All-from-Dealer Method for Obtaining Spare Tire (with Research Notes and Installation Tips)

[Hybrider]

I would like to add one more method that can be used for obtaining a spare tire for FFHs. The method I used is one of the most convenient methods overall, though one of the most expensive since this method uses all-new, mostly all-Ford parts, which were all purchased directly from my local Ford dealer, including the spare tire itself. The cost of this method should be in the $500-$600+ range, depending on the size and brand of tire chosen and on the local sales tax rate. Similar methods were posted previously by Mufasha, and SamJ20112, but there were not nearly enough details about the parts and part numbers as I would have liked to have seen. So, I wanted to share my experience so it might help any others that would like to pursue this same dealership method.

And in response to the one question/concern I know many of you will want to mention, and that is why did I not choose to buy the parts through online vendors that would have been much cheaper. And that is because I wanted the dealer to be involved as much as possible since my FFH is brand new, and I wanted the most convenient avenue to return parts if I ended up ordering the wrong parts or if the parts didn't fit correctly.

My end goal was to duplicate the gas Fusion spare tire setup as closely as possible, while trying to use the largest spare tire size that would be feasible.

So, the first thing I did was go to my dealer and look in the trunk of a gas Fusion to see what parts I would need to modify my FFH accordingly. And then I went to http://www.fordparts.com to look up the part numbers of the spare tire parts for the gas Fusion that I would need to duplicate exactly how the spare tire is installed in the gas Fusions. At fordparts.com, I selected Search by "Model", and then selected "2014", "Ford", and "Fusion". I then did a "Keyword" search for "wheel" to find all of the possible parts I might need. The key to quickly finding the parts and prices after that is to click on the part drawing (sometimes the images take a while to load) immediately to the left of the part description that says "Wheel; With 18" Wheels ; With 16" Mini Steel Spare Wheel; Wheel Assy - Spare" (hint: select "75" in the "Show per page:" box and then use the page search feature in your browser to search for "steel spare") and also click on the drawing beside "Jack Handle and Wheel Nut Wrench; Less Tire Repair Service Kit".

So here is the list of the parts I ordered from my dealer.

Part fordparts.com part# Invoice part#
------ ------------------- -------------
wheel 1007B/1007F CV6Z-1015-B
box assy 17009 DS7Z-9913546-A
jack 17080 DS7Z-17080-A
lugwrench 17035/17032 CP9Z-17032-A
tire --- 125/90R16

 

For the tire itself, I wanted to try to get as close of a fit as possible to my 18" tires, but which would still fit within the wheel well in the trunk of my FFH. I didn't specify any size to the dealer, just to see what size they would come up with. Later on, the parts guy called back to see what size tires were on my car, and I told him they were 235/45-18 tires. It turns out that the parts counter guy knew basically nothing about spare tire sizes, and the tire shop that he contacted knew nothing about the size of the wheel well in the FFH trunk, so they came back with the most obvious spare tire size, 145/90-R16, since that would be almost the exact same diameter as my tires. But not only would that size most likely not fit in the wheel well based on the photos and feedback from Grysql, but there was a back-order wait of 90 days for that size, and the price would be an astronomical $260.

So I asked the parts guy at the dealer to see if there were any other sizes available that would be available sooner, and at a more reasonable price. Later on, I decided that since the spare tires that come with the gas Fusions are 125/80-16, that I should probably limit the width of the tires to the same 125 to ensure it would fit properly since I would be using the same styrofoam tire and jack mount piece that comes in the gas Fusions. So I called the parts guy at the dealer back and asked him to check on the 125/90 and the 125/80 sizes to help limit their search criteria. So the tire shop was able to find a 125/90-R16 spare tire that was available fairly quickly (5-10 days) and at a semi-reasonable price ($140 + $18 shipping). The temporary spare tire that the dealer acquired from the tire shop was the Continental CST17.

