Please Read this: Confession to make on spare tire pressure.

[5bird7]

Yes, it's bothered me a long time that these tires were exploding but all I had to go on for tire pressure was what was embossed on the spare tires. Now read this carefully and you'll see where the mistake was made and I just now caught it. duh. One word. MAXIMUM. What does that mean? I knew what it meant on the regular tires for the car but somehow that eluded me all these years. WE had to learn in the first few years of these cars that many were being shipped with 45lbs in the regular tire which resulted in bumpy, shakey rides if the tires hadn't been checked at the dealer when new and air let out to specs. The spare tires say Maximum pressure is 60#. It doesn't say recommended pressure. Therefore I take it that 30lbs is all that is needed, same as the regular tires. I know some of you had already puzzled about why we were saying 60lbs and went ahead with their gut feelings and use a much lower pressure.

All I can say is sorry. At least it got people to replace their unused spares because even at a lower pressure, they are not safe when aged. Air temperature and a heated tire from driving on hot roads expand the air and make 60lbs much higher.

I've updated my website pages where I have that noted.

[JerriLampon]

Nice mea culpa, but a 16 to 19 year old tire, even if a spare, should be replaced. I just ordered an original spare for my 2004 Volvo XC0 because I was concerned about using it when I had a flat. I called road service waited three hours to have the tire dealer (two miles away) that THEY wouldn't have put it on, either.
$140 for a new spare.
No mea culpa necessary!

[5bird7]

This is just to make sure not to put in 60lbs. It should be the same as used in the regular tires.

[kbrighton]

Oddly, neither the owner's manual nor the door sticker specify a recommended tire pressure for the spare.

[2K2BIRD]

Since they are out of sight and out of mind, I would venture to say many of them have exploded with less than 60 psi. It is strange that there is no mention of the correct pressure anywhere on the car or even the jacking instructions.

[BirdsAndBugs]

I still have my original spares. But when I travel anywhere out of town, I always take a can of Fix-A-Flat. I would find it increasingly difficult to have a change a tire anymore myself due to health conditions; but could still do it if I really had to. All I need it to do is just get me down the road to the next place I can get it repaired or replaced. Heck, my Volkswagen Eos and my wife's Mercedes GLA have no spares. The EOS has a tire inflator kit (Fix-A-Flat) and the GLA has "run flat" tires.

[merlot4]

Thanks for the thoughts, Dot! Here's a search page that seems to call for 60 lbs, but I wonder if one has copied the other, and you're correct.

https://www.google.com/search?q=doug...4dUDCA4&uact=5

[NotU]

I had a flat in Oregon and called AAA. 53 mile tow to the nearest town. This was in 2019, the original spare was and is still in the trunk. As I see it, all the spare is good for is holding up the trunk bottom. A full size tire will not fit in the spare's space and the trunk was already full. 20190725_185159.jpg

[5bird7]

Thanks for the thoughts, Dot! Here's a search page that seems to call for 60 lbs, but I wonder if one has copied the other, and you're correct.

https://www.google.com/search?q=doug...4dUDCA4&uact=5

That is wild. Since these are not really compact, just narrower width, not sure of what to say other than a Maximum 60# is too much when driving on them in the heat of summer or leaving them in a hot trunk and the air expands in them. Maybe pump them up to between 35 and 45?

[5bird7]

I still have my original spares. But when I travel anywhere out of town, I always take a can of Fix-A-Flat. I would find it increasingly difficult to have a change a tire anymore myself due to health conditions; but could still do it if I really had to. All I need it to do is just get me down the road to the next place I can get it repaired or replaced. Heck, my Volkswagen Eos and my wife's Mercedes GLA have no spares. The EOS has a tire inflator kit (Fix-A-Flat) and the GLA has "run flat" tires.

I've had 3 flats on ours, none fixable by fix-a-flat as the tires were torn apart.

[5bird7]

I had a flat in Oregon and called AAA. 53 mile tow to the nearest town. This was in 2019, the original spare was and is still in the trunk. As I see it, all the spare is good for is holding up the trunk bottom. A full size tire will not fit in the spare's space and the trunk was already full. 20190725_185159.jpg

We've already shown that a full size wheel and tire WILL fit in the well. Drawback is that the cover will not fit over it without losing packing space. btw, the page may say custom but these are OEM tires for that page.


The NewThunderbird - Custom Wheels (portholeauthority.com)

[BirdsAndBugs]

I've had 3 flats on ours, none fixable by fix-a-flat as the tires were torn apart.

It seems like every flat I've generally had I picked up a screw and a can of Fix-A-Flat did the trick long enough to get somewhere. Fortunately we all have cell phones now days so the risk of getting stranded anymore isn't as great.

[Jimr]

I have removed the spare form my trunk and let all the air out of it for storage in the garage. Now I have more room in my trunk and no worries of it exploding.
AAA is now my spare tire. BTW always follow manufactures recommendations and not the max pressure listed on the tire.

[Gobird]

I have used 40lbs in mine for quite a few years now,

[HKS]

I have used 40lbs in mine for quite a few years now,

Good compromise.

And, on a hot day, after driving 10 miles the psi will read 45+.