Checking Spare tire Air

[xairmech]

My 08 Yaris spare tire air valve is mounted upside down in order to check air have to remove tire from its well. Brilliant Toyota design. Came across "Chek A Spare" its a hose that attaches to the spare tire valve & other end can be sticking out any spot in the rear so now to check spare air all i have to do is open the hatch. Works great for my 08 RAV as don't have to remove the hard cover anymore. Great for pick ups where the tire is mounted underneath no more groveling on the ground to check truck spare air.
www.getaguage.com
Other sites carry it also. Goggle it in. Was $6.00 ordered 2. Shipping is a pain but what can you do. May be some local stores carry it but none in my immediate area did.

[127.0.0.1]

it is far more likely a spare will go flat with one of those widgets attached,
than just keep the spare in place left alone. they are nice extensions though.

http://www.getagauge.com/

[xairmech]

Thats why you check the air once a week to see if any leakage or nails. So far haven't had any problems with the Chek A Spare in 2 cars.

[b_hickman11]

Thats why you check the air once a week to see if any leakage or nails. So far haven't had any problems with the Chek A Spare in 2 cars.

How the hell would a spare tire get a nail in it when it's in the storage comaprtment in the trunk?

[YAR1S]

psh .... I just feel mine, haha.
but on a serious note, I didnt think taking the spare wheel out was such a big deal? :(

[YAR1S]

How the hell would a spare tire get a nail in it when it's in the storage comaprtment in the trunk?

:laugh: unless it was used once before :thumbsup:

[yaris2010RS]

i topped up my moms spare tire the other day....first time since she got the car in 2000, (2001 camry) and it still had pressure in it..... not alot but some....lol (jsut under 20psi)

how often do u guys check yours?

[Yaris Hilton]

At least every 20 years, whether it needs it or not.

[xairmech]

Just under 20# would have turned on the TPS if there was one. & guess what my spare did have a small brad in it i noticed it when i put it back after using it for a flat replacement, was a small leak i fixed it with my handy nail kit. You got a problem with the Chek A Spare hose very simple don't buy it. Its been great for this old guy. Now i check my spare air once a week when i do the other tires before that i didn't, just waited till the TPS light came on.

[talnlnky]

At least every 20 years, whether it needs it or not.

no joke... i've never checked a spare tire before.... My mazda's spare was fine... after 10 years it still did the job, it got used twice in 10 years.

[b_hickman11]

Just under 20# would have turned on the TPS if there was one. & guess what my spare did have a small brad in it i noticed it when i put it back after using it for a flat replacement, was a small leak i fixed it with my handy nail kit. You got a problem with the Chek A Spare hose very simple don't buy it. Its been great for this old guy. Now i check my spare air once a week when i do the other tires before that i didn't, just waited till the TPS light came on.


It