 

Comparison of Spare Tire …And to Gas_Fusion-only
Size to Hybrid Tires Sizes (for completeness)
16" ------------------------ ----------------------------------
Spare 17" Tire 18" Tire 19" Tire 17" Tire 16" Tire
Sizes 225/50VR17 235/45VR18 235/40VR19 235/50HR17 215/60HR16
------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
145/90 +0.42 -0.05 -0.12 +0.03 +0.12
155/80 -0.10 -0.57 -0.64 -0.49 -0.40
135/90 -0.29 -0.76 -0.83 -0.68 -0.59
145/80 -0.73 -1.20 -1.27 -1.12 -1.03
125/90 -1.00 -1.47 -1.54 -1.39 -1.30
135/80 -1.36 -1.83 -1.90 -1.75 -1.66
125/85 -1.49 -1.96 -2.03 -1.88 -1.79
125/80 -1.99 -2.46 -2.53 -2.38 -2.29
135/70 -2.42 -2.89 -2.96 -2.81 -2.72

Disclaimer: Some of the spare sizes listed above may not be available or even produced at all.

Since I wanted to know how much weight I was adding, I next weighed the whole setup, including wheel, tire, jack, lug wrench, and box, and it came out to a little less than 15 kg...uh...I mean a little less than 33 pounds. But the decrease in gas mileage is worth the peace of mind I now have, knowing I can recover from a gnarly flat as quickly and stress-free as possible.

Now for the installation of all of the parts, I removed the old styrofoam box out of the wheel well, by first removing the hold-down bolt, and then by pressing the lip of the trunk rear plastic panel, near the bumper, inwards toward myself, and then lifting the edge of the box closest to me up, and then I lifted the HVB cover ever so slightly to allow me to lift the farthest edge of the old styrofoam box out, and then completely out of the trunk.

Here are some photos of the before box, with some showing the old existing hold-down bolt, in the center:

 

Luckily, the hold-down bolt in the Fusion Hybrid is identical to the one used to hold the spare tires down in the gas Fusions, and so the existing bolt can be reused to hold down the new spare tire and the new underlying styrofoam box.

Here are some photos of the hold-down bracket, that the new box assembly will sit on, and to which the hold-down bolt attaches.

 

 

And here are some photos showing how the jack and the lug wrench fit into the box.

 

 

So after I placed the wrench and the jack in the styrofoam box and placed it all onto the mounting bracket that is welded in the bottom center of the wheel well, I found there was only 3" or so of gap between the HVB cover and the styrofoam box, as can be seen in the photo below.

 

Even after lifting the HVB cover up a few inches, the HVB itself was still in the way of being able to slide the tire between the styrofoam box and the HVB. So my solution was to place the tire/wheel into the empty well first, then lift the side of the tire closest to the bumper, and then slide the styrofoam box underneath it onto the mounting bracket in the bottom. Then I was able to lay the tire back down over the box and snug it all down with the hold-down bolt.

 

I'm very glad I didn't go with any bigger of a spare tire, as this size (125/90-R16) was hard enough to get installed using the styrofoam box that comes with the gas Fusions.

Here is a photo showing it installed, and another one showing how much clearance there is between the tire and the wheel well sides.

 

So now I am very happy since I have a decent size spare tire (125/90-R16) that fits nicely with all of the stock gas Fusion spare tire parts, tucked nice and neat in the wheel well. After the installation was completed, the spare tire carpeted cover seems to be raised about 1/8"-1/4" from what it was before, but it is not noticeable at all. :)

As others have done, I opted to keep the TMK, but since there was no room for it in the wheel well using this "stock" method, I just placed it, along with the box of trio of triangle reflectors, in the open trunk space, for use as a compressor if ever need it for a slow leak, or heaven forbid, a pair of simultaneous flats.

Thanks to GrySql and all others for reminding me why a spare tire is a necessity for my peace of mind, and for providing the starting info I needed to do this spare upgrade installation successfully!

Edited March 22, 2015 by Hybrider

[hybridbear]

Very well done. Topic pinned

[hermans]

So, how much did you pay for the entire outfit, wheel, tire, tools and styrofoam caddy?

 

Your post says, "So the tire shop was able to find a 125/90-R16 spare tire that was available fairly quickly (5-10 days) and at a semi-reasonable price ($150 + $18 shipping)." Was that just for the tire or for the whole shebang? For what you pictured, I paid $175. + $25. for shipping. To me...well worth it. BTW I wrapped the gas filler in a tag and put it in the well.

