Keep the spare tire in the frunk or remove it?

[rsg123]

After a series of unfortunate events at my SC, I was given a brand new spare tire and wheel. I have been keeping it in my frunk but am reconsidering that. Not that it can’t happen tomorrow, but I haven’t had a flat tire leave me stranded in my 20+ years driving.
My first issue is safety—doesn’t stuff in the frunk remove some of the crumple zone? Secondly, the 19” wheel barely fits and a lot of pressure is placed on the tire by the piece of plastic which houses the frunk light. I’m worried about warping the tire or breaking this trim piece. Lastly is lower efficiency because of the extra weight.
Can people who have been stranded by a flat tire in their Tesla please comment?

 

[Lasttoy]

I've had 2 tows because of no spare. I would keep it.

 

[Patrick W]

27 years with my old pickup truck. 1 Flat. 18 months with my S. 3 flats (though one was self inflicted when I ran onto a curb). I'd owned a spare since the beginning but only put it in the car for trips. But after the 2nd flat I keep the spare in the car all the time.

Regarding location, I'd keep it in the trunk and only put soft stuff in the frunk. As you implied, the frunk is the crumple zone. You'd not want to hit something and find yourself with the spare in your lap.

 

[Cheburashka]

After being stuck waiting for 5 hours for a tow because of terminal tire failure (running into a pothole?) last month... I'd keep the spare.

 

[shiftkenny]

After being stuck waiting for 5 hours for a tow because of terminal tire failure (running into a pothole?) last month... I'd keep the spare.

Your from Los Gatos I hope your car isnt the one in the news -_-

 

[docbrown]

I throw my spare in the back for long trips, otherwise I leave it at home in the garage. I'm jealous, the spare is not even close to fitting in the frunk of my 2018 model.

 

[wdolson]

No spare will fit in the frunk of a refresh Model S. I had a bad flat on a holiday weekend and had to have my car towed to a local tire place where it sat until Tuesday. It was terribly annoying, but Tesla Roadside service was pretty good and got me a Lyft home so I could fetch our other car.

 

[whitex]

I throw my spare in the back for long trips, otherwise I leave it at home in the garage. I'm jealous, the spare is not even close to fitting in the frunk of my 2018 model.

At least a Model S it fits a full size tire. I had a rear tire blowout in a Porsche 911C4 once. The car had a small spare, however the issue I did not anticipate was where to put the giant full size tire. Tow truck drive was nice enough to drive me to a Walmart where I bought some very large plastic bags and after wrapping the tire I placed ti in the only place it would fit, on the front passenger seat (with seat all the way back).

 

[ewoodrick]

I'd leave it at home. You have to determine your own odds at ever using it.

As to the crumble zone, maybe it could hurt it, but I generally see that spares can often add to the crumble zone, because of their ability to absorb impact. In the 3, there's definitely a zone in the frunk that the tire may interfere with.

I also tend to dislike real spares, because you need to keep them in rotation so that they stay viable,

 

[whitex]

I'd leave it at home. You have to determine your own odds at ever using it.

As to the crumble zone, maybe it could hurt it, but I generally see that spares can often add to the crumble zone, because of their ability to absorb impact. In the 3, there's definitely a zone in the frunk that the tire may interfere with.

I also tend to dislike real spares, because you need to keep them in rotation so that they stay viable,

Spare tires do not absorb the impact unless the impact crushes the tire (with the hub). Wheels with tires are designed not to crumble under quiet a lot of pressure, so you are more likely to end up with it on your lap, crushing your knees and/or your pelvic area, than the tire disintegrating dissipating the crash energy.

 

[wdolson]

I would expect the spare tire would likely pop out of the frunk and slide up over the passenger compartment in a crash, though it could come through the windshield too.

 

[Oldschool496]

doesn’t stuff in the frunk remove some of the crumple zone?

Every accident is different, so knowing what the spare will do in the frunk in an event is impossible to determine. Speculation abounds here.

You carry a compressor? If not and you should. Take some air out of the tire. Take all the air out!

It will fit better, it weighs so little its not a huge energy eater. Also these rims, assuming you have the very first classic style rim, most, if not all from accidents I have seen pics, the rim Crumbles. Now thats with the tire and rim mounted on the car. SO take lots of air out of it, carry a small compressor/tire seal set up and yes only on long trips perhaps out of Urban Environments is where I would carry that spare-Rarely.

