Replacing Patch Kit With Spare Tire

[Mufasha]

So I recently purchased a 2013 FFH, was told in November when I ordered the car that there would definitely be a spare tire in the car. Low and behold, after I picked it up from the dealer I get an air pump with an aerosol can. I have had blowouts, nails in sidewalls, and midnight flats. I want my spare tire.

 

Has anyone actually replaced the patch kit with a spare tire?

[acdii]

Easy enough to do, its just a foam insert that holds the pump.

[GrySql]

From reading about this I've been led to believe that a a spare won't fit under the trunk mat in FFH's.

I'd like a spare too but haven't measured the space available and a suitable donut spare tires dimensions/weight.

In the meantime I bought another brand new Tire Mobility Kit from a Hyundai off Ebay for peanuts, so I have two of them now.

They look different but contain the same details (tire sealant injector and compressor) and fits under the trunk mat, it may help.

 

Reasoning for not including a spare tire these days are enumerated here.

Weight, space, cost and fuel consumption being the main ones.

Our warranty includes road tire service, if that is available when you need it.

 

Expensive run-flat tires are also mentioned but are hardly economical just after buying a new car.

An Ford option for this would have been nice when we initially bought our cars.

[acdii]

The one thing about these kits, if you use it, you have to replace the tire and TPMS. The sealant is great, but causes balance issues, and clogs the TPMS and cant be removed from it.

[GrySql]

Easy enough to do, its just a foam insert that holds the pump.

Are you certain about there being enough room for a spare instead of the foam insert in the Hybrids?

 

Another factor that I forget to post is the various size wheels that come on different Fusions.

Giving this further thought, I remember now why I haven't pursued this with my 18" wheels.

Even a FFTi has the spare tire delete because of the larger wheel size on the car being incompatible with the standard FF's smaller donut spare for the 17" wheel.

Driving with mis-matched sized tires can cause the ABS, Traction Control and other systems to fault, the Owner's Manual mentions this issue.

 

Regarding using the Tire Mobility Kit for an emergency: replacing a tire and these cheaper type TPMS sensors is not as expensive as ruining your car's drivetrain.

 

 

 

 

Edit: Spelling

Edited February 18, 2013 by GrySql

[Mufasha]

Fair enough, if the spare tire delete was necessary then we wouldn't have bought the car. But now I've got it and like it and realize that it doesn't have the spare...frustrating that ford allowed the sales people to start selling the cars before even training them on the actual vehicle and not just the brochures.

[GrySql]

I share your pain, I didn't even think to ask and was surprised to find that some many cars don't have a spare these days.

However, Corvettes don't have a spare either so somehow we'll have to get it done.

I've read on Mustang forums where the TMK was deployed and worked like a charm, severe blowouts aside.

I don't have a Jack either, so, with this car, we're dependent on tow trucks and TMK's.

Al least I have two, double redundancy.

[Mufasha]

Just to update...

 

Went back to the dealer and replaced the tire inflation kit with spare and jack. The set up fits exactly in the hybrid as it would in the non-hybrid vehicles, a foam insert under the spare tire centers the tire on the mounting bracket and holds the jack and wrench No lost space in the trunk what so ever. Not even a jack rolling loose in the back seats.

[acdii]

see toldyaso..... :yahoo:

 

I had scoped it out the day I brought it home and pulled all that junk from the trunk to see if the provisions were there for a spare.

[GrySql]

Good to know for those with 17" wheels.

The info for driving with different sized tires still applies to my 18" wheels/tires.

[shaggy314]

I might get a jack, so I could at LEAST install a tire/wheel... There is NO room in the Energi for anything more. This is yet ANOTHER thing I'd change (I like the 18" sport wheels).

[Kaleido]

Just to update...

 

Went back to the dealer and replaced the tire inflation kit with spare and jack. The set up fits exactly in the hybrid as it would in the non-hybrid vehicles, a foam insert under the spare tire centers the tire on the mounting bracket and holds the jack and wrench No lost space in the trunk what so ever. Not even a jack rolling loose in the back seats.

Did you get a space saver wheel & tire or one just like what you have on the car now?

[Mufasha]

Its a donut, not a full sized tire. Same as the ones that come with the non-hybrid/electric models. The dealer actually literally took it out of a standard model that was in the lot.

