I use a full size spare. So I got a used tire from a local used tire shop. The size was a bit bigger than I would like. Does it work? Yes. But the tire sits in my trunk and I like to get more trunk space back. So I need a smaller tire.

Most places I visited, new and used tire shops, don't have this size. I'm looking for something low, like 215/40/16 or 205/40/16. Even when I call used tire shops, they will tell me they have it. When I get there, they can't find it or try to tell me that something else will fit or work.

So there is craigslist. Often, they are packaged with wheels and seller is not willing to part out. Let alone, sell just one tire.

ebay has them. Because I'm looking for used tires as a spare tire, I don't want to buy new. And if I was to pay shipping on a used tire + price, it's almost the cost of new at my local tire shop.

Any ideas, tips or suggestions I may not have thought of yet?

 

You've covered every venue I use for used tires.

 

Not sure I asked this (somewhere here on HT), the reason why I use a larger, full size, wheel is because of the aftermarket brakes. So OEM donuts no longer work.

Some guys just get a 5th wheel, but I don't want to spend that much. Or carry it around.

So my question is, what you do guys with aftermarket brakes do for a spare tire? IIRC, Discount Tires will not fix, repair, replace a tire if I was to use a can of fix-a-flat. They consider it a void on the warranty certificates. So that's what lead to all of this.

 

Is it just larger front brakes? If so replace a flat front tire with a rear good tire and ride the donut on the back

 

The car is used, so I don't know the details of it, etc. All four, and rotors too.

 

This is always the correct procedure for a FWD car when using an undersized (diameter wise) spare tire. You never want the driven axle to have a tire diameter difference side to side.

OP, my advice is to just get a new tire. Mounting, balancing, and old tire disposal isn't all that cheap, and the total cost of a used tire doesn't end up saving all that much money anyway. This way you can just pick the exact size you want, in the type of tire you want, and be done with it.

Don't forget that tires "age out" and aren't safe after enough time has passed. Keep that in mind when shopping for used tires, and check their date of manufacture (it's stamped on the inside sidewall) before purchasing.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=138

 

Well said, tires do aged out. I experienced busted sidewall from tires originally purchased new by me.

 

Let me add this question here. Is there any reason why a low profile tire can not be mounted on OEM steel wheels? I just never seen it.

 

It doesn't matter if you run a low profile tire on a factory wheel.