This is not the latest in xB wheel customization. This is the spare tire that came with our long-term Scion xB. It is yellow and reminds us of the Denver boot, but in kind of a good way. The xB is rockin' the donut because we recently flatted while on the mean streets of west Los Angeles. Those tire pressure warning lights really work. Before I could feel the bumpity-bump of the flat, the little helpful light caught my eye as I rolled down Venice Boulevard and gave me enough time to turn into a nearby service station before things got too dicey. Wish I had a shot of the flat when I did finally see it. Looked like a vintage cartoon flat, the kind that appears to have melted onto the asphalt.
We took the xB to Stokes Tire Pros in Santa Monica to get a replacement the next day. Our bill came to $154.50 for one 205/55/R16 Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02, installed after one night's stay, since Stokes didn't have the tire in stock and had to order it.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 28,677 miles
stingray454 says:
12:23 PM, 09/25/08
Amazing - they even made the donut spare as ugly as possible to match the rest of the vehicle. I mean really, is there any need to paint it yellow??
slickersdrip says:
01:10 PM, 09/25/08
Wow, I would sand that spare down and spray paint it black or silver. Although since my car is yellow, I might leave it just because it would be comically tacky. Teal and mustard is just a disturbing combo.
ahightower says:
01:27 PM, 09/25/08
Maybe it's a safety feature, designed to embarrass you into getting it fixed ASAP.
santiagofdz says:
01:42 PM, 09/25/08
It should include a matching set of red lugnuts :)
desmolicious says:
01:59 PM, 09/25/08
Why was the tyre not repaired? Too damaged?
jahfakin says:
02:16 PM, 09/25/08
"Maybe it's a safety feature, designed to embarrass you into getting it fixed ASAP."
my neighbor's spare has become his permanent. he's been on that donut for 2 weeks now.
don't you love it when you see people flying down the highway doing 75-80MPH with a donut on?
gobryngo says:
03:11 PM, 09/25/08
desmo: I believe it wasn't repaired because the hole was too close to the sidewall.
misterfusion says:
04:00 PM, 09/25/08
And in an unfortunate case of synchronicity, I was met with a flat tire when I opened the garage to go to work this morning. Fortunately, it was able to be repaired at my local tire shop ($17.00) -- which is almost never the case with me. I always seem to get sidewall punctures.
@ Jahfakin: Ha, I said the exact same thing to my wife this morning! We're always seeing people blow past us doing 85 mph on a donut spare. Whereas I cringe just driving the thing 1 mile to the tire shop. The handling is obscene.
billt9 says:
06:43 PM, 09/25/08
Honestly that's a pretty attractive spare wheel, compared to the flat black painted and slightly rusty compact steel with a bunch of holes in it.
drhorrible says:
05:28 AM, 09/26/08
My former 2006 Lexus GS300 AWD came with a similar spare tire (ugly yellow), so it must be a Toyota thing. Well at least you have a spare tire my BMW doesn't come with one and has no provision for carrying one.
drhorrible says:
05:32 AM, 09/26/08
Wouldn't it have been better to put the spare on the rear since this a front wheel drive vehicle?
platf1 says:
03:00 PM, 09/26/08
The Scion rides on a 205mm width tire!? What does the Accord ride on? And the Smart for that matter?
jahfakin says:
05:04 AM, 09/27/08
"The Scion rides on a 205mm width tire!? What does the Accord ride on? And the Smart for that matter?"
I don't understand your point/question. Isn't 205/55/R16 one of the most popular size tires out there, if not the most popular? Countless cars come from the factory with this size.
platf1 says:
09:30 AM, 09/28/08
Then I'm behind with the times. Usually cars of the Scion's size would ride on max 175mm threads.
Asking for the Accord's and Smart's tire threads was to provide reference points.
Basically, though some fuzzy logic, I figure the Accord rides on 235s, and the Smart on...185s?
jerrywimer says:
09:02 AM, 09/30/08
Cool. Put three more on the rest of the car and people wouldn't necessarily even know that they're spares. Fits right in with how attractive the rest of the car is too!