Dumb question.  Is there a compact spare that I can buy at junk yard from another GM product the will fit my C3 or am I wasting my time??

I thought it would be nice to save weight and maybe some room in the spare tire area for tools and etc when I go on trips.  With the tires these days, I never have a flat!!!  Thanks

The '78 Pace cars all had space-savers. I'm pretty sure some of the later models also came stock with them.

My '78 Silver Anniversary has the space-saver spare. I don't know what year GM started installing them, but at least from '78 on. Any GM space saver spare with the 4 3/4" bolt circle would fit, just not sure of the tire size on it, how many sizes GM used depending on the car it would have been installed in.

 i got a 78 spare tire , yes it is smaller, thinner , because of the larger gas tank at a Corvette salvage yard in teexas. you can reach them at muptmor@hot.rr.com. you will get an answer from a lady named Brandy. they are great to deal with and have decent prices. This tire started in 78 by chevy.so yes it must have continued through 82. you could also try any new 15 inch spare donut tire if it has the same number of holes as your current wheels. also Ebay or any other
Corvette salvage yard.
Aegisfang38931.5501041667

Thanks for replys.  Are these space saver spares the ones that come with a cylinder of air and the spare is  flat and needs to be blown up?

Yes these would work, but I was thinking more of the modern day compact space....thanks again

I find two cans of fix a flat and the AAA telephone numbers save even more space.

thats a really good question- my spare is in name only, in that its round, and it used to be made of rubber- now its a mix of dry rot and rust, and i dont think it was ever used! a brandy new donut would work i think.


i believe this is what youre looking for:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Camaro-Firebird-GM-Space-Save r-Donut-Spare-Tire-MINT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42614QQih Z004QQitemZ140014532208QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

"BIGBRRD" (the bride's '78 T/A) came with a full size spare in the trunk (not original).  The original inflatable space-saver spare was long gone but I found a smaller, thin "pizza cutter" style space-saver on eBay (like Steve referenced above).  That sure freed up some trunk space!

Just remember that if a rear tire goes flat to first put the space-saver on a front corner and then use that tire to replace the flat.  Saves some wear-n-tear on the differential that way.

Thanks again.  I checked your ebay link and Yes thats what I was thinking about.  Do you think the OD would be enough for ground clearance?  .  $10 tire plus $39 shipping to CA.  Abit much.  It would pay for me to check my local junk yard.

  Regarding the fixaflat, I have never used it.  Does it work?  Do you need to clean the tire out later?  Does it effect the balancing?  Doesn't it put a liquid gunk inside your tire to seal the leak?

Regarding the other old compact spare on the 78, do you need an air canister?  thanks again

[QUOTE=steves74] ... Regarding the other old compact spare on the 78, do you need an air canister? ... [/QUOTE]

If I recall correctly the air canister was just a convenient way to inflate the tire instead of having to tote around an air pump or mini-compressor.