Spare Tire Package Question

60020 Views 21 Replies 18 Participants Last post by thunderhead280, Oct 3, 2016

adam09

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2014

I posted here once before and I hate to be a bother again but was hoping some current owners could help me with a dilemma.

I'm in the market for a Q50 soon, about to ask the dealer to locate one for me, and I'm not sure whether I should get the spare tire or not. My concerns are:

- If I do get the spare tire, the trunk space is laughable. I mean, it's ridiculous. A couple small suitcases is all that could fit in there. I sometimes take some trips with a couple of my friends during the summer, and usually we take my car, but with this spare tire package I'd be surprised if we could fit hardly anything in the trunk! The spare tire reduces the practicality of the car. Most convertibles probably have more trunk space!

- At the same time, I'd hate to not have a spare. It just gives me a sense of security, even though I've never used one in my 5 years of driving (yes I am young and lucky enough to be getting a nice car from parents), and I have AAA. I have test driven a Q50 with the run flat tires, and I don't think they're *that* bad like some people have said. In fact, it rides much smoother, quieter, and better than my current G35 (and the crappy tires on it haha). However, when the time comes to replace the tires, it would be nice to have a spare so I wasn't limited to only RFTs. Obviously RFTs cause some compromise in other areas of tire performance, and I think they're usually more expensive (?).

I searched and found an older thread... I didn't read the entire thing but it seems that you're stuck with the decision you make. That is, it costs $1500+ to order all the parts to add the spare tire later (vs. $200 now for the package), and if you get the spare tire, you're stuck with it b/c there is a bar that can't be removed, etc. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

So, my question is this: Did you or did you not get the spare? And do you regret your decision or glad you made the one you did? Thanks!

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jkay

· #2 · Mar 15, 2014

Got the spare. Took it out. As you said, the trunk space is laughable with it in there. Way too shallow.

I had the same issue - took some people on a trip and had to decide between taking the spare out so we could fit our luggage or leaving it in and staying home. We went on the trip.

RFT aren't too bad. If I hadn't read all of the complaint posts I probably wouldn't have even noticed but I'm not a super car guy so handling and road noise are fine for me.

I like having the option of keeping the spare in the car or not so if that type of thing is worth it for $200 you just need to decide.

The challenge is that, if there is a tire problem, it's likely to happen on the longer trips so the hassle of not having the spare if it's removed when you are on the road may make you think twice - certianly made me.

If you're that torn, I would say spring for the $200 so you have the choice.

One quick note, when you take out the spare, I'm not sure the floor of the trunk can be used. I took it out a while ago but I think there are big styrofoam spacers on the bottom so you can't put it back in and use it so you're putting your luggage, etc. on the unfinished surface of the trunk. No padding, no noice reduction - just metai with a bit of paint.

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cvipgo

· #3 · Mar 15, 2014

1) there's more trunk space n Q50 than G37 convertible.
2) if you have AAA then why get a spare?
3) if you have RFTs then spare has little value and BTW convertible doesn't has RFTs.
4) Spare adds weight which is bad for MPG
5) Today's tires are lot more reliable.
6) Having a spare with bunch of luggage on top won't help you much, incase you need it.
Save yourself money, space and call AAA or Infiniti Roadside Assistance if need arises.
7) or Buy emergency tire puncture repair kit (comes in the convertible.)

mattreading22

· #4 · Mar 15, 2014

I always tell people to go without it unless they are certain they need it. It gives you much more trunk space and as long as you have the personal assistant, you get unlimited towing miles. The spare isn't a matching wheel anyways, so you have to replace the tire or fix the tire regardless.

Sinecure

· #5 · Mar 15, 2014

Get the car without it. Keep a tire repair kit in the trunk. Buy the tire and wheel package from the Finance manager when they offer it. That's what I did (didn't really have a choice b/c no spare option in hybrid - but it is still what I'd do with a gasser).

cvipgo

· #6 · Mar 18, 2014

See attached pics of spare in the trunk from the loaner i got today when I dropped off one of my other Infiniti for warranty work:

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avmba

· #7 · Mar 18, 2014

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a Q and the ones I'm looking at happen to have the spare tire package.

Given all the criticism over the RFTs I'm actually happy to pay for 40% of the spare tire package over 39 months of a lease so I can store the RFTs in my garage and get some strong performing summer tires for the car and have a spare in case something happens.

As for trunk space, my wife has a bigger car we use for road trips so trunk space isn't that important to me. When I go to Costco or places like that and need space, I either fill up the back seat (and remove my kids' booster seats) or take her car.

-a

Klamalama

· #8 · Mar 18, 2014

I went without a spare tire, on my BMW, for 5 years. Took many long trips (over 1500 miles - one way). Never needed it, although occasionally I'd pick up a nail. That's where the TPMS comes in, warning you before the situation becomes dire. I keep a 12 volt air pump in the trunk. That is all.

When the Q50's RFT are ready to be replaced, I'm going with conventional tires, and a road hazard warranty.

About the Fix-a-flat, does it mess up the tire's TPMS? I would think that gelled mess might not be good for it. Tire changers hate the stuff.

WShade

· #9 · Mar 19, 2014

No Fix-A-Flat. If you are going to do some type of tire sealant go with Slime.

KillerQ50

· #10 · Mar 19, 2015

spare tire for 2014 q50 awd

does anymore have a picture of the spare tire for 2014 Q50 awd prenium

Devilzblood

· #11 · Mar 19, 2015

KillerQ50 said:
does anymore have a picture of the spare tire for 2014 Q50 awd prenium

There is a picture above which shows the spare tire?

Unless you want to see the spare on the car?