Edited March 13, 2014 by hermans

[Hybrider]

So, how much did you pay for the entire outfit, wheel, tire, tools and styrofoam caddy?

 

For everything I listed in the parts table above, including the tire, and with mounting labor cost, TT&L, shop fees, etc., it cost me a little below $600 total. The prices that my dealer charged me were just a bit more than what the fordparts.com site listed for all of the parts...surprisingly one part was exactly the same price as fordparts.com, the 16" steel wheel.

 

I figure for someone that lives where there is no sales tax, and if their dealer can get the new tire for $70-$100 somewhere, then their total could be around $500. And for some, it would most likely cost more than the $600 I paid, so that is how I came up with the $500-$600+ range I mentioned in my post.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Hybrider

[hermans]

That's alot for that. I guess I'm lucky I found it on ebay. I would recommend looking at wrecking yards and on ebay. Mine was out of a wreck and had never been used.

Edited March 14, 2014 by hermans

[hybridbear]

That's alot for that. I guess I'm lucky I found it on ebay. I would recommend looking at wrecking yards and on ebay. Mine was out of a wreck and had never been used.

You're right, it is pricey. But that's why the OP said that this method is more expensive, but is easier in his opinion than searching eBay and junk yards. He isn't saying that everyone should do it this way, he's just offering a very detailed description of an alternative method.

[hermans]

Thank you for your analysis.

[tr7driver]

I'd like to find the foam part that holds everything. Right now I have everything wrapped in old towels so it won't rattle. Do you know what the cost of that was from the dealer?

[GrySql]

I just got a quote from Benny @ Levittown Ford (on the Fusion Forum) for the foam Box, Jack and Lug wrench.

That does not including shipping, or tax (if applicable).

 

Edited March 16, 2014 by GrySql

[Hybrider]

As I mentioned previously, my dealer's list price was a hair higher than those that were listed on fordparts.com.

 

Here is the price breakdown that I paid for each part, not including any taxes or mounting charges.

 

Part Price Invoice part#
------ --------- -------------
wheel $161.78 CV6Z-1015-B
box assy $53.25 DS7Z-9913546-A
jack $121.25 DS7Z-17080-A
lugwrench $37.04 CP9Z-17032-A
tire $158.35 125/90R16 (includes shipping)

[billford]

Excellent post on how to add a spare tire.

 

After reading all the other posts about tire blow outs, I decided it's best to have a spare tire.

 

I found a wrecked 2013 gas Fusion at the auto wreckers. Picked up a never used spare tire, jack, wrench and the styrofoam holder. Total cost was under $25

 

The high voltage battery cover is partly in the way, but it all fits securely using the factory hardware.

 

The tire diameter is about 2 1/2 inches smaller, so if my math is correct, the car will sit about 1 1/4 inches lower with the spare tire.

 

Total weight added is 34 pounds, about the same a 6 gallons of gas. There will be some minor loss in MPG, but I'll trade it for the security of a spare tire.

Edited September 7, 2014 by billford

[hermans]

You got a better deal than I did. I paid $175.00 for the unit out of a wrecked 2013 gas Fusion. As far as the gas millage goes - I haven't noticed a difference.

[billford]

You can get standard pricing from all PicknPull locations, you can use their online search

 

http://www.picknpull.com/check_inventory.aspx

 

The car I used was not listed, as it just came in.

[Cooling Tower Guy]

Took 3 phone calls but finally found a spare and kit from a 14 Fusion in Tampa for $125. Will pick it up today.

 

Picked it up and tried it out. Of course the tire is a bit smaller than the road tire but hopefully it wont be used. Peace of mind for the wife.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Cooling Tower Guy

[Cobra348]

Thanks to you all for this great resource! I'm just waiting until I get a delivery date then am getting all this stuff. I know it's allegedly going to mess with MPG but I'm willing to risk it for peace of mind.

[Hybrider]

The total weight of the spare with jack and wrench weighs about 33 pounds, which I think probably has a negligible effect on fuel economy.

 

But if you add in carting around 3 passengers with a total extra weight of around 500 pounds, then I have definitely seen that much weight have an effect on my MPGs...probably around a decrease of 2-4 MPGs with that much weight.