GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

A few years ago, I was dropping a load off in the local dump and one of my rear tires snagged something that ripped the sidewall. No problem, I sez. I have a compact spare I regularly check the pressure on and can slap it on in 5 minutes. And it was done in a flash. Never been used prior.

Lo and behold. I get onto a paved road and try to get up to 40mph and the vibration is stunning. Like an earthquake. Fortunately, I'm only a few miles from home, so I drive home very slowly, take off the spare and try to roll it in the driveway. Positively egg shaped. Wouldn't roll, except like a yoyo.

So I take it to the dealer and like 4 months later, a replacement shows up. No explanation for the delay, but no charge. I checked it on the car OK and stashed it in the trunk. Haven't needed it since.

Anybody checked their compact spare lately? Anyone have a similar experience? Or is this a one off?

Oh yeah, my Discount tire certs finally paid off...

I haven't checked mine for round, but I do cehck it periodically for pressure. On another car with a compact spare I didn't check the pressure before using to replace a flat, and when I lowered the car off the jack, the flattening of the compact spare popped the tire bead off the rim. Not something fixable with a little 12V compressor, or with the typical compressors at gas stations. Took the guy at the tire shop a lot of cursing to get the tire reset on the rim.

I just checked the pressure on that new Firestone compact spare for the first time in a few years.
It was 22psi and its supposed to be 60.
Glad I didn't need it on my recent road trip.