I don't carry a spare in my Refresh for obvious reasons. I do carry an aluminum racing lightweight floor jack to get the tire off the car quickly and some plugs to get me down the road. If its worse then that, I'm waiting for help.

If something happens in Urban Environment, I can get the Tire off and take it to tire shop quickly myself is my thinking with Uber maybe or other. I'm not going to wait for someone 3-4-5 hours for a tire or flat or towing?

That being said, if I am going across country, there is no way I'm going anywhere without a way to change the tire quickly with a spare or donut or whatever my research leads me to.

We are all pretty committed to these cars, it shows.

 

[CUBldr97]

lots of threads about to spare or not to spare.... here is a temp spare solution, it does not cause issues with the computer system... and allows you to get off a busy highway or bad spot... not sure for an X, but bolt pattern is the same. again there are several long threads about spare tire options...

Tesla Model S Spare Tire (Emergency Space Saver) : Bimmerzone.com

 

[cab]

We've been carting around a full size 21" rim spare in the front for months (but I have 19s on the car). The outer circumference is close enough I assume it will work as a spare. Regardless, I haven't ever needed it and since I just got my 19" tires replaced I kept one of the old ones and had it mounted on a spare 19" rim I had (long story). I will now put it in the frunk, but probably only for out of town trips. I also have a small bottle jack, jack pad, and wrench in the back. Oh, and I printed up instructions on how to change a tire (i.e. jack mode, etc.) in case my wife gets into a situation where she (or whoever assists her) needs to change one.

 

[rsg123]

You carry a compressor? If not and you should. Take some air out of the tire. Take all the air out!

Thanks, I hadn’t thought to check the air pressure. Removing the air might make it fit better.
Since I sometimes have my kids in the back seat I don’t want to move the tire to the trunk and weaken that crumple zone.

 

[roblab]

I also have a small bottle jack, jack pad, and wrench in the back. Oh, and I printed up instructions on how to change a tire (i.e. jack mode, etc.) in case my wife gets into a situation where she (or whoever assists her) needs to change one.

I expect my wife to call me, and then I'll call Tesla IF I'm not able to get there and fix it myself. My only problem with a bottle jack is that I couldn't get it under the car when the tire was flat. Well, on its side.... You really only have the four very small jack points by the wheels, and you definitely don't want to lift under the battery. Everyone should get familiar in order to tell the tow truck driver what not to do. Not even supposed to drag the car up onto the truck.

 

[Oldschool496]

Thanks, I hadn’t thought to check the air pressure. Removing the air might make it fit better.
Since I sometimes have my kids in the back seat I don’t want to move the tire to the trunk and weaken that crumple zone.

Your lucky you can carry a spare around with you all the time. Although, I really don't think its necessary, but if I could, I probably would as well.

 

[bob_p]

When our first S P85 arrived almost 6 years ago, was initially concerned about not having a spare tire. We now have an S 100D and X 100D - and they don't have spare tires either.

Since owning our first Tesla, we've had two instances of a flat tire - the last time was a few days ago. We called Tesla, they had a tow truck at the car in 60 minutes with a "loaner" tire. They installed the loaner and then took the flat to the Service Center. The next day, we went by the Service Center to put the repaired tire back on the car and remove the loaner.

Cost was $50 - with most of this covered by the Roadside Assistance included with the 50K mile/4 year warranty (and also the extended warranty for an extra 50K miles/4 years).

We also have in our X and S the Tesla tire pump with a can of the emergency tire patch, but haven't used that on any of our vehicles yet.

Based on our experience, doesn't seem worthwhile to give up so much storage space for spare...

 

[dgpcolorado]

I carry my spare (a snow tire, in the frunk) on long road trips since getting a rescue can be iffy in remote areas. For local driving and shorter road trips I rely on the usual compressor, plug kit, long-nose pliers and the like. The scissors jack and other tire changing tools also stay in the lower trunk so that I never forget them.

I've only had one flat in my S thus far and it was a slow leak (drywall screw). I pumped up the tire to get home, took it off, and then took it to a tire store to be patched. Being able to handle flats myself is a lot easier that hoping for cell phone reception and waiting hours for a rescue. Things likely are different for city folks, however.

 

[MD500_Pilot]

I didn't get a spare with my S, was that an extra option?