One thing that I have kept in the trunk of my car for at least the past 20 years, is a heavy duty tire inflator that is powered by the cigarette lighter. It has come in very handy for my car, truck, and bicycle tires over the years. My 1994 Town Car that I purchased in 1997, had the little temporary spare tire. On a trip from Maryland to Florida in 2006, my right front tire went flat in North Carolina. Sure enough, the little spare needed air, but I had the tire inflator. I had to drive about 30 miles on Route 95 which has a 70 mph speed limit, and almost everyone is doing 80, and I was going 50 mph because of the dinky spare to find a tire store. When I bought my current 2002 Town Car in 2007, the original owner bought a full sized spare tire and wheel.
Hey Chuck, I am glad you liked my story. I didn't think your video was boring, especially because I had to use that tiny donut spare tire once. At least it got me to a tire store. In 2002 I bought a new Chevrolet large box truck for my delivery business. Before I drove it off the lot, I was looking it over and asked the sales rep where the spare tire was. He said there was none, also with no jack or lug nut wrench. That makes the little donut spare tire seem not quite so bad. At least it is better than nothing.
Hey Chuck, you are probably lucky that your 2004 Crown Vic doesn't have the rear air ride suspension. Both of the Town Cars that I have owned, had the rear air bags and pump go bad after 13 to 14 years, and I had both cars air bags and air pumps replaced with a good set of coil springs. Your car is at the age that if you didn't already have issues with the rear air ride suspension, it would likely happen soon. When my 2002 Town Car's air suspension went out in 2015, and the rear end was sagging, it was the bumpiest 6 mile ride to my mechanic that I ever had!!!
Oh my gosh, I can only imagine that ride with the rear dragging. I see old Ford products with sagging rear ends due to failed air suspension systems fairly often where I live. I always feel so bad for the car, and a little embarrased for the occupants. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes it is a very hard and bumpy ride when the rear end is sagging. At least when the rear air ride suspension went out on both of my cars, it happened at the house, and not out on the highway. I also have noticed a number of older Ford products with the rear sagging, including one near my house in Florida. The car has been sitting in same spot in the driveway for a number of months. I am not sure why the owner doesn't fix it or sell it. If Ford ever comes back out with the panther platform cars, especially the Town Car, I hope they have coil springs in the rear.
Damn streight. I don't use steel wheels anyways, unless I want to wear the chrome P71 hub caps. The cast wheels are so smooth, especially with Michelin tires.
My 2004 Crown Vic., base model, came with a pussy spare. So I was looking all around to get a wheel to put a regular tire on. I was surprised the junk yard told me No! without even checking: no Crown Vic parts
@@hhjhj393 I think of it like this: If you were walking down the street and the sole breaks on one of your shoes, would you temporarily wear one that’s too small? I think it’s the same way with tires.
@@delasmoo It looks like you “N” model has 245/35/19 tires with an overall diameter of 25.8” The base model has 195/65/15 tires with an overall diameter of 25.0” If this were my car I would want the spare tire to have the same overall diameter so it does interfere with the wheel speed sensors for ABS, Vehicle Speed, Stability Control etc. So at least it won’t trigger a dash warning light while you drive to the nearest tire repair shop. One possibility would to get a hold of the base model 15 wheel and put a tire on it that has an overall diameter of 25.8”. You can use the Tire Rack website to look at tire size specifications. It looks like a 205/65/15 has an overall diameter of 25.5”. Maybe you can find a size that is an exact match to 25.8” -Chuck
Chuck, Thanks for the information! Do the tires on tire rack website come with rims? Just asking in case I wanted to buy 1 spare tire from them that's same size as other 4 tires.
My reason for watching this video was to learn if my mini-spare wheel was regular size. i.e. can I put a real 225 - 60 - 16 tire on this wheel? He did not address this question.
Yo Daniel, I'm sorry for failing to address your concern in the video. Take a look at your spare wheel (it should be a black steel wheel). If is says 16x7 somewhere on it, then yes. It's a full size regular wheel, and you may mount a 225/60R16 tire on it. If it says anything else, it's probably a dissimilar, or space saver temporary. Also, you may want to refer to your owner's manual. If you don't have one, let me know what YEAR / MAKE / MODEL car you have, and I may be able to look it up for you. -Chuck
Yo Daniel, Yeah, that's a temporary space saver. My 2010 Grand Marquis came with one, and I replaced it with the full size one in the video. The cheapest steel wheel I could find, (including a used one from eBay, or my local junk yard was $80. So I decided to buy a brand new Dorman Brand 16x7 steel wheel.I got it from amazon for $60. Just go to amazon and search Crown Victoria steel wheel. I think prices have gone up though. Actually I just realized I already put the link in the description. Check that out too. -Chuck
Many thanks for taking the trouble to clarify this for me. I figure I will check out the wrecking yards first though. I don't have a good rapport with Amazon right now. They have locked me out.