Peter Reed

· #12 · Mar 19, 2015

If you want to see what a full size spare looks like in the Q50 trunk, I posted on this awhile ago in a thread title "Full size spare trunk fit check".

As you'll see, if you remove the donut spare and the foam inserts, you will have considerable room in the trunk even with the full size spare.

I know most people will consider my long trip solution overkill, but it sure beats waiting in No-Where-Ville waiting for a RFT to be shipped in.

uxguy

· #13 · Mar 28, 2015

If you have runflats and are within 60 miles of civilization you can probably
find a tire that will work until you can get a replacement ordered. If you're
out in the middle of nowhere when your tire goes, a donut will double your range.

If you don't have runflats, with low profile tires you risk a catastrophic
failure in a pothole that may damage more than just the tire. In that case, a
donut will get you closer to a tire source if your car is driveable.

Since I drive long distances, I got the great idea of replacing the donut with
a real wheel with a cheap tire when I'm on a long trip. Guess what... the
spare tire well is about an inch too short front to back to hold a 19" wheel.
Runflats with a donut and AAA is about as good as it gets. And drive in
daylight so you can dodge the potholes.

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maxipad96

· #14 · Mar 28, 2015

I didn't even realize it was an option in the car but glad I have the spare. Had a bad bead on a 20 inch tire. Held pressure until I got home. Then came out to a completely flat tire. Was glad to have a spare that I could swap out in a matter of minutes rather than call aaa or ruin my wheel with fix a flat.

I understand the whole weight and cost savings thing but Cars are meant to have a spare always have been. Why all of the sudden they don't is beyond me. For years they've been able to get decent trunk space with a spare, it seems that only recently designers have gotten lazy maximizing trunk space with a spare.

Q50SAWDvs.G37SAWD

· #15 · Mar 28, 2015

maxipad96 said:
I didn't even realize it was an option in the car but glad I have the spare. Had a bad bead on a 20 inch tire. Held pressure until I got home. Then came out to a completely flat tire. Was glad to have a spare that I could swap out in a matter of minutes rather than call aaa or ruin my wheel with fix a flat.

I understand the whole weight and cost savings thing but Cars are meant to have a spare always have been. Why all of the sudden they don't is beyond me. For years they've been able to get decent trunk space with a spare, it seems that only recently designers have gotten lazy maximizing trunk space with a spare.

Infiniti tried to simplify design and because of the hybrid option, the gassers ended up with the same (smaller) trunk. Add the spare tire (and I still think that was ridiulous with run-flats) and the trunk becomes laughable.

Oh well.

IXLR8

· #16 · Mar 28, 2015 (Edited)

You mentioned that the hybrid had the same design as the gasser, where are the batteries on the hybrid? Is that area used for anything else on the gasser?

BTW, my last car came with regular tires, and a can of tire sealer and an air pump. I never had a problem through three sets of tires. One set was even showing the steel belts when changed.
I will have to go with, modern tires are better. But you cannot always avoid road debris. It depends on how much risk you are willing to take.

Personally, the roads I travel are so busy that I would probably have it towed anyway rather than risk changing it in a high speed traffic area.

Q50SAWDvs.G37SAWD

· #17 · Mar 28, 2015

IXLR8 said:
You mentioned that the hybrid had the same design as the gasser, where are the batteries on the hybrid? Is that area used for anything else on the gasser?

BTW, my last car came with regular tires, and a can of tire sealer and an air pump. I never had a problem through three sets of tires. One set was even showing the steel belts when changed.
I will have to go with, modern tires are better. But you cannot always avoid road debris. It depends on how much risk you are willing to take.

Personally, the roads I travel are so busy that I would probably have it towed anyway rather than risk changing it in a high speed traffic area.

Here's a link to the owners manual for the Q50 Hybrid system maintenance. If you look about 1/2 way through it, you'll see some whole-vehicle diagrams of the complete system. The lithium ion battery packs and the normal 12 volt battery are both located under / behind the trunk area of the Q.

Takes up space because the normal trunk floor is about 7 inches higher than it would otherwise be.

https://owners.infinitiusa.com/cont...id/2014/2014-Q50-hybrid-dismantling-guide.pdf

.

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maxipad96

· #18 · Mar 28, 2015

I see. So in other words to cut corners and save cost, the gassers don't get extra trunk space that would have easily otherwise been possible (spare or no spare).

Lazy or smart. Depends on who's perspective you see it from I guess. The Q50 cut a lot of costs from Non-Leather Base seats, no stitching logo base seats, trunk space lost. Just to name a few. I'm sure the list goes on.

Overall a better car than the former G but I just hate it that they went cheapo on what should be a few standard items on what they sell it as a luxury car. As a matter of fact I think Infiniti is misleading a bit labeling this a luxury car. It's a nice car, but doesn't have anything that you can't find on a well optioned ford or chevy. And with the handling and steering mistakes that have been made with the Q you can't say it is that much more of a performer now either.

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Q50SAWDvs.G37SAWD

· #19 · Mar 28, 2015

The Q50, and the G before it, are car-lover's cars because of the power plant and handling. I wouldn't say that was improved with the Q. They didn't cut corners, I think they tried to engineer too much into the car. From the tech to the hybrid, to the DAS, that's a lot of change. I have a well equipped Sport and I really think that my G37 Sport was a more "fun" car to drive. The power is the same, the trans seems to be the same, but I think there's a little too much cushion and body roll in the Q50 (even in sport mode) compared to the G37. I'm a car guy, and I love them both -but different, if that makes sense.
I'm sure they will upgrade and tune as they go along, just as they did the G for years and years. That's why I lease!

evolutionales

· #20 · Oct 3, 2016

I realize this is an old thread, but has anyone been able to find spare tire kits and from where? Trying to switch to regular tires on my new 2016 Sport.

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