I figured I would post this for some interesting discussion (e.g., so you can tell me what a dumb idea it is). Because the GE8 Fit uses such oddball size tires, and I take several long trips per year, I decided to get an extra OEM wheel and tire as a full size spare. I had the same thing for my previous car. It adds weight and bulk (doesn't fit in the spare tire well), but would sure beat driving back home 800 miles on the temporary spare, or spending a weekend in who-knows-where waiting for a Honda dealer to open in hopes of buying a tire. I only take this on long trips, and rely on the temporary spare for my regular driving needs.

Two factors that make the economics better for me: my wife also has a GE8 Fit, so we can put the spare in whichever car might be taking a long trip; and I came across a like new OEM alloy wheel with mounted tire for cheap on ebay. Yes I checked out the seller and he did not seem to be a thief.

If this catches on, it could be a way for those who want to upgrade their wheels and tires to sell off the OEM stuff.

 

Most of the time when you have a flat its a nail or something similar in the road. What I do is keep a tire patching kit in my car (like so....http://www.bc4x4.com/inthenews/default.cfm?ID=373) and take the wheel off and patch it then continue on my way. Usually takes me 10 minutes to patch a tire and it's a lot less then buying a new rim and tire. If for some crazy reason my tire is shredded then I still have the spare but luckily I've never had to use a spare in my life.

 

That's the one thing I dislike about my Fit.. no room for a full sized spare I do not trust donuts at all.............. then again a donut beats a lot of new cars that just come with a can of flat fixer and an air compressor

 

Coming from Goodyear City USA (or is it Goodrich?) you should know!

Personally I wouldn't worry about 800 miles on a space saver spare. Other than the shame of riding on a dinky wheel it'll do. I'd even ignore the speed warnings (but I'd probably keep it under 70mph anyway). Just make sure it's at the right pressure.

 

A little off topic, I once saw a car fly by me on the highway - he must have been doing 80 - on 3 (three!) donut spares plus one real tire. I gave him lots and lots of room.

 

He was hypermiling and had stripped the car, and kept the one good tire on the wheel that propelled the car...

Those donuts probably don't weigh much, they already have high air pressure....but they probably could jack them up to a 100 or so, and they have a small footprint...