Anyone buy a spare for the GS?

[paulbohnen]

Here's a few pics of my Performance Spare in my '15 GS (last manual!) trunk. Used the stock "bolt" which held the inflator in place and the hand retaining nut. Can't remember if the hand nut came with it or if I bought it...but I'm pretty sure it can be ordered and is the same that comes with the base Regals with a factory spare. Hope that helps!

 

[paulbohnen]

Also, compared to my previous post, you'll notice I don't have the Performance Spare jack in place anymore--which means the retaining nut isn't doing much anymore. I found out the jack didn't really work because the slot didn't clear the rocker panel at the factory jack points and would compress the rocker panel during jacking. I got a scissor jack from a recent Toyota Sienna which clears after a little grinding and I keep it in separately in the trunk. With provide pics of the jack in the near future when I get a chance.

 

[GSTurbo]

How much does the spare tire weigh??

 

[fgriff1]

Paul
i use a hockey puck with a slot cut out when i lift the car with a floor jack. would this puck work with the provided jack in the spare tire kit?

 

[Mirage85]

My 2015 came with a spare and its on my build sheet.... was it an option?

Also, where is the jack located? I just assumed it was under the tire, but now I better take things out and make sure I even have a jack to use... otherwise the spare is useless if I don't get the flat while at home.

 

[Harshman]

No spare tire in my 17.

 

[BigBlackBeaSSt]

View attachment 10580View attachment 10581View attachment 10582

Here's a few pics of my Performance Spare in my '15 GS (last manual!) trunk. Used the stock "bolt" which held the inflator in place and the hand retaining nut. Can't remember if the hand nut came with it or if I bought it...but I'm pretty sure it can be ordered and is the same that comes with the base Regals with a factory spare. Hope that helps!

Where is your jack? I have a Performance Spare as well. and have the ugly jack on top of the wheel. I had to buy the nut for a Regal (non-GS) spare.

 

[Walt G]

My 2015 came with a spare and its on my build sheet.... was it an option?

Also, where is the jack located? I just assumed it was under the tire, but now I better take things out and make sure I even have a jack to use... otherwise the spare is useless if I don't get the flat while at home.

I'm curious about this (didn't think you could get a factory spare with a GS). Does the spare tire fit over the front Brembo brakes? If no, does the owner's manual actually say that if you get a flat on the front you need to first put the spare on the back then take the good back tire to the front?

 

[EnderWiggin]

Also, compared to my previous post, you'll notice I don't have the Performance Spare jack in place anymore--which means the retaining nut isn't doing much anymore. I found out the jack didn't really work because the slot didn't clear the rocker panel at the factory jack points and would compress the rocker panel during jacking. I got a scissor jack from a recent Toyota Sienna which clears after a little grinding and I keep it in separately in the trunk. With provide pics of the jack in the near future when I get a chance.

Do you think the factory spare jack will work? I found a used set from a 2011 on Ebay that was reasonably priced that I was thinking of getting.

 

[Mirage85]

I'm curious about this (didn't think you could get a factory spare with a GS). Does the spare tire fit over the front Brembo brakes? If no, does the owner's manual actually say that if you get a flat on the front you need to first put the spare on the back then take the good back tire to the front?

I didn't check the manual yet, i'll try and remember to do that tonight, but here are pictures of what I have. its a 17" spare, so I'm assuming it wont fit on the front. I should have taken a picture of the back of the wheel though, the way its setup it might actually fit. I won't know for sure though I don't think unless I try it...

 

[paulbohnen]

Okay, so I've got my jack leaning vertically through one of the shelf holes in the underside of the roof of the trunk. That's why it's not in the pictures. I basically bought a recent model Toyota Sienna scissor jack--see photos--because it's high enough at the top to clear the rocker panel spaces on my GS. I did use a grinder to widen the opening on the jack for the pinch welds and repainted it to avoid rusting. It works fine...just had a flat last week.

