I had a flat the other day and limped it back to my garage. Took off the tire and put the spare on, a 225 60 I think. I tried to put the 255 back into the spare carrier and with the bolt all the way run out I couldn't compress the tire enough, even with it being completely flat, to get the lower cover latched up onto the bolt. Had I been out in the boonies somewhere I don't know how I would have handled this prob. The tire seems too heavy for the luggage rack on the back. I set it up there gently to test it and could see the fiberglass deck deflect substantially under the load. I think the only safe way to have transported it would've been in the passenger seat or bungee corded to the roof. I threw the flat into my pickup and took it in for repair.

This is just a heads up for those running that tire size.
If anyone has a better solution to this dilemma please post it.

later
dr

No better solution, but it certainly provides an explanation why "Bubba" didn't sell a spare rim with the car, and just the rubber. Rubber w/no rim fits in the spare tray well on my 75.

Scot

The only thing that will fit in the spare tire carrier is a P225 70R15 and that can be tight.
Believe it or not, I found a GR70 in great condition and use that for a spare.

Thats an easy fix, go to the hardware store and get a longer bolt that will work with your 255 and throw it in with your 225 spare.Switch bolts till you get it fixed, then switch back. I run 255's also, didn't know that Anips

you can use a 215-70-15 for a spare. it will fit the carrier and is the same diameter as the 255-60-15 just not as wide.

|QUOTE|garry72conv said: you can use a 215-70-15 for a spare. it will fit the carrier and is the same diameter as the 255-60-15 just not as wide.
|/QUOTE|

I was going to say the same thing, but then I realized he has a problem putting his regular road wheel in the carrier when using the spare! Good head's up, as I was going to get bigger tires this time around. Does anyone know if 245/60R15's will fit? Joe

the problem is that the orgional size F70-15 converts to 215-70-15. this tire has a width of only 6 inches and a diameter of 27 inches. Going to a 245-60-15 has a width of 7.7 inches wide but is almost 1/2 in lower which will effect you speedometer. A 255-60 -15 has a width of 8 inches and is the correct height of 27 inches. The width of 8 inches is the problem in placing a tire this size in the carrier. unless someone makes a deeper tire carrier (which i doubt)i don't see anyway to mount a tire of this size in the carrier. you may get a slightly larger one in but it will be just by trial and error but then again the diameter problem comes in to play. while this may not be a problem on the front, if the spare is mounted on the rear and the diameter is different enough and is is driven at a sufficent distance you may damage rear end parts. As i have just put 255-60 -15s on my stingray, I will see what i can come up with to allow a 255 spare in the carrier when i get back home. i had a 89 camaro converible that had a spacesaver spare that was IMPOSSIBLE to get out of the storage compartment in the wheelwell. i just carried a couple cans of spare tire inflator in the trunk. i had a few flats over the years but these cans of inflator were always enough to get me home or to a station where i could get the tire repaired or buy a new tire. but i plan on coming up with longer hangers thet will allow the 255 to fit and will pass along my fix when i come with it. again here is a site that contains tire size charts http://www.homestead.com/dougsmaverickcometpage/files/tiresizecharts.html
and pics of my stingray pre tire change
www.geocities.com/gmackner/page2/oct1/my72.jpg


|UPDATED|10/22/2002 8:44:30 PM|/UPDATED|

All this talk about spare tires and sizes made me go out and check mine. I'm running 275x60s in rear 255x60s up front. First I could not budge the bolt to drop the tire. Then of course the spare was flat, but it didn't hit me a once but the rim is a 6x15.I would have been setting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. That would not have been a factory thing? Got to spend some time working with my spare.

|QUOTE|DavidR said: I had a flat the other day and limped it back to my garage. Took off the tire and put the spare on, a 225 60 I think. I tried to put the 255 back into the spare carrier and with the bolt all the way run out I couldn't compress the tire enough, even with it being completely flat, to get the lower cover latched up onto the bolt. Had I been out in the boonies somewhere I don't know how I would have handled this prob. The tire seems too heavy for the luggage rack on the back. I set it up there gently to test it and could see the fiberglass deck deflect substantially under the load. I think the only safe way to have transported it would've been in the passenger seat or bungee corded to the roof. I threw the flat into my pickup and took it in for repair.

This is just a heads up for those running that tire size.
If anyone has a better solution to this dilemma please post it.

later
dr|/QUOTE|

I had this answer for another posting in another area of general discussion. My vette came from the factory with a space saver tire.

My 79 came from the factory with a donut for a spare. I am positive that it is the original tire. I'll check tomorrow, as the vette is in the back garage.

Just checked my specification manual for a 79. It shows the tire as being a "P195/80D15" Bias Ply. I presume that means "donut" in my language.

I'll go out back and check my door info sheet.
Later....

The build sheet calls for code "UHFB" for the spare tire. The information in the owners manual says that the spare tire carrier is not designed to carry a fully inflated full size tire. It is only for carrying a temporary tire, or "donut". Or in case of emergency, a "flat tire". Why they did this is beyond me. It seems like they could have fitted it both ways.

Hope this helps, Remember, this is for a '79 vette. I'm not sure about a '76.

after taking the spare tire carrier out i see that it would be possable to add a treaded coupling to the 2 forward hanger studs and a short lenght of treaded rod. the treaded coupling measures 2 1/2 inches and will drop the tire carrire by that ammount. as for the rear stud with the lock, a spacer will need to be made (2") and bolts longer by that ammount will drop the rear by 2" this extra space will allow 255-60-15 tires to be carried in the carrier. the downside is that the carrier will be more visiable from the rear as it will hang down lower.