point that adds a good 2.5 inches to the jack height.  Without this I suspect it would fit when a tire is flat.

Well, this is a hell of a note!  What jack did you buy?

[plus 3 golfer]

Here's a calculation I made on the height of jack needed if a rear tire is completely flat a month or so ago in another thread.

 

The height to the bottom of the rear jack point pinch weld is about 6 5/8" above the ground.  The rear rim appears to be about 3" above the ground normally.  So, with a complete flat tire the rim might be only a 1/2 inch off the ground or the axle has been lowered around 2 1/2 inches.  The difference between the front and rear axle is about 9 feet and the jack point is 2 1/2  feet in front of the rear axle.  So,  the jack point would be (6.5/9) * 2.5" =  1.8 inches lower than normal. Let's say 2" lower for 2/10" safety factor.  That would put the clearance at about 4 5/8" from bottom of pinch weld to ground.  A typical scissors jack will have a slot for the pinch weld to ride in.  So, to be safe so that one can slide the jack in the pinch weld. I would try to find a scissors jack that is close to 4 inches to also account for the possibility that the ground could be uneven and perhaps raised.

 

If one is going to carry a spare, why not also just carry a floor jack instead of a scissors jack.  My floor jack is 3 inches high.  

 

 

 

 

[DaveofDurham]

Well, this is a hell of a note!  What jack did you buy?

Tom -

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  The jack I bought was from an Escape.  The part number on the base of the jack is is BCP9-17080-CB-EQPCCXZ.  This jack came with a nice foam block to store the jack in and a lug wrench (that was too small for the lug nuts on the C-Max).

[Tom]

Here's a calculation I made on the height of jack needed if a rear tire is completely flat a month or so ago in another thread.

 

The height to the bottom of the rear jack point pinch weld is about 6 5/8" above the ground.  The rear rim appears to be about 3" above the ground normally.  So, with a complete flat tire the rim might be only a 1/2 inch off the ground or the axle has been lowered around 2 1/2 inches.  The difference between the front and rear axle is about 9 feet and the jack point is 2 1/2  feet in front of the rear axle.  So,  the jack point would be (6.5/9) * 2.5" =  1.8 inches lower than normal. Let's say 2" lower for 2/10" safety factor.  That would put the clearance at about 4 5/8" from bottom of pinch weld to ground.  A typical scissors jack will have a slot for the pinch weld to ride in.  So, to be safe so that one can slide the jack in the pinch weld. I would try to find a scissors jack that is close to 4 inches to also account for the possibility that the ground could be uneven and perhaps raised.

 

If one is going to carry a spare, why not also just carry a floor jack instead of a scissors jack.  My floor jack is 3 inches high.  

Please provide more information about your floor jack. Make, model , place of purchase, etc. Thanks, Tom

[plus 3 golfer]

Please provide more information about your floor jack. Make, model , place of purchase, etc. Thanks, Tom

Harbor Freight several years ago like this one.  I've seen this one at a lower price occasionally and you usually can find a 20% off coupon on one item.  Just a caution and that is a floor jack doesn't work well unless its wheels / rollers can roll such that the jack moves as the car is being raised.  

[DaveofDurham]

Harbor Freight several years ago like this one. I've seen this one at a lower price occasionally and you usually can find a 20% off coupon on one item. Just a caution and that is a floor jack doesn't work well unless its wheels / rollers can roll such that the jack moves as the car is being raised.

I was going to ask how much it weighs, but I found the weight at the link you provided - 42 lbs.

 

Does it roll around in the back of your car? Leak oil/hydraulic fluid?

[plus 3 golfer]

I

I was going to ask how much it weighs, but I found the weight at the link you provided - 42 lbs.

Does it roll around in the back of your car? Leak oil/hydraulic fluid?

Harbor Freight does have a lighter one that is 1 1/2 tons. I don't have a spare tire so I don't carry it. But, I'd probably secure it in the hatch area if I carried it. Hasn't leaked in about 4 years of ownership but I only use it maybe 10 times a year (40 times lifting). This floor jack replaced an all steel, heavier floor jack that was probably 15 years old that did begin to leak. I would top it up but eventually it wouldn't hold enough pressure to get the car off the ground.

[obob]

Not trying to deter the quest for the right size jack, if mine didn't fit, could drive the car's wheel with the flat up on a rock or a brick or a curb, or be in a position so the jack is recessed, like digging a recess for the jack.

[Tom]

Harbor Freight several years ago like this one.  I've seen this one at a lower price occasionally and you usually can find a 20% off coupon on one item.  Just a caution and that is a floor jack doesn't work well unless its wheels / rollers can roll such that the jack moves as the car is being raised.  

 

Thanks for the info and the tip.

[Tom]

Not trying to deter the quest for the right size jack, if mine didn't fit, could drive the car's wheel with the flat up on a rock or a brick or a curb, or be in a position so the jack is recessed, like digging a recess for the jack.

 

Thanks, and good suggestion.

[Tom]

I looked at the Harbor Freight site and they offer a scissor jack that they say is 

Minimum height (in.) 3-3/8 in. Product Height 3-3/4 in.

for less than $20.  Any thoughts on this as a solution?

[SnowStorm]

Well, The Enterprise has a "real" spare (full size).  Now where do I put it?  Bought a used wheel from Robbin's Auto Parts in Henrietta, NC for $150 and $25 shipping.  Absolutely beautiful.  Complete with center emblem and TPMS sensor.  The dealer only had access to new ones (a bit over $500) but looked it up on car-part.com and found quite a few.  They use that sight for locating parts for the body shop.  Our Michelin dealer had the C-Max tire in stock so had one put on (balanced great).  About $400 total for peace of mind in the back country.  Figure I'll start a 5 tire rotation pattern when I need new tires.  Will only lug it around when I need it! ;)

[MichaelM]

I bought a jack similar to this one, but I can't remember where. It was out of a mail order catalog. I have used it on my wifes Pontiac Solstice (which sits very low to the ground). It raised the tire easily for removal and came with a carry case. I'm not at home so can't give you the measurements but it is about the same size as my Craftsman ratchet set.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Scissor-Jack-Auto-Lift/dp/B0046C60B6#productDetails

Edited July 15, 2014 by MichaelM