O.K. - I am a complete idiot and I don't know anything about porsche space saver spares.

I bought a used one recently from a PCA member to have as a spare in my 15 x 8 shod 914 6 conversion. its red and clean and nice....but how do these things work? do you put air in them via a compressor or pump and do they expand? if so, how does the tire expand its diameter without ripping? Am I missing something? does the tire just bolt on "as is" and get me to a place to repair or replace the original?

Seems mighty low to the ground and the "aspect ratio" is only about an inch beyond the rim. If I need to put air in it to use it, is the tire replaceable without buying a new, complete spare assembly? (I tried to put air in an all I hear is a leak of some kind.)

I bought it so that I could have enough space to put in a GT oil cooler in the front and still have enough space for front trunk usage. I know I know... I should put a full size in the rear trunk like the GT's had, but its nice to have both trunks....

Any clarifications would be nice!

SOmeone asked this like 2 days ago


You need to air it up and then you can deflated it and reuse it. I didn't know if you could replace them either but I was out at Euro Tire in NJ and they do have them and sell them. I'm thinking about getting one put on a matching tire to the rest of the car.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check at one of my local tire dealers.

If I could use the search feature properly, I could have found that earlier post.

Like I said, sometimes I am an idiot! Doh!

Some shops will do it and some will tell you it is too dangerous. One guy even told me it was illegal. I've had it done in SoCal several times back in the 70s/80s, and it did not look dangerous or difficult.

Just don't quit trying if one or two shops (particularly "big name" shops) say no. Small independent shops always did it for me. Even mounting saver from steel wheel to Fuchs.

Lemme get this straight, the space saver actally expands when inflated? I thought it just stayed the same size. That would explain the whole "folding tire" nick name.

Brett, dont feel stupid.

It expands .... the sidewalls are folded .... you need to carry a ***gasp*** real Porsche compressor otherwise you inflate it with non-german certified air which voids the warranty.

For A Cox, I took one off the steel rim and put it on a Fuchs. I did manage to bend the hell out of the steel rim getting it off (with a Coats tire machine).

yep!

just inflate the damn thing.. they are HUGE!! looks like an 80 + series tire when inflated......

oh, and i would inflate it before i bought it to make sure it isnt cracked on the inside, or still holds air

Hell I have been thinking of running those cool red rims all the time with some decent tires on them.

They are alloy so they must weight next to nothin.

actually jeff ....i just bought a sixteen, well traded some vw stuff for it...they are trully impresive looking but a tad heavy.....and narrow too

uh..Thomas, where are you. Post a pic.

Thomas has four on his car now and I think they look cool.

The electric air compressor takes too long to inflate. I carry a small scuba bottle with the first stage of a two stage regulator with an air chuck on the end. Works great. I had to use the collapsible spare with my parts car (911) once and it works good. I think there is a speed limit while it's installed but not sure about that.
Cheers, Elliot

Great, now I want one.

Hey Doc ..... be creative ..... mount a hemmoroid donut on your favorite rim!

Leave it to you to take something so pure and inoquous and referr it to ass in some way.

SLTIS, you are what you eat man and no amount of breath mints is gonna change that! One too many hemmoriod donuts....

Does this make you hungry?

On a serious topic...

Would a can of fix a flat be enought to inflate the tire?

HAY; I'm with SLITS on this; and for god's sake don't fill it with stale Canadian air! Dave

Prolly, but then you would have all that icky sticky white stuff inside .

I got this thing for $40.00 - and based on the cost of a new one from Porsche - I stole it!

I took it to one of the "smaller" local shops. They have to order the tire, but said they wouldn't have a problem in mounting it.

I should hear back from them today and I'll post the cost and a pic or two once I get it back.


Now to find that german air compressor......