Spare Tire for fusion hybrid

[Fastronaut]

Asking for a formal opinion and requiring Ford's lawyers to get involved sounds like Russian Roulette.

I had all mine accomplished by my Dealer for that exact reason, they did it all, research, purchase, mounting - thereby giving me tacit, or implied approval to use it.

 

Frankly, if my spare tire is used that is my business.

The Tire Warranty is basically useless for a flat.

If you use Ford's TMK and destroy the TPMS in the tire and foul the inside of the tire, then you'll have quite an argument trying to get all that replaced/repaired by Ford under Warranty - good luck.

Well, I see your point. It would be nice to hear their statement. Toyota uses a donut spare in their Avalon Hybrids.

[smr2112]

Anybody checked with TireRack for the Continental CST17? They had it, then it was gone, but

wondering if it's back now. That's where I got it from some months ago.

[dalesky]

Anybody checked with TireRack for the Continental CST17? They had it, then it was gone, but

wondering if it's back now. That's where I got it from some months ago.

Nissan dealers stock them. New stock

[dalesky]

Well, I see your point. It would be nice to hear their statement. Toyota uses a donut spare in their Avalon Hybrids.

I don't think tires are warranted by the car manufacturer

[KLH]

Is there a significant impact to MPG/FE based on carrying the spare? IIRC, someone stated that there's ~28 pound difference when carrying the spare versus the tools that came with the car. Has anyone noticed a massive drop in FE?

[jeff_h]

Is there a significant impact to MPG/FE based on carrying the spare? IIRC, someone stated that there's ~28 pound difference when carrying the spare versus the tools that came with the car. Has anyone noticed a massive drop in FE?

 

There may be a very slight impact but I wouldn't think it would be much... you're talking about having not even the weight of one additional passenger being carried around, maybe the weight of a small toddler and car seat. if there is a MPG hit, it shouldn't be much, should it?

[dalesky]

The significant impact to NOT carrying a spare is real, and likely to be expensive. I like the tradeoff! Honestly, mileage is good enough that I am not going to worry about some additional weight vs an impact on mileage.

[smr2112]

The significant impact to NOT carrying a spare is real, and likely to be expensive. I like the tradeoff! Honestly, mileage is good enough that I am not going to worry about some additional weight vs an impact on mileage.

 

Agree with that statement. Have been carrying the spare along with a jack and set of wheel chocks and the stupid TMK (for inflator purposes only) and have not noticed

anything at all different in mileage.

[GrySql]

 

Agree with that statement. Have been carrying the spare along with a jack and set of wheel chocks and the stupid TMK (for inflator purposes only) and have not noticed

anything at all different in mileage.

You're being extra safe, what if you get two flats at the same time, eh?

You've got the TMK and a spare tire!

Good thinking. :)

[KLH]

Slight update.

 

I purchased the factory spare tire and the 2003 Winstar jack via eBay. After checking them both out, they both will work well... but I can't flip the donut over and put the jack and the compressor into the middle of the tire!

 

So now I have a slight bump in the floor of the trunk as the jack pops up a bit. You can't easily see it, but you can feel it. First world problems, I know.

[GrySql]

Slight update.

 

I purchased the factory spare tire and the 2003 Winstar jack via eBay. After checking them both out, they both will work well... but I can't flip the donut over and put the jack and the compressor into the middle of the tire!

 

So now I have a slight bump in the floor of the trunk as the jack pops up a bit. You can't easily see it, but you can feel it. First world problems, I know.

The Jack is too long to easily store out of sight, that's why mine is zip tied to the roof of the trunk.

I put a rubber pad under the Jack base so no squeaks/rattles. I'll cut the zip ties if needed, otherwise it's not in the way.

This might not work if you have the Sony sound system.

 

Edited November 9, 2013 by GrySql

[KLH]

I'm going to do that! I forgot about that!

[MNDutch28]

There has been a lot of discussion of tire pressure in the tires that come mounted on the car, but none that I can see about the "right" amount of pressure for the spare. My dealer mounted the spare and filled it to 50 psi. The sidewall (Continental T135/90R16) indicates a maximum pressure of 60 psi. Right now I'm leaving it at 50 psi. Any thoughts?

