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Anyone Buy Modern Spare Tire Kit?

Discussion in 'Model 3: Driving Dynamics' started by AKinDC, Jun 20, 2019.

  1. Feathermerchan

    Feathermerchan Active Member

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    Check where Road assistance is available and don't go there.
     
    • Like x 1
  2. Old 356 guy

    Old 356 guy Member

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    I’m getting my 3 next week and can’t live without a spare. Five minutes getting hands on vs hours waiting for the someone else. Found a Hyundai Gennisis 18x4 Spare complete with tool kit and jack under $100 on evilbay with free shipping. Will hone the wheel, modify the jack to lift suspension member and Bobs your uncle.
     
  3. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    I made a lug nut cover remover and suggested to Modern Spare that they include it in the kit. Wasn't sure where to post it...
    DIY Lug Nut Cover Puller
     
  4. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    Why won't the smaller jack also work for the rear??
     
  5. Hblick48

    Hblick48 Member

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    Just purchased a used 2016 Model S, of course no spare. 19" Slipstream Wheels. Frunk too small for spare.

    Waiting hours for road service isn't my idea of fun. I'm getting ready to have my wheels powder coated along with new tires. Found used matching wheel on EBay for $100. When I install new tires, going to mount one of the old ones on the used rim and I have a spare for $100. Already have lug wrench and hydraulic jack, so I'm all set.

    Still trying to figure out how to secure in the truck without loosing a bunch of space. Anybody have any suggestions? 245-45/19 wheel diameter is only 1/2 inch larger than Modern Spare from first post. It is wider, though, but not by much.
     
    • Like x 1
  6. PACEMD

    PACEMD Active Member

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    Have the Modern Spare. Takes up some trunk space and it ain't cheap but worth all that on the backroads of Montana. I do like the kit details, well done.
     
  7. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    The Model 3 Dual motors weight distribution (front-rear) is 47% - 53%, so very similar but I noticed that lifting the front was easier.

    I use two jacks to balance the car, so going back and force between the two jacks is easier than using only one jack.

    However, those jacks are more for emergency, I would recommend using a floor jack otherwise.

    I would recommend putting a larger piece of wood below each jack for better stability especially if you are park above dirt or mud.
     
  8. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    I see. Seems logical. I also use floor jacks when at home. You might find this story interesting:
    MASTER THREAD: Jack Points — location, use, damage, pads, etc.
     
    • Like x 1
  9. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    This story shows how a Modern Spare kit for Tesla Model 3 can be improved. While the tools fit nicely in the bag, the jack is too big to fit within the wheel. That caused shipping damage to the inside of the wheel and will likely continue to beat up the wheel and annoyingly rattle unless something is done. The following four Figures explain a temporary solution using common, inexpensive items.

    20200627_170236.jpg
    Fig. 1. L to R: Home Made Puck, old Honda Jack fits, but only 1540 Lbs load, Light weight chocks from WM, Tennis balls to protect wheel from jack

    20200627_171120.jpg
    Fig. 2. Jack is too wide to fit in wheel and moves around. Note shipping damage to wheel. Kid's tennis ball is a bit bigger. Wheel also protected from bottom of jack using scraps of door edge molding.

    20200627_170738.jpg
    Fig. 3. Locating pin added to help center pad under jack point. Loose fit, unlike puck that sticks in place.

    20200627_170829.jpg
    Fig. 4. Locating pin made from 3/4" long 5/8" Diam. maple dowel. Red tape makes it plug-in snugly. 9/16" ID vinyl enlarges it, could be bigger yet.


    I am exploring alternative jacks, some of which have been mentioned in this TMC Thread, that would also solve another problem: The jack, roughly an inch or two too big, has to sit at an angle, thus forces the face of the bag upwards, taking more precious trunk space than necessary.
     
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  10. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    #70 Watts_Up, Jun 27, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2020
    Thank you for the information. I always secure the car with some extra cement blocks and pieces of wood in case a jack failed.
    I also start lifting my car with a small scissor jack, so I can use a regular floor jack instead of low profile one which are costly.