[neod192]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Mufasha" data-cid="44555" data-time="1362446765"><p>

Its a donut, not a full sized tire. Same as the ones that come with the non-hybrid/electric models. The dealer actually literally took it out of a standard model that was in the lot.</p></blockquote>

 

How much did they charge for it?

[steveo358]

I wonder if the last model fusion has the same lug pattern, and possibly the same size donut. Maybe could get that stuff at a junkyard.

[acdii]

I wonder if the last model fusion has the same lug pattern, and possibly the same size donut. Maybe could get that stuff at a junkyard.

Nope, sorry, already checked it out. 10-12 rims are different than the 13. Different lug spacing and offset. The offset on the donut wouldnt affect it, but the lug pattern will. Having both models made that part easy.

[GrySql]

Its a donut, not a full sized tire. Same as the ones that come with the non-hybrid/electric models. The dealer actually literally took it out of a standard model that was in the lot.

Can you look and tell us the donut tire/wheel spec's.

For example - T145/70-16, whatever is written on the spare tire, or your receipt?

We could find the diameter from that, then try and match to the different size tires/wheels we have.

Thanks.

[mokee]

I had a tire problem caused by not being able to see a road hazard in a rainstorm one night while on a trip. It sliced a sidewall, and the tire needed replacement which was a big hassle and time waster. My wallet also ended up $184 lighter, and now the car has one Pirelli and 3 Michelin tires.

 

Yesterday I went to the dealer to see about getting a spare. The dealer solutions were: 1) buy a new rim for $433 and tire for an additional $172, 2) go to a junkyard and purchase a wheel/tire and jack from a wreck. I expressed my displeasure to the appropriate folks at the dealership.

 

Ladies, gentlemen and FORD, this "loyal" FORD owner is really pissed off. Besides denying FORD anymore of my future $$$, I'm thinking of permanently mounting a luggage rack with a spare tire in it so the public can see what they need to carry in case they have a tire blow out when driving a 2013 FORD FUSION HYBRID.

 

For current owners, I suggest AAA membership might be in their future as my tow truck driver pointed out that despite the 3yr/36000 warranty I would have had to pay for a tow to a tire shop if the FORD dealer he took me to didn't have a tire to fit my car.

 

Ford, surely you can come up with a better solution!

[Kaleido]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Mufasha" data-cid="44555" data-time="1362446765"><p>

Its a donut, not a full sized tire. Same as the ones that come with the non-hybrid/electric models. The dealer actually literally took it out of a standard model that was in the lot.</p></blockquote>

 

How much did they charge for it?

My dealer has mine on order and I'll get it this week, $150 for the wheel and $102 for the tire + valve and mount & balance.

[mokee]

My dealer has mine on order and I'll get it this week, $150 for the wheel and $102 for the tire + valve and mount & balance.

 

Do you have part numbers?

[expresspotato]

The one thing about these kits, if you use it, you have to replace the tire and TPMS. The sealant is great, but causes balance issues, and clogs the TPMS and cant be removed from it.

I had my rear right tire replaced and they were able to include the existing TPMS without issue. Tire filled with sealant and all.

[Kaleido]

Do you have part numbers?

Not yet, when I pick it up I'll get an invoice

[mokee]

Just to update...

 

Went back to the dealer and replaced the tire inflation kit with spare and jack. The set up fits exactly in the hybrid as it would in the non-hybrid vehicles, a foam insert under the spare tire centers the tire on the mounting bracket and holds the jack and wrench No lost space in the trunk what so ever. Not even a jack rolling loose in the back seats.

 

Have you mounted the spare tire on your FFH?

[Mufasha]

Not yet, it's been piss poor weather and I haven't gotten out or popped a tire. I am not concerned about it though.

[murphy]

The one thing about these kits, if you use it, you have to replace the tire and TPMS. The sealant is great, but causes balance issues, and clogs the TPMS and cant be removed from it.

I was browsing through tire sealants on the Pep Boys web site because one of the tires on my lawn tractor has a very slow leak that is temperature sensitive and I can't find it.

The majority of the products were labeled TPMS safe.

So is the product that comes with the Fusion labeled as TPMS safe?

My car hasn't been built yet so I can't check.