Getting rid of the spare?
 

The thread in marketplace about selling off the spare got me thinking on this. What are you guys on thoughts on going without a spare for daily driving and/or roadtrips. I'm seriously considering dumping mine, and replacing the lost weight with my own emergency kit that I carry anyways (which sits behind the passenger seat currently).

The kit is pretty heavy, I used a laptop bag and I have (among many tools and jumper cables and various things you'd expect) a 12V air compressor and a tire patch kit (and I know how to use it). I'd much rather patch and re-inflate when possible on the side of the road than drive on a spare anyways. If I ever had a real un-patchable blowout I could always call a flatbed and get picked up anyways. So I figure if I can do it without upsetting weight balance (seems likely, the kit is hefty, maybe a battery relocate would be necessary too though), it's a win for me overall.

Is it a bad idea to go spare-less all things considered?

Also, for whoever's already tried: what about the subwoofer without the spare? Seems like it's mounted on top of the spare, and wouldn't mount correctly without it.

My vettes and SSR never came with a spare. They just provide a little emergency inflate kit. So, how bad could a kit be?

As long as you have one or the other and know how to use it or what to do if it's not going to work out, there's no problem. Since you have the bose system, however, I am not sure how well it will work out, because the two subs sit below and above the spare. Of course, it wouldn't take long to check it out. If you're only going for weight reduction, and not trying to get some extra trunk space, it could be possible to build a little enclosure to hold the sub where it would be if the tire was in there.

Edited: scratch that, I looked in the service manual. There's only one woofer on mine (Bose w/o Nav), it's above the spare. While I was in there, I noticed that the XM Satellite Radio unit is a separate piece back there too. I don't use it and don't plan on subscribing, I may go ahead and remove the XM unit while I'm in there too. Not sure what to do about the XM antenna though. I may leave it for now and see if I can reuse the same spot for a remote GPS antenna later.

i had this same question, because i want to put 2 subs in the trunk where the spare goes. i drive alot! back and forth from tampa to west palm (220 miles each way) almost every weekend. I've actually never had a blow out (knock on wood) in the years of driving my other z, and hope i wont with this one. you already have a compressor and patching kit, so you should be fine. i got my trusty bottle of fix-o-flat (which wont do **** with a blown...but it makes me feel better) haha. so i say if ur all about weight savings then go for it. u can always throw it in there if ur going on long trips.

This is what I use. Even comes with certain vehicles. I like it better then a spare anyway.

Continental ContiComfortKit

Had a flat in first 500 miles and had to use spare. The unit does not fit without the spare. Guess you would have to cut the shaft in order to make it fit.

How to Use the ContiComfortKit

Hmm, is it really that easy?

yep. Came from the factory with a vehicle I use to have.

They work great. It's well worth the money. Far better then a fix-a-flat bottle. I have a kit in all of my cars. Even if they have a spare.

I just ordered three

I don't use fix-a-flat type stuff. Have you ever looked inside after using one of those? That junk is nasty, and it will be all over your wheel and tire :)

On the ContoComfort Kit website it said it can damage the TPS sensors in the wheels.. any one that use these have any issues or need to get the sensors cleaned or replaced afterward?

Just keep it...
It's not like any of you guys have modded your z anyways.
The only time I would suggest anyone to remove their spare is if their car is heavily modded and carbonded out. Why don't you just lose some weight or turn anorexic if you care about weight in the car so much?
lol...

Why don't you post something constructive or gtfo of my thread? :p I beg to differ on the fact that my car isn't modded, and I have no intention of putting lame-*** carbon fiber cover-up crap on my car, it looks like **** and it isn't worth the money.

WOW you drive a lot. I thought I drove a lot from work and home (45 min drive and about hour and half both ways. About 70miles). You got me beat. I was just wondering in about 8 months or you can give us a long term update on your Z.

First off i didn't know there was a sub, I thought when you upgraded to sport package and when you got the bose audio, I thought you just got the regular speakers:confused:! How does it sound (bass and what not).
So what happens when you take the spare off? What would happen to the sub? Will it be mountable w/o the spare?

Of the few flats I have had in my years of driving they have always been of such nature that nothing can repair them, and a spare has come in handy. Porsche has moved away from spares, and they offer a tire sealant, and air compressor (you can always acquire the one they use off eBay or elsewhere). The JDM version of our Z has factory options such as an air compressor, and tire sealant. Roadside service is a big plus if you do not live or travel to the boonies.

If this car is your daily driver it is not a good idea to go without the spare.

I took mine out. I have a can of run flat in it's place.

I don't venture more than 40 miles from home. A longer road trip, I will put the spare back in place.

jyust get AAA

ya i do drive alot. i dont mind it one bit in this car tho lol. i will def give a long term review.
sorry for temp. jacking ur thread wstar:tup:

It is gross but luckily we aren't the ones cleaning it out! lol They usually charge extra if you have used it!

On another note, I had a nail in my tire it was holding pressure so it wasn't that big of a deal. The Nissan dealer got me a new tire in under the warranty I purchased with the car.

What's totally ridiculous is they couldn't mount the rubber onto the wheel. Told me their machine wasn't big enough. So, I took it somewhere else and had to bring back the freaking tire with the obstruction to the dealer. How aggravating.....