Lack of spare tire options?

[Brave Salmon]

My car will be driven quite a bit on long hauls around the west once I get her done. I've used runflats before and don't want them on this hot rod. I will have road service of course but I want an extra bit of insurance to cover that flat in the middle of nowhere, Nevada. Are modern "flat fix in a can" products suitable? If I carry some tire plugs, glue, and the tools, will CO2 cartriges work to inflate a tire as large as 255/45-18? Should I carry a 12v pump and if so, recommendations? Thanks gang!

[wallace18]

I carry tire plugs and a 12 compressor.

[NAZ]

As an avid off roader and former desert racer I have lots of experience with breakdowns in remote places. I always carry a couple cans of flat fix, and a tire plug kit and these have got me out of some bad spots. A small 12VDC air pump is handy as the flat fix may not inflate your tire enough. Buy a small cheap Harbor Freight pump and consider it a throw away after a couple of uses. Yes there are better ones out there but they are substantially bigger and heavier and you don't have a lot of space in that little car. Very seldom do I purchase cheap tools but this is one time that the made in China tool is my first choice. And always bring your AAA card -- don't leave home without it.

[GoDadGo]

We've got 12-Volt Air Compressors in all of the cars and plug kits too.
Home Depot had the compressors for a nice price so everybody in the house got one for Christmas.
Add a set of inexpensive pliers (Cutting, Needle Nose, Standard & Channel Locks) and you are typically in good shape to fix most punctures.
While my driving minions weren't too thrilled about this stocking stuffer, the GoDad thought it was a good gift to keep them Going!

[myjones]

I carry a compact spare. It was from an Edge IIRC and cost $35-50 at a salvage yard
At 4.5" wide it will fit in my trunk but I moved my fuel tank so YRMV
Its a T165 80 D 17 so it also clears my 13" rotors

Spare tire, yet one more reason to ditch the FF fuel tank.
DB

[1932]

My mini has no spare so have always had 12v pump and plug kit, most of the time put in air and go get it fixed.

[Dave Howard]

I've done several blistering hot summer cross country tours. I carry plugs and the special tool, and bought a small 12v compressor from Honda (for use on ATVs) but can produce 100 psi......more than needed. I feel confident I can made roadside repairs for small punctures. Anything more severe will mean a call to CAA.

[wareaglescott]

Never had a car without a spare.
Never used fix a flat.
Was planning to have a couple cans in my trunk kit. Is this inadequate for an emergency repair and to get me 10 miles or so?

[TDSapp]

Maybe you need to talk to Erik Hansen about adding something like this to your car. :D :D :D :D :D :D

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/ehansen007/IMG_0212.jpg (http://s897.photobucket.com/user/ehansen007/media/IMG_0212.jpg.html)

[edwardb]

Over one third of new cars now no longer include a spare tire. Some have run flats, but much more common is an inflator and sealant. These are typically integrated into a single unit and are actually pretty nice if you can find one. I remember some years ago seeing a pre-production Chevy Volt at a business conference. A GM executive was giving a speech and brought the car for us to see. The company I worked for had a lot of content in that car, so we looked it over very closely. I immediately noticed it didn't have a spare and only a pump and sealant. Wasn't as common then, but much more now. I carry a pump and sealant in my Roadster, but would only use it as a last option. Spare tire is out of the question.

One thing to keep in mind if you figure out how to carry a spare tire is how you're going to jack it up with a flat tire. The frames on these cars are so low that with a flat it's not going to be easy to raise it to make the change. Probably some type of low profile bottle jack. More weight and space...

[Brave Salmon]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I gave thought to the bike rack but figured it would get in the way of the 10,000lb winch that gies back there!
Seriously, the idea of a combined pump, plug kit, and selection of plugs should give one plenty of comfort on a long drive. I thought about various jacking options and will probably carry the tiniest bottle jack I can find. Thank you all for the help. Tom