Safety first!
Be sure the spare you get matches not only the bolt pattern, but has the correct rim offset. A tire and wheel store can look up an older model that had a spare which uses the same lug pattern/offset as yours- then head for the junkyard and find the matching car. That car also might be a good source for the jack, which will need to work with the jacking points on your car (should be shown in the owner's manual). Side jacking points might let you get to them with a four-way, but a factory-style lug wrench might also be needed to turn the jack.
Try them before you need them in your driveway, then drive the car with the spare mounted on the front to be sure you can turn full-lock both ways. If it works there it will almost certainly work on the rear too. Junkyards usually charge more for a compact spare than a plain steel wheel if money matters more than size. Toss in a couple wheel chocks while you're at it.
Lastly, be sure to secure these well- if you are in a collision, you don't want heavy objects like these flying through the back seat into your head
Phil
05-06-2012, 08:42 AM
