I am trying to visualize how I am going to mount everything the car needs to go out on stage, and spare tires are in my brain right now. I was thinking of doing a simple spare tire in the stock location, locating post, and a triangulated ratchet strap with the seatbelt buckle quick release ( I have an industrial sewing machine). It also crossed my mind to do 2 spares, vertically up against the cross brace between the rear towers. I was thinking of a "u" bent tube that pivots on the tube, comes down over the tire, and has a ratchet strap/seat belt buckle to the floor. it would hold the tire firmly against the tube, put pressure down to the floor, and keep it from shifting side to side. I also thought just a simple strap setup like on a tow dolly would be good, just not sure how stable the side to side would be. Am I on the right thought track? Is having 2 spares a good thing?

With todays tires 2 spares aren't carried by many competitors. Not only do you have the mounting issues, but an extra weight penalty. Not trying to be silly but are you planning on carrying an extra windshield? Alternator? Brake pads? You really never know what the heck is going to break. I ran one year on 6 tires , no flats and won my class championship. I've also flatted 2 tires within a mile of the start flag..

Thats what I needed to hear. simple 1 tire mount it is then.

Well, I'd plan on being able to carry two spares, but not carry more than one most of the time. There have been a couple of events where I've gone out with two. In particular Messenger Flats (at Rim) used to be known for flatting tires, and at Rally Colorado last year there was a leg where there were five fairly rough stages in a row before a service.

In general, the weight penalty isn't worth having a second spare, but sometimes you'd like to be able to carry one.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

I carry one, but could easily carry 2.

At a recent event, i popped the trunk as another competitor asked for some duct tape. The responce i got was "WOAH!!! someone is living dangerously..only one spare!"

i just LOL'ed!

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Chris

Sometimes for a snow event with summer ditches or rockadillos having two spares is a good thing. Sometimes the roads at Maine/NEFR made two spares a good idea, but not mandatory. If you can easily fabricate a way to put two in the car, I'd do it, but if you're cramped for space, don't bother.

From my perspective as a low-rent service guy, I haven't personally had anybody use both spares in one leg, but I have been at a Tall Pines where I had to go buy two snow tires at a fairly early point in the day because we were to the point where the spare was the tire with only a medium sized zit in the sidewall.

With regard to parts in the car, wasn't there a point where Sierra or Escort Cosworths had to carry the spare turbo in the car due to some FIA regulation?

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Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Spare tire well is too small to fit a typical gravel tire in. Or at least the size I'm running. I have a large backpack that stores all the stuff I might need or is required in car on stage (except 1st aid kit), I put that in the spare tire well, then put the tire on top of it, then the spill kit on top of tire. Then I have a Sparco 3 way tie down that is strapped over the top and hold everything in place. Works well...

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Grant Hughes

Do It Sidewayz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I carry one, but could easily carry 2.
>
> At a recent event, i popped the trunk as another
> competitor asked for some duct tape. The
> responce i got was "WOAH!!! someone is living
> dangerously..only one spare!"
>
> i just LOL'ed!
>
> Chris


That gets funnier and funnier every time I read it...

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Jay Woodward
Snohomish, WA
'90 Mazdog Frankenprotege
Chronologically, 46...

In the seven years that I have been actively involved in rallying I have only had two flats EVER on stage, about three years apart.

The second last car I competed in couldn't take two spares even if we wanted to.

---

First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

Quote
john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

If you keep refreshing this page, eventually you'll come upon a picture of a red Golf with a green stripe limping along.

I bet Eddie wishes he'd had two spares that day.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

I've only had one flat on stage where it was a legit flat. Punctured some tires due to rubbing/finishing a stage on a bent-up car.

Depends on where in the country you're competing I guess. At least 9 out of 10 rallies you'll want to carry only a single spare. If you get worried about a particular series of stages, you can always rig something up--just try to make it so rigging something up wouldn't be too hard to do if you change your mind.

I personally would probably never pack two. If you have a flat and then get another, you're basically out of competition anyway. Limp home, get a new tire and then go run for fun.

-k

krisdahl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've only had one flat on stage where it was a
> legit flat. Punctured some tires due to
> rubbing/finishing a stage on a bent-up car.
>
> Depends on where in the country you're competing I
> guess. At least 9 out of 10 rallies you'll want
> to carry only a single spare. If you get worried
> about a particular series of stages, you can
> always rig something up--just try to make it so
> rigging something up wouldn't be too hard to do if
> you change your mind.
>
> I personally would probably never pack two. If
> you have a flat and then get another, you're
> basically out of competition anyway. Limp home,
> get a new tire and then go run for fun.

Damn Chris, whatddya trying to make perfect sense for?
>
> -k

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Just to be clear: I'm not advocating carrying two spare tires all the time. I'm just saying that the option is occasionally good to have. If you can engineer your car to be able to do so, great. If it's a PITA, don't worry about it.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

.I think I can easily add a second mount now, maybe not in a super easy location, but the 2nd spare can be there.

phlat65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> .I think I can easily add a second mount now,
> maybe not in a super easy location, but the 2nd
> spare can be there.

Even with the used tiresd I have always run, never had a problem and I definitely would worry or give any thought to 2 spares.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.