    Note: Security is a big issue when lifting a car. Near where I live, many Prius got there catalytic exhaust stolen.
    Unfortunately, someone get killed recently when the scissor jack collapsed while trying to cut the exhaust.
     
  11. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    #71 Watts_Up, Jun 27, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2020
    I agree with you that the spare tire takes a lot of space,
    in particular because of the 6" width, the 18" height entrance access get reduced to 12".

    In particular, you cannot put some grocery bags which typical height is about 16" height.

    [​IMG]

    I recently removed the rear trunk cover and I noticed that there was quite of unused space underneath.

    Model 3 - Trunk Cover Subtrunk Removed .jpg

    So I build a smaller sub-trunk, large enough to hold all of my jacks and other tools.

    20200305_221514.jpg

    This allowed my to lower the trunk floor by another 6".

    20200305_221421.jpg

    I am now able to carry larger items, such as some cumbersome grocery bags.

    20200211_090242.jpg
     
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  12. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    Nice. Did you find any holes or studs where you could add cargo tie down d rings like Saabs and Volvos have?
     
  13. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    There are some holes to put plastic rivets used to hold the floor and wall carpet.

    But I think it would be simpler to select the locations corresponding to your needs
    and plug some Rivet Nuts by making holes into the wheelhouse non structural metal sheet.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Feathermerchan

    Feathermerchan Active Member

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    I thought the rear trunk cover was just a liner. How can there be more space under it?
     
  15. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    I would like to avoid drilling holes while it is under warranty. How big are the holes you found? FYI, I used a well nut in an existing 16mm hole to add bag hooks in the trunk:
    DIY Rear Trunk Bag Hooks
     
  16. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    #76 Watts_Up, Jun 28, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2020
    I agree, but I was talking about making holes into the side wheelhouse non structural metal sheet.

    Thank you for mentioning your previous posting, I was in fact thinking to include it.

    But using Rivets Nuts solve the issue of not be able to hold a nut.

    You can then put a bolt through the carpet to hold some anchors or a rail like some European car have.

    About the existing holes, there are quite a few. See this video: Tesla Model 3 Teardown

    Screen Shot 2019-09-23 at 11.25.37 AM.png
     
    • Informative x 1
  17. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    This show how much space is lost in the trunk under the carpet cover.

    In particular a spare tire could have perfectly fit with with a better design.

    Engineers need to think sometime than car are not only designed for cities.

    If you want to sale a car from Alaska to Australia or Russia,
    there will not be a Service Center every 50 miles to provide a spare tire replacement.

    Please look at this other thread dealing with the same subject: Model 3 has no spare tire

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    To give an example, this is the trunk of a Hyundai Niro EV trunk.
    There is not Spare, but you can easily put one if you desire.

    Screen_Shot_2017-02-21_at_11.39.44_AM.png
     
    • Informative x 1
  19. Feathermerchan

    Feathermerchan Active Member

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    I wonder what a spare would do for crash protection. Probably a larger crumple zone without one. If you designed the car to have one and it was removed, it could have a negative affect on crash protection.
     
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    • Disagree x 1
  20. TonyJag

    TonyJag Member

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    #80 TonyJag, Jun 28, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2020
    Good point!
    I once owned a 1974 Fiat 128SL, which had the spare mounted over the engine and as I recall, it was claimed to improve frontal crash protection. Keeping it from creaking over bumps was an ongoing challenge.

    For the cargo-space-challenged Model 3, I half-seriously suggested a continental kit that attaches to a trailer hitch. Us old guys remember these from the fifties and before.
    Continental tire - Wikipedia

    Another way to mount a spare is to have it hoisted up from underneath. That method worked well in my CorV-8 (My first car with a Frunk),
    CORV-8
    it was applied in other cars with room underneath, like the Dodge Caravan. It also worked well on my open race car trailer.
     

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