Check this out. $66 brand new, and free shipping. You may want the 16" version though. Get the correct part # from Dorman website; www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-939-108-17-Steel-Wheel-Rim-for-Ford-Crown-Vic-Mercury-7W7Z-1007-C/143560510953?epid=218500907&hash=item216cdf8de9:g:zAQAAOSwms1enwNR -
Gotta have a full size, and a space saver. My town cars, 03+05, have a compartment in the passenger side quarter panel to secure a space saver and a jack as well as the spot on the shelf in the trunk with a carpeted cover. I like that because I don't have to be seen riding on a doughnut but I still have one more in case I get another flat before I get home. The Marauder came with a 5 spoke full size spare, not a doughnut. It's not a Ford focus which weighs a third of a Panther Platform.
One thing that I have kept in the trunk of my car for at least the past 20 years, is a heavy duty tire inflator that is powered by the cigarette lighter. It has come in very handy for my car, truck, and bicycle tires over the years. My 1994 Town Car that I purchased in 1997, had the little temporary spare tire. On a trip from Maryland to Florida in 2006, my right front tire went flat in North Carolina. Sure enough, the little spare needed air, but I had the tire inflator. I had to drive about 30 miles on Route 95 which has a 70 mph speed limit, and almost everyone is doing 80, and I was going 50 mph because of the dinky spare to find a tire store. When I bought my current 2002 Town Car in 2007, the original owner bought a full sized spare tire and wheel.
I love this story.
"Great minds think alike".
Thanks for watching my boring video, about stuff most people may never have to deal with.
Chuck
Hey Chuck, I am glad you liked my story. I didn't think your video was boring, especially because I had to use that tiny donut spare tire once. At least it got me to a tire store.
In 2002 I bought a new Chevrolet large box truck for my delivery business. Before I drove it off the lot, I was looking it over and asked the sales rep where the spare tire was. He said there was none, also with no jack or lug nut wrench. That makes the little donut spare tire seem not quite so bad. At least it is better than nothing.
Full size spare is my vote. Donut a no go
I'm right there with ya.
Hey Chuck, you are probably lucky that your 2004 Crown Vic doesn't have the rear air ride suspension. Both of the Town Cars that I have owned, had the rear air bags and pump go bad after 13 to 14 years, and I had both cars air bags and air pumps replaced with a good set of coil springs. Your car is at the age that if you didn't already have issues with the rear air ride suspension, it would likely happen soon. When my 2002 Town Car's air suspension went out in 2015, and the rear end was sagging, it was the bumpiest 6 mile ride to my mechanic that I ever had!!!
Oh my gosh, I can only imagine that ride with the rear dragging.
I see old Ford products with sagging rear ends due to failed air suspension systems fairly often where I live.
I always feel so bad for the car, and a little embarrased for the occupants.
Thanks for stopping by.
Yes it is a very hard and bumpy ride when the rear end is sagging. At least when the rear air ride suspension went out on both of my cars, it happened at the house, and not out on the highway. I also have noticed a number of older Ford products with the rear sagging, including one near my house in Florida. The car has been sitting in same spot in the driveway for a number of months. I am not sure why the owner doesn't fix it or sell it.
If Ford ever comes back out with the panther platform cars, especially the Town Car, I hope they have coil springs in the rear.
When I got my Vics they all have full sized spare p71/p7b all day👍
Bet.
Damn streight. I don't use steel wheels anyways, unless I want to wear the chrome P71 hub caps. The cast wheels are so smooth, especially with Michelin tires.
Panther Platform I enjoy the steels with fresh black gloss paint and polished center caps they scream p71
@@crownvictorialifestyle4421 hell yeah, especially when they have a fresh coat of gloss black paint, not the faded or rusty look some older ones have.
My 2004 Crown Vic., base model, came with a pussy spare. So I was looking all around to get a wheel to put a regular tire on.
I was surprised the junk yard told me No! without even checking: no Crown Vic parts
I have a full size spare on my 2006 Ford Escape and it’s saved my butt so many times on the expressways!
Right on Jacob,
Thanks for watching.
-Chuck
@@hhjhj393 I think of it like this:
If you were walking down the street and the sole breaks on one of your shoes, would you temporarily wear one that’s too small? I think it’s the same way with tires.
I have to keep THAT FULL SPARE all the time
Bet.
Can you drive it on the highway?? The full size
My GrandMa has a full size.... haven't even had it out of the car yet... Opps! I suppose I should check to see if it even hold air!!! Thanks Chuck
Hey Jason, thanks for stopping by.
You can't fool me, I bet that was one of the first things you checked on your after purchase safety inspection. Lol
@@PanzerPlatform No Seriously! We aren't required to have them safety inspected when bought or sold, however, mine is due next month!
What size rim for spare tire would you suggest for 19 inch rims, if I don't use same size spare?
Is 15 inch spare too small?
Right on Gary,
Thanks for watching, and the great question.
Need more info.
What is the YEAR / MAKE / MODEL of your car?
-Chuck
It is a 2022 Hyundai Elantra N which has 19 inch rims.
@@delasmoo
It looks like you “N” model has 245/35/19 tires with an overall diameter of 25.8”
The base model has 195/65/15 tires with an overall diameter of 25.0”
If this were my car I would want the spare tire to have the same overall diameter so it does interfere with the wheel speed sensors for ABS, Vehicle Speed, Stability Control etc. So at least it won’t trigger a dash warning light while you drive to the nearest tire repair shop.
One possibility would to get a hold of the base model 15 wheel and put a tire on it that has an overall diameter of 25.8”. You can use the Tire Rack website to look at tire size specifications. It looks like a 205/65/15 has an overall diameter of 25.5”.
Maybe you can find a size that is an exact match to 25.8”
-Chuck
Chuck,
Thanks for the information!
Do the tires on tire rack website come with rims?
Just asking in case I wanted to buy 1 spare tire from them that's same size as other 4 tires.
@@delasmoo
Not sure, check with tire rack.
My reason for watching this video was to learn if my mini-spare wheel was regular size. i.e. can I put a real 225 - 60 - 16 tire on this wheel?
He did not address this question.
Yo Daniel,
I'm sorry for failing to address your concern in the video.
Take a look at your spare wheel (it should be a black steel wheel).
If is says 16x7 somewhere on it, then yes.
It's a full size regular wheel, and you may mount a 225/60R16 tire on it.
If it says anything else, it's probably a dissimilar, or space saver temporary.
Also, you may want to refer to your owner's manual.
If you don't have one, let me know what YEAR / MAKE / MODEL car you have, and I may be able to look it up for you.
-Chuck
Thanks for getting back to me. It says I45 80 D16. I am afraid it is a mini-wheel too.
This is an '04 sedan, I guess LX. A P74, not P71
Yo Daniel,
Yeah, that's a temporary space saver.
My 2010 Grand Marquis came with one, and I replaced it with the full size one in the video.
The cheapest steel wheel I could find, (including a used one from eBay, or my local junk yard was $80.
So I decided to buy a brand new Dorman Brand 16x7 steel wheel.I got it from amazon for $60.
Just go to amazon and search Crown Victoria steel wheel.
I think prices have gone up though.
Actually I just realized I already put the link in the description.
Check that out too.
-Chuck
Many thanks for taking the trouble to clarify this for me.
I figure I will check out the wrecking yards first though.
I don't have a good rapport with Amazon right now. They have locked me out.
Check this out.
$66 brand new, and free shipping.
You may want the 16" version though.
Get the correct part # from Dorman website;
www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-939-108-17-Steel-Wheel-Rim-for-Ford-Crown-Vic-Mercury-7W7Z-1007-C/143560510953?epid=218500907&hash=item216cdf8de9:g:zAQAAOSwms1enwNR
-
Gotta have a full size, and a space saver. My town cars, 03+05, have a compartment in the passenger side quarter panel to secure a space saver and a jack as well as the spot on the shelf in the trunk with a carpeted cover. I like that because I don't have to be seen riding on a doughnut but I still have one more in case I get another flat before I get home. The Marauder came with a 5 spoke full size spare, not a doughnut. It's not a Ford focus which weighs a third of a Panther Platform.
Yo.
I've always wondered about that vertical set up for the spare in Town Cars.
It does seem pretty convienent.