[dalesky]

Give it a go, why not.

 

I've used this for years, lasts a long time and really works, it's a bit expensive though.

I use it on my leather seats, tires and convertible top of the '03 Mustang GT convertible I bought new, everything but the paint.

It still looks OEM and new.

Wipe it on with a sponge, let it dry and wipe it off - leaves a dry, glossy finish.

 

I wish you would clean it a little better before posting a picture! I use this product also, and swear by it.

Edited December 7, 2013 by dalesky

[murphy]

The maximum inflation pressure on the side of a tire is the maximum cold inflation pressure, not the maximum pressure the tire can reach in use.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=196

[dalesky]

There has been a lot of discussion of tire pressure in the tires that come mounted on the car, but none that I can see about the "right" amount of pressure for the spare. My dealer mounted the spare and filled it to 50 psi. The sidewall (Continental T135/90R16) indicates a maximum pressure of 60 psi. Right now I'm leaving it at 50 psi. Any thoughts?

A spare is designed to be kept at a higher pressure of course, and I think 50 is the right amount. That's what my dealer recommended when he mounted my spare. The pressure on the sidewall is the maximum, which at 50PSI you would leave room for heat expansion of the air in a hot environment, and when running at high speed. Of course you aren't supposed to run the spares too far, but in some cases you might not be able to help it.

 

Let's say you are going from Mpls to Bismarck, and all you see for many miles are signs for turn offs that say "no services". On the plains those are not town names are they? We once were traveling to Bismarck in a whiteout, and in -20 temps at night, and running out of gas. We pulled into a little town, which had 1 station, and no services. As we were sitting there (pre-cell phone) a police cruiser asked if he could help. He woke up the station owner, and the owner came out to fill us up!

Edited December 7, 2013 by dalesky

[gkinla]

I finished my spare tire project today. The wheel fits in the wheel well without any fuss. I put some plastic sheet in the inverted tire and placed the Mobility Kit in the center. The plastic sheeting is for wet muddy roads if needed and keeps the MK centered and protected. The box I've been moving from house to house for 25 years, wondering what to do with it. It came to me one night to try and see if the jack will fit in the box. It fits with 1/2 inch to spare with the jack fully closed. It also is a good size for some small hand tools. I put some Velcro hooks on the bottom in the corners, I've driven around for several days and the box hasn't moved...it's easy to remove the box to access the jack. I used the part numbers that GrySql posted, including the jack, thanks GrySql for working out the details and making that part easy. I got the tire on eBay for $49.95 delivered, the jack for $45.00 also on eBay delivered. The tire is several years old, it was never mounted and was stored indoors in a warm storeroom. I scrubbed the tire with 409 and coated it with Aerospace 303, I hope to never need it...it's there for comfort. This will be used in the event of a catastrophic tire failure. The reason for keeping the MK it is for slow leaks which will allow me to get to a repair shop, I'll never use the goop sealer.

It finally happened, I cut a sidewall. Thankfully I had a spare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again GrySql for the effort in finding a usable spare for our FFH.

Edited December 11, 2013 by gkinla

[dalesky]

It finally happened, I cut a sidewall. Thankfully I had a spare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again GrySql for the effort in finding a usable spare for our FFH.

Nicely done brother!

good pics too

[smr2112]

Please give us some feedback about driving on this tire. A bunch of us have it, but few have used it,

so your experience is valuable. It seems like it would work as well as any doughnut tire could.

Still better than being without one.

[gkinla]

Please give us some feedback about driving on this tire. A bunch of us have it, but few have used it,

so your experience is valuable. It seems like it would work as well as any doughnut tire could.

Still better than being without one.

Luckily it was the rear tire that went flat. The driving experience was a non issue. Handling was no different, I drove 6 freeway miles to the dealer at 55 MPH. The only thing I noticed was the harshness of the 60 psi tire pressure.

 

Somewhere on this forum GrySql has tried the same size tire and wheel on the front. His experience was the same as mine. Because the front wheels are the driven wheels, it was a good data point knowing that the slight difference in diameter didn't confuse the computer and cause problems.

