Considering we all have spares and a jack in the trunk, which weighs who knows how much....

I was thinking ... why would we need one if we all have the roadside assistance crap.

Ya know? ..
Takin er out reduces a bit of weight and space etc...
and if you go somewhere far out .. ???
throw the little doughnut tire back in just in case.

laterrrrrrrrrrr fellas

 

Because I can change a flat tire and be gone anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half before the roadside assistance guy gets to me.

Another thing to consider is that the spare tire is actually part of the rear crumple zone. If someone rear ends you hard enough....

I don't think you'd notice a difference in daily driving, and I wouldn't want to be without my spare. However, for autocross or track days, taking it out isn't a bad idea.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Real men can change their own tire.

 

Not all men , remember the tool that comes with the car will not be able to unscrew the lug nuts on some cars that were tightened by a pneumatic wrench so make sure you test your lug nuts and see if you can remove one in each wheel, otherwise 1.5 hours of road side assistance..I always carry a better wrench in the back

 

If your lug nuts were tightened by a pneumatic air wrench, then they're over-torqued, and you should take your car back to that shop and complain to the manager.

I've managed to break loose lug nuts on my old Accord with the provided lug wrench that were over-torqued. Throw your weight into it.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I would never seriously consider driving without my spare, but it is an interesting question. Mainly because in this month's (May) issue of Car & Driver, Csaba Csere asks the exact same question in his column. I just read it this morning.

<font color=blue>2003 G35 Coupe 6MT - diamond graphite / graphite leather - premium - nav</font color=blue>

 

Some performance vehicles are coming with run-flat tires and no spares. This allows you to drive on a no-pressure tire at speeds under 50mph, for about a 100 miles, I think (I could be off on the exact numbers).

Personally, I'd rather put the spare tire on the car, and deal with it when it's convenient for me. If I'm on a 300 mile road trip, and 50 miles into it a tire goes flat, I want to be able to get to my destination without having to find a tire shop and have an hour or more detour in my plans.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Here's the first spare tire that should be removed. LOL!




47499-bwbelly865f.jpg

 

I took mine out and they weren't that heavy. Maybe 50 lbs including tools, probably a little less (mine's a "convenience" spare). Plus that's weight that's coming out just above the rear wheels, so you're probably losing a little traction in the process. I'm going to take her to the track and compare numbers, but I'm not expecting much gain. I wouldn't be surprised if I put them back in afterward.

-Jack
Obsidian/graphite '03 Coupe premium nav