Again, be careful with your spare jacks because in a pinch if the front is flat, the car is too low for most jacks to fit, and if they do fit, many will compress the rocker panels way before they engage the pinch welds. Test yours before you're stuck!! This jack with my widened opening works fine.

Hope that helps!

PS. Now if I could only find a better place to store the jack--again, it's too big to fit between the tire and floor cover. Will work on it next week.

 

[paulbohnen]

Update:

After a while, the jack I had leaning in the trunk just kept falling over and sliding around the trunk. So, I ended up searching for some elastic (stretchy) velcro straps with the plastic D-ring (just search for elastic velcro straps) and cut 4 small slits in the side of the trunk liner. I slid the straps through them carefully, and everything was perfect. The jack is easily accessible. It doesn't move, and is mostly out of the way. Super low-tech, but a perfect solution in my book. And cheap. See the pics. Hope this helps!

 

[JONNYESS]

When my dealer explained to me during delivery that there was only the inflation kit...I cringed....suspecting this would one day be just a huuuge problem.

Well, sure enough....that day came. Total nightmare - the tire had a sidewall gash from a high curb in a congested inner city area. Coupled with my learning that most tire dealers (apparently) dont take up limited stock space with 20" tires....

Yadda yadda...I now have a full size spare on a 20" after-market rim and a 2 ton floor jack. I had to do a lot of research ensuring the rim cleared the brembos but all is well... 😉

 

[mlarabia]

I've had my '17 GS for 3 whole weeks and last Monday I spent a couple hours on the side of NJ Turnpike. I hit a pot hole and blew both right side tires and destroyed both rims! Buick Roadside was not allowed to pick me up because of the restrictions on the NJT. Thankfully, my warranty covered everything (I bought a 50,000 mile Rim and tire warranty for $500 when I bought the car).

Does anyone know if the jack that Performance Spare sells has been updated to correctly fit our cars?

 

[MelsRegal]

another source for a spare with jack is Modern Spare

https://modernspare.com/search-page/?make=7&model=19&syear=170&cfm=Buick&cfmo=Regal GS&cfy=2017

 

[MelsRegal]

I just finished test fitting the Modern Spare on my 2017 GS. It is an 18" spare that clears the front Brembos with no problem. The spare fits in the tire well and the jack when left in a partially open position fits under the spare. I just have to pick up the factory holddown nut. The jack comes with a ratchet so raising and lowering the jack is very quick. The jack ratchet, wheel nut breaker bar with sockets, and five lugs nuts for the spare come with a bag for storage that fits in the tire well.

 

[TRNDRVR]

Here's my flat tire/temporary spare story.....

Stuck at a Cadillac dealership in Bend, OR. for 6 days. GM paid for the 135 mile tow. $$$ I'm sure, considering the tow truck drove 100 miles just to pick me up.

They obviously had to tap a rubber tree somewhere in Madagascar. Raw materials shipped to a Goodyear tire manufacturing facility here in the states. Finally tire was shipped to Portland, where it was then shipped to Bend for installation.

Six days in a town I don't live in, all for a flat tire. Pretty sad!

245/40/19

 

[MelsRegal]

depending on how many miles were on your tires, you could have bought two new tires of the correct size and been on your way the same day. I assume you had to pay for the new tire?

 

[dbruce]

another source for a spare with jack is Modern Spare

https://modernspare.com/search-page/?make=7&model=19&syear=170&cfm=Buick&cfmo=Regal GS&cfy=2017

Does the spare have the same size as stock for the GS? I ask since the Performance Spare option is slightly off.....which makes it pull. While only a spare.....if you run into an issue far from home, that would become annoying quick (performance spare and size difference).

 

[MelsRegal]

the Modern Spare tire is a T155/70R18 which comes out to 26.5" in diameter.
The stock 245/40x19 is 26.7" in diameter.
The stock 255/35x20 is 27" in diameter.

Will it make a difference while driving, probably, but any donut will probably not be the same size as the service wheel/tire. Keeping your speed to a maximum of 50 should be fine and it's far better than no spare with a blown tire or destroyed wheel.