alternate spare tire

[Bucky2]

The temporary spare [T135/70R15] in our 1999 Taurus four door sedan recently blew a large hole in itself while in the trunk. It had never been on the road.

Since I could find no ready source for a replacement temporary tire, I examined the options.

A salvage yard would sell another temporary spare for $45, but that may exhibit the same failure as my useless spare if it were inflated to the recommended 65 PSI.

The tire dealer would/could not install a conventional tire on the temporary spare wheel. Neither could I find a wheel and tire combination that would fit the car hubs and fit the spare tire well beneath the trunk floor without elevating the well cover above its original position.

I wound up purchasing a used steel wheel from a salvage yard, having it checked for straightness by the tire dealer, and installing the least expensive full-size [P205/65R15] tire I could buy onto it. Cost was about $145 all told, though some shopping for a used wheel and a used tire would have yielded a lower overall cost. A new steel wheel is available from Advance Auto Parts as part number 22701765, $79.90 (Keystone Crash Parts STL03177U45).

This combination fits the well in the trunk, but raises the well cover by about two inches. It is not very noticeable, however. The full-size wheel and tire provides a more reliable spare should it be needed.

This solution does not work for the station wagon spare tire location, since the spare tire cover will not fit if a full-size wheel and tire are stowed.

[Willyum]

Doesn't sound like anyone here uses the spare.
Why not take a tip from G.M ? In most of their new vehicles you'll get a can of fix a flat and instructions.