 

Having a spare in the trunk was priceless.

Edited December 12, 2013 by gkinla

[Dexter Blevins]

Hi, new owner to a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. Had a flat while driving home late at night around 12:15 at night. Open the truck and no spare tire or jack, Just a black thing. So, I took out my car book followed the directions, put on the cheap plastic gloves and proceeded the fix a flat system does not work. Called roadside, the person did not believe me about not having a spare tire. Had it towed to the dealership and over two hundred dollars later and two business days fixed. A Sr. Master Mech. told me that this would not work when the tire is totally flat. Even the parts person told me how the system works when I price the 40-dollar replacement on the container of fix a flat that did not work. I was told it would cost over 800 dollars to put a spare tire kit into the car. This is awful to cut cost like this I am spreading the word to every one I know about this. . If you are a new owner and do not have a spare tire kit get one especially if have children and taking a long trip. I was very blessed that I did not have my children when I went home, very thankful to have lived close to a dealership, and very thankful for roadside. I did call Ford Customer service and after dealing with a person with a real bad attitude and after the story was told that person was very understanding. I have owned 2009 Fusion wonderful car and had a spare tire had to use it once.

[hermans]

Look back at the posts in this thread. You will find the correct rim and tire size for a spare that people are using, and it certainly is far less than $800.

[GrySql]

Hi, new owner to a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. Had a flat while driving home late at night around 12:15 at night. Open the truck and no spare tire or jack, Just a black thing. So, I took out my car book followed the directions, put on the cheap plastic gloves and proceeded the fix a flat system does not work. Called roadside, the person did not believe me about not having a spare tire. Had it towed to the dealership and over two hundred dollars later and two business days fixed. A Sr. Master Mech. told me that this would not work when the tire is totally flat. Even the parts person told me how the system works when I price the 40-dollar replacement on the container of fix a flat that did not work. I was told it would cost over 800 dollars to put a spare tire kit into the car. This is awful to cut cost like this I am spreading the word to every one I know about this. . If you are a new owner and do not have a spare tire kit get one especially if have children and taking a long trip. I was very blessed that I did not have my children when I went home, very thankful to have lived close to a dealership, and very thankful for roadside. I did call Ford Customer service and after dealing with a person with a real bad attitude and after the story was told that person was very understanding. I have owned 2009 Fusion wonderful car and had a spare tire had to use it once.

Read this if you have the 18" wheels and want a spare of the same diameter, or read this if you just want a standard Fusion spare tire.

You will need a Jack as well, some ideas are contained in each of those linked threads.

[inco]

_{Hi folks. I have been reading along with everything here and appreciate what I have learned and shortly I expect I'll take the plunge and order the tire and rim.}

 

_{Up here in Canada I found the Continental CST 17 Tire in the T135/90/R16 size for $92. at one of our large retailers. Wow, that is less than Tire Rack and I can walk in and pick it up. Good so far..... :happy feet:}

 

_{So armed with that information I went to the dealer to see my new Black Beauty (Tuesday I get it) :love_shower: and wandered over to parts to enquire about the remote start, which they have not ordered yet , grr. :ohsnap: I casually asked about the steel rim for the tire....$182 he replies. I almost fell down. Hooley Madooley that is tres expensive for a 16" steel rim. :drop:}

 

_{Can anyone on here share the price they paid and hopefully the parts guy made a mistake. I didn't have the part number with me, although I do have it (thank you members) and will take it with me on Tuesday.}

[gkinla]

I casually asked about the steel rim for the tire....$182 he replies. I almost fell down. Hooley Madooley that is tres expensive for a 16" steel rim. :drop:

 

_{Can anyone on here share the price they paid and hopefully the parts guy made a mistake. I didn't have the part number with me, although I do have it (thank you members) and will take it with me on Tuesday.}

 

 

 

Back in May, 2013 I the list price was $152.67 USD for the steel rim, CV6Z-1015-B. Because you bought the car from this dealer, I would ask the parts dept for a 10% discount as a preferred customer. It can't hurt to ask. I did and got the discount.