Spare tires: any reason to keep a second one?

belfert · January 29, 2008, 09:54:22 AM

When I bought my bus, the dealer threw a spare wheel with a completely shot tire in the bays. My guess is they did know there is a spare tire underneath the bus on a winch.

Anyhow, I know have an extra wheel with a junk tire on it. Is there any reason to keep it around? If I get rid of it, will a tire dealer take it?

Reddog · January 29, 2008, 10:06:37 AM

I can't think of any reason to keep it. If it is a common 10 hole wheel, it has some value. I sold 6 that came off of Thomas to the City here to have as spares for their trucks, got $25 each. Killer deal for them, but they weren't doing me any good. They can be made into nice grinder stand bases if you have a need for one of those. Doug Engel, Gunnison,CO

H3Jim · January 29, 2008, 10:11:46 AM

When I went to the alum wheel, I sold my old steel ones for $25 each to a local tour company

Stan · January 29, 2008, 10:15:58 AM

Are you assuming that you will never have t replace a wheel, or do you just have no place to store the extra wheel?

gumpy · January 29, 2008, 10:20:20 AM

What size is it? I need another steel wheel, but I'm running 11R-24.5s.

belfert · January 29, 2008, 10:26:58 AM

Quote from: gumpy on January 29, 2008, 10:20:20 AM
What size is it? I need another steel wheel, but I'm running 11R-24.5s.

My tires are also 11R24.5. The wheel is stud pilot I assume as that is what the rest seem to be. You're welcome to have it if you come pick it up. I can take a picture if that helps.

belfert · January 29, 2008, 10:30:11 AM

I really don't have a place to store the extra wheel. It is just laying in the backyard right now behind the bus, but I need to get the yard cleaned up before I put the house on the market in a few weeks.

I could put it in the shed or the garage, but I'm not sure if I want to move this wheel and tire to a new house as it is heavy. There is no room in the bus bays as they are full of conversion parts that still need to go in the bus.

DavidInWilmNC · January 29, 2008, 11:17:46 AM

They make a great fire pit if you weld steel tube (square) to 'em. I've seen several of these - some were regular car wheels and some were bus / truck wheels. The bigger wheels work a lot better for this.

David

Dallas · January 29, 2008, 12:10:02 PM

I've carried a spare tire around with me for years, it hasn't changed from 38X32 levi's for for over 20 years.

The tire is kind of worn, the tread isn't as deep as it use to be, but if I ever get into a situation where I'm stuck on a desert island for more than 6 weeks without food, the spare will come in handy.

As for the bus,

When we got our PD 4103 it had a spankin' new Kelly Springfield tire in the spare tire carrier. On a Spankin' new Wheel, even... It even had the rubber tits on it, it was so new.

Unfortunately, Trailways had put that tire in the bay in circa 1964 (It had a Trailways tag stapled on it).

I figured if the spare hadn't been used in that long, it probably wouldn't be needed and it was a split rim, so I tossed it.

That's been 4 years, no problems, and like others, I have tools and duals. If a steer tire goes, I can slap a outside dual on there post haste.

Dallas

Reddog · January 29, 2008, 12:25:22 PM

I guess it's sorta like if you have it, you probably won't need it. If that's true, it's worth carrying one just so you won't need it.
Although I hear folks say things like "I only need it for a spare, anything that will hold air should work". My reply is usually something like "if you only have one shot left, make sure it's not a dud."
Doug

belfert · January 29, 2008, 01:34:43 PM

Just to be clear, I already have a spare tire stored on the bus. The spare tire on the bus is basically brand new, but is from 1996.

The wheel that I don't think I need is a second spare with a tire that totally shot.

Kristinsgrandpa · January 29, 2008, 03:39:01 PM

I always carry 2 spares, one on the left tag axle, and one on the right tag axle.

I need 2- 8.25" X 24.5" hub piloted, steel wheels. I would prefer 2 off a bus as they are balanced, as denoted by the suffix C.

I have 11 hub piloted 8.25" X 22.5" Accuride #27834 C, 9 of them have tires on them, and 3 of the tires actually have tread on them.

After I put my Alcoas and new tires on, the local charter service gets first chance at them, after that they are up for grabs.

I'm saving them because they are balanced, or else the three thats not on the coach would be gone already.

If anybody need some, the 3 are here for the asking. Just pick up yourself.

Ed.