P500 Spare really needed?

[rustyneversleeps]

I have been debating on canceling the extra front tire I have on backorder from Dennis Kirk or keeping it as a spare (27x9x12 HTR, backs are 27x11). If I decide to keep it, I would like to call Revolution Offroad and have them add a 5th rim to my order.

I see a bunch of guys roll with spares, but how much do you use them and/or need them? The HTRs are 8 ply and I can't see myself getting in a situation where one of them would go out? I plan on having a patch kit or slug for getting back to the truck/cabin if it does happen.

Just debating on if/how often I would really need a spare and then debating on where I would mount it.

Thanks for any advice/ideas

 

[trigger]

Been carrying one for yrs and have never used it. Expense of the tire, extra ITP wheel, weight that it adds, weight of the carrier I built, it's a lot of sh** for just in case. Also carry plugs, Slime and compressor, have never used those on the P5 either. Don't know if it's worth carrying or not, won't leave any of it at home though. 🤷‍♂️

 

[NTCPrezJB]

I have been debating on canceling the extra front tire I have on backorder from Dennis Kirk or keeping it as a spare (27x9x12 HTR, backs are 27x11). If I decide to keep it, I would like to call Revolution Offroad and have them add a 5th rim to my order.

I see a bunch of guys roll with spares, but how much do you use them and/or need them? The HTRs are 8 ply and I can't see myself getting in a situation where one of them would go out? I plan on having a patch kit or slug for getting back to the truck/cabin if it does happen.

Just debating on if/how often I would really need a spare and then debating on where I would mount it.

Thanks for any advice/ideas

Riding with more than one machine....I leave the spare at the truck. Riding solo I take it with me. I haven’t used it trailside but certainly it happens. I bent a steelie at TO pretty good. Solo I would have swapped it but with the group it got beat back into shape and then air added. Still holding air three or so days later.

 

[Hondasxs]

Also, have to consider the area you ride and the distance back.
Sometimes we are 40+ miles through rough trails with zero cell service.
I carry a spare about 25% of my trips.
When organizing large groups I usually try to make sure at least 1 person has a spare.
We sometimes carry a tube and sidewall slugs have saved our butts more than once.

 

[lee]

I ride with @Hondasxs he has all sorts of stuff, compressor, plugs, slug and a CO2 bottle (for when you de-bead a tire).
Saves a lot of investment.
Haha, actually I carry stuff to fix a tire but not a spare.
One day I'm going to ride out on a flat and destroy a wheel but I stick to the stock wheels.
There seams to be a decent supply of take off stock wheels out there.

 

[J80]

I had a spare at the T/O but I left it behind in the truck I just didn’t have room to carry it but I have plugs and a compressor I carry in the p500

 

[JCart]

Typically I ride alone in remote areas no cell service. Carry plugs and compressor and usually change tires out at 40-50% gone. Been lucky so far only ever holed a side wall rubber necking over a bank hunting rather then watch where I was going. Rode it back flat, repaired at a shop good to go. Will say I watch where my wheels are now... was a good lesson to pay attention.

Never really felt the need for a spare, mind you we have limited thorn bushes here and any cactus is very small and won’t puncture a tire. Lotsa sharp rock just gotta pay attention.

 

[Bomersteve35]

Do you carry a spare for your trailer and your truck? When we are on a trip with others the load of gear can stay at camp. But when we are alone the a box of must haves is with us. Zip ties tools plugs duct tape air pump come along
Having a spare even just back at the truck will get your 10,000 dollar ride back to the truck. It may be a long day. If you are 50 miles out and shred up a tire where you can't even drive on the rim will a tire shop another 75 miles away even have a tire that will fit your rim? With our luck no!

 

[Bisley]

Do you carry a spare for your trailer and your truck? When we are on a trip with others the load of gear can stay at camp. But when we are alone the a box of must haves is with us. Zip ties tools plugs duct tape air pump come along
Having a spare even just back at the truck will get your 10,000 dollar ride back to the truck. It may be a long day. If you are 50 miles out and shred up a tire where you can't even drive on the rim will a tire shop another 75 miles away even have a tire that will fit your rim? With our luck no!

Yes, but my trailer is 16' x 7', my P520 isn't, but tires are about the same size!

Between the winch, cable, & snatch block, I don't see how one could not somehow managed to get back on a rim if ABSOLUTELY necessary 99.9% of the time. I've had flat/low tires many times & never noticed until I got back to the trailer.

Where do you draw the line? Spare motor? Spare battery? Spare starter? Spare fuel pump? Spare radiator?

 

[lee]

It Seams reasonable to draw the "line" one side or the other of the spare tire.
I grew up in a place where Dad carried 2 spares on the Land Rover due to remotness of the place.
It could be weeks till another vehicle went by out in the bush.

For where I ride in the mid west or south a spare tire is not a matter of life or death.
More like convenience to get back to camp in a timely manner.

It I where riding out west by myself I would consider a spare.
A forced overnite on top of a mountain in Colarado might be cold, or stretching your water in Arizona not so fun.

 

[Biteme]

Ordered a rim and tire off ebay, carried as a spare for 3 years, also carry compressor and plugs, lucky I never had to use the spare cause my son pointed out to me one day that the hole pattern on the spare was to small to fit my ride. Just took the word of the individual that the rim would fit my Honda and never checked. Long story short, I no longer carry a spare and have not been in a situation the plugs and compressor could not get me going again.

 

[Bisley]

I can see a spare, maybe two, in a full sized vehicle. Where you ride would play a huge factor too. Having on "with" you, back at the truck makes sense, but "on" you would just make a nimble machine bulky or leave you with no room and ice chest or other recreational items to me.

 

[Montecresto]

I have been debating on canceling the extra front tire I have on backorder from Dennis Kirk or keeping it as a spare (27x9x12 HTR, backs are 27x11). If I decide to keep it, I would like to call Revolution Offroad and have them add a 5th rim to my order.

I see a bunch of guys roll with spares, but how much do you use them and/or need them? The HTRs are 8 ply and I can't see myself getting in a situation where one of them would go out? I plan on having a patch kit or slug for getting back to the truck/cabin if it does happen.

Just debating on if/how often I would really need a spare and then debating on where I would mount it.

Thanks for any advice/ideas

To your question, is a spare needed....NO
I have 30K miles on 5 SXS’s and have never needed one. In fact, I’ve never had to pull out plugs or the slug for a flat on my own, but have for others. Run good 8-10 ply tires and forget the expense, the weight and the obstruction of view, awkwardness and unsightly in your way spare wheel and tire...

 

[Raghorn]

I carry a spare, but I don't carry plugs and a compressor with me. I like the piece of mind it gives me, especially being out west and during hunting season. I have a good mount for mine that isn't in the way.

That said, on all of my previous ATVs that I used before, I never had a spare. Just tow ropes and a can of fix-a-flat. Luckily never had to use either of those as well.

I'd rather have it so I didn't have to end my trip early or to get me back from a long ways back from deep in the mountains.

It really depends on riding style, location/terrain, and if you're alone or not. IMO.

 

[Montecresto]

That said, on all of my previous ATVs that I used before, I never had a spare. Just tow ropes and a can of fix-a-flat. Luckily never had to use either of those as well.

YEP.......

 

[NitroxDiver]

I don’t carry a spare but I do carry tools for a repair. I have not repaired my own tire in an atv or sxs in 20 years but I fix a few from time to time for others. I have also driven home a few times on a flat with no problems. One reason I like bias tires over radials is the extra thick side walls.

 

[Vikes79]

I have probably driven over 10 years and never changed a tire on ever on any trailer, vehicle, or utv I’ve owned.

BUT the time I needed it, I was dang glad to have one along with a good jack and a dewalt impact gun. Not many tire shops open on a Sunday afternoon in the sticks.

I’d rather have it and not need it, vs needing it and not having it. I carry plugs, pump and spare tire on all my vehicles at a minimum.

 

[Richard62]

yep i carry a spare tire and i run 8 ply tires side wall cuts need a spare.

 

[Nivek]

No spare for me... yet. Been thinking about it though, but still on the fence. I do carry plugs etc.

 

[Montecresto]

side wall cuts need a spare.

I’ve seen several sidewall cuts repaired with the Slug* and repaired one myself for another guy….costs $25.00, weighs a few ounces takes up less space in the dry box than a deck of cards….😎