I am going to be faced with a choice of two identical Mustangs but one has the spare and one does not. I'm not familiar with how that inflator thingy works and would be a little uneasy with not having an actual wheel to change. if you get a hole in the sidewall, does the inflator still work? Do you use it all up with one flat and have to buy another can? What would happen if you get a blow out where the tire can't be simply inflated?

I don't know if I should go spare or no spare. Would it be cheaper to just get one from a junkyard? - although I don't know if a previous year spare tire size or wheel would fit on the '15.

 

If the tire is punctured on the side wall the tire can not be repaired . I personally would not recommend using "fix-a-flat" on any tire. Would be easier to just have a spear. Give you peace of mind knowing you have one.

 

I just picked up my '15 without the spare; however, the salesman and I went right to parts and ordered the spare tire kit. This really depends on where you live and drive. For me, in Western South Dakota, a spare is essential to possibly saving your life in winter.

The Inflator is an option if the tire tread area is punctured, but if you get a sidewall puncture forget it. Our Jeeps have had three side wall punctures in the last three years. Tire replacement was the only option. Consequently, my wife's 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk was our only choice this time because it comes with a full size tire exactly like the ones on the vehicle

The wheel studs on the 2015 Mustang are now Metric (Bolt size: M14X1.5). Since the one you are looking at comes with the spare, it is $195 well spent as the spare tire kit cost me $255.00 (List was $280.50).

I hope this was helpful.

 

The inflator would only really help in the case of something like a screw or nail in the tire. If there is a tear in the sidewall or a hole in the tire it wouldn't help. Usually for the sealant stuff you need to use the entire can at one time for it to work.

I personally don't like the idea of not having a spare tire as I do enough long trips and drive in some sparsely populated areas where I would rather just change a tire, instead of waiting for hours for roadside assistance to show up.

 

Well I've had a couple sidewall punctures - 1 in this car, 1 in the Camaro. That's interesting to know that you can buy the whole kit from parts but its cheaper if factory installed. Seems like that inflator has only limited usefulness. I know sidewalls can't be fixed but apparently they can't be plugged up so it can drive to get help.

 

Usually the car with the inflator will have bigger rims and tires (Performance pak) or will have the big brakes (Brembo). If it is one of the above a spare will be hard to find which will actually fit the car and/or in the wheel well. It can be done, but usually a lot more costly than the spare you can order through parts.

I am a believer in having a full size spare. Usually have a flat or blowout at the worst possible time.

Here is my latest experience without a real spare...
https://themustangsource.com/forums/...-spare-529258/

I settled for performance and picked up a matching wheel and tire. Now use my repaired tire as the spare when I hit the road. Otherwise it sits in the garage because it does not mount. I need to do some custom work to make a new spare mount. Maybe someday.

 

Just order a spare tire kit from your dealer. My 2011 v6 came without a spare, wasn't even offered as an option on the order sheet. I ended up ordering a 'new' spare tire kit for a 2010 GT, almost $500. I didn't want to go to a junkyard and buy an old, dryrotted spare for my new Mustang.

 

I got an '11 as well. I know I would love the "comfort" of having a spare (even a donut) over the slime. I think the logic was that TPMS sensor have come along way and you get a warning in time to avoid bigger problems and get it to a garage. I have had two screws which had the pressure dropped too much the tire could have been compromised. Got the patched up. I will NEVER slime my tire - kills the TPMS sensors. Catastrophic loss of the tire would probably have more damage than just having a spare could fix - both the TPMS and a spare are the best!

 

Just FYI, this is the V6 kit:

http://www.partscheap.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=5523

If you have a V8 there is no kit. You have to gather the individual parts together.

 

I'm glad I got it cheaper as factory installed.

 

I guess I'm in the minority in that I prefer the inflator.

Actually, I prefer nothing back there, I won't use it so might as well have the small weight savings.

It's so rare that I'm far enough away from civilization to require changing a tire myself. Even more rare that I wouldn't have cell service (I get service almost everywhere in Michigan). If I blow a tire I'm calling a tow truck, especially since it will likely occur in high traffic areas since that is where I typically drive. No way in hell I'm changing a tire on the side of the freeway. I'll pay for a tow...plus I hate driving on the donut spares.

 

That kit is the 2011-14 V6 Kit with 17" Temp Spare. Temp Spare was STD. on all 2011-14 GT's (except PP), so Ford did not need a kit available.

Now that the temp spare is OPTIONAL on ALL (but PP & 20" wheel opt) Ford dealers now have a similar kit with the 18" Temp Spare that can be bought over-the-counter.

Doug

 

I picked up my spare tire kit yesterday for my 2015. It is a very nice alloy wheel with a real tire (no yellow warning labels in sight!), not a donut, plus the jack and assorted parts to install it. Took about 5 minutes. Well worth the Money.

 

100% spare. I had a couple GT500s with the tire inflator kits. The inflator substance has a limited shelf life. When you need it, more than likely the kit will be expired/useless. If it is still usable, it'll gum up you TPMS... and it's a PIA to clean-up. A can of Fix-A-Flat is just as good, which poses the same issues as described above. Go w/the spare, extra weight notwithstanding.

 

Spare! Spare! Spare!



Having the inflator is like having nothing. I can change a wheel. What I don't have is time to wait on the side of the road for help because I'm too stupid to be prepared.

 

Argh, bitten by early adoption again!

Do you know if it works for s197s?

Mind telling us how much the kit was?

If you're feeling generous can you also give the tire size?

And since it's the holidays, maybe you can post a pic?

 

I don't think it will work on S197 Mustangs as the wheel bolt pattern was changed to Metric. It is now M14X1.5. Wheel lug torque is also increased to 150, with 21mm lug nuts.

The kit was $250.00 from the dealer. If you order it as an option with the car, it is $195.00.

I will post a photo later, it is a little cold in the garage

 

Good to know. It wasn't an option when I ordered, I think it was a part shortage week.

Glad to know you can get it from the parts department. The extra $50 isn't a big deal; it will save more than that in time/hassle in the long run vs the slime kit.

 

Mine has the optional spare. I don't like the idea of only having a inflator kit.

 

Here is the tire size on the spare, which does indicate on the sidewall it is a Temporary Spare, 155/60R-18.

Here is a photo of the wheel and tire mounted in the trunk.