What's everyone using with their larger brakes, specifically the 12" and 13" variety? I did do a search but no luck, I know there's aome discussion about this in threads somewhere...
Thanks Nolan
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11:50 PM
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May 25th, 2012
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
I bought a 96 subaru 16" spare but it's kind of big and will not be an easy fit under the hood. And I think it's iffy on the 12" upgrade. For 13" I think you definitely are out of luck finding a spare tire that will fit in the car and on the wheel.
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01:32 AM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I've read that some take the fiero spare into a machine shop, have the center bolt hole section cut out, flipped and welded back into the rim. This way the wheel doesn't have to go around the brake assemly but sticks out in front of it. I'm guessing that the "reverse spare" is. I certainly wouldn't want to take that on the highway but in a pinch, you could limp it home.
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03:18 AM
Alex4mula Member
Posts: 7403 From: Canton, MI US Registered: Dec 1999
In 24 yrs and 200K miles I have only had one flat once when I had worn tires on the rear back in 1992. Since then I try to keep good tires all the time and watch where I drive. Have AAA as a backup. I guess it also may depend where you live. If you go thru a lot of constructions areas or dirt roads then maybe a spare may still be a good idea.
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08:55 AM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13797 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
In the 25 years of Fiero ownership, I have had one tire with a slow leak and carry a 12V air pump in the car. I kept the tire pumped up until i could get it fixed. I have never put the spare on the car. I now carry some green slime to fix the leak.
In 24 yrs and 200K miles I have only had one flat once when I had worn tires on the rear back in 1992.
I was doing good until I got my current (non-Fiero) car. Since then I've had 4 flat tires, including a rare two at once. That time I ended up having to limp home on the rim as I don't carry two spare tires.
I know that flats are an uncommon experience, but I can't bring myself to go on a long drive without one.
Yea I just run without a spare in my fiero with 12" brakes. The battery and a fire extinguisher (which is a better idea then a spare tire, IMO) is in that spot now anyway.
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03:31 PM
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Raydar Member
Posts: 40927 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Are there any problems after using "slime"? I think that I've heard of tire shops hating working on tires that have used those cans of flat repair because of all the junk left in the tire and on the rim.
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04:49 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Yes some shops wont work on a tire/rim with it in. From what I understand, it can explode breaking it down. If you have good tires, you can run without one and AAA. You can spend more and just get runflats. Newer Corvettes dont come with a spare tire and no place to put one according to some owners I know. Ive never verified that though. I used to never carry a spare or jack. Now I dont go anywhere without one. A smart thing to do is actually try your spare if you have one on the front and rear of your car at home to make sure it works. Also if you have custom rims, make sure you have nuts that work for the spare too. Some washer type custom nuts wont work on a regular steel wheel. Also make sure you have a socket or wrench that fits ALL nuts you use.
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07:05 PM
Alex4mula Member
Posts: 7403 From: Canton, MI US Registered: Dec 1999
I was doing good until I got my current (non-Fiero) car. Since then I've had 4 flat tires, including a rare two at once. That time I ended up having to limp home on the rim as I don't carry two spare tires.
I know that flats are an uncommon experience, but I can't bring myself to go on a long drive without one.
Went to Detroit (25th), three RFTHs and 8 Daytonas without. Hope to keep lucky On the slime I would never put that on my wheels. Heard many bad things. And yes new Vettes don't have spares. Run flats work good but too expensive and at least I didn't like the way they ride on my Vette back in 1998.
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07:23 PM
May 26th, 2012
fierosound Member
Posts: 15190 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
Google search function being tested - basically useless right now. But there are threads that have covered this.
I got a Subaru Forester spare wheel - 16" on 5x100 at Pick n Pull. Fits, but center whole need to be enlarged slightly. I just ran a Dremmel grinder round and round to do this.
The Subaru wheel came with a T135/70/16 tire - too big for the Fiero's wheel tub. Some GMs have a T125/70/16 that 'may' fit, but because I have my stereo's amplifier up front, I needed the smallest tire.
I ordered a new Firestone T115/70/16 that fits the Fiero wheel tub perfectly. I believe the Mazda 6 has this size of spare.
You'll likely have to get a Subaru spare wheel AND a Madza spare wheel from the wreckers and swap the tire over.
I catch more flats then you can shake a stick at and it appears to only happen on my work car. Usually, it happens at least three times per year, but I think it's from construction workers carelessly allowing nails to fall off the trucks or it could be some dude throwing nails on the road. As for the Fieros I didn't get a reverse spare until 2008 or so after I got #020 back to CA. Before that I never experienced a flat. While in Largo, FL drove all the way to CA and it wasn't until I arrived I noticed a four inch nail. Since then, I carry the spare for the Fieros made by West Coast Fiero.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 05-26-2012).]
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12:12 PM
fierosound Member
Posts: 15190 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
I catch more flats then you can shake a stick at and it appears to only happen on my work car. Usually, it happens at least three times per year, but I think it's from construction workers carelessly allowing nails to fall off the trucks or it could be some dude throwing nails on the road. As for the Fieros I didn't get a reverse spare until 2008 or so after I got #020 back to CA. Before that I never experienced a flat. While in Largo, FL drove all the way to CA and it wasn't until I arrived I noticed a four inch nail. Since then, I carry the spare for the Fieros made by West Coast Fiero.
I waltz outside to find my work car's rear tire on a flat today. I switched to the 19's and will have the flat fixed on Tuesday. I just had the tire mounted last Tuesday. LOL.
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08:58 PM
May 28th, 2012
Australian Member
Posts: 4701 From: Sydney Australia Registered: Sep 2004
I waltz outside to find my work car's rear tire on a flat today. I switched to the 19's and will have the flat fixed on Tuesday. I just had the tire mounted last Tuesday. LOL.
You must spend a ton on rubber...
In the Fiero, I've never had a flat I couldn't limp to get patched/plugged. I have a "spare" spare for it in the garage, but I haven't driven it in a year. On the other hand, my daily driver didn't come with a spare from the factory.
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05:18 AM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
When I did my brake conversion on my first Fiero I only did the front, rear brakes were stock. I figured that if I ever got a flat on the front I could steal a rear wheel and put the spare on the back.
The first (and only) time I've had to use the spare tire on the Fiero, it had been raining and I had to limp it home along a curvy road (either that, or face certain death limping down I-45). I may as well have used a block of cheese; that spare tire had no traction. I no longer bother with the spare, calling a tow truck is safer.
quote
Originally posted by jscott1:
Has anyone seen runflats in sizes that would work on the Fiero in the aftermarket? Last time I looked I couldn't find them.
The Pirelli P Zero are available in a lot of sizes for 17"-21" wheels. I actually hadn't heard of those before Madcurl pointed them out; deliberating now
Although I've found that here in Houston, getting a flat tire isn't as big of a concern as destroying the wheel itself. Last summer I dodged everything from steel truck bumpers, to tables and chairs, to construction workers, to portions of someone's trailer hitch.
------------------ My project: 3800 Series III Supercharged + F40 6-speed into an 87 GT. Wish me luck!
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09:57 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Yes. The work car has 319,000 miles on the car and I have four different sets of the tires (including the stock ones) and I've gone through plenty of tires on that car. Starting from 1999 to 2012 #011 finally received it's second set of rear tires and for the fronts. #020 is currently on the second set on the rears and #015 I believe has gone through 2-3 sets of tires.
In the 25 years of Fiero ownership, I have had one tire with a slow leak and carry a 12V air pump in the car. I kept the tire pumped up until i could get it fixed. I have never put the spare on the car. I now carry some green slime to fix the leak.
On the slime I would never put that on my wheels. Heard many bad things. And yes new Vettes don't have spares. Run flats work good but too expensive and at least I didn't like the way they ride on my Vette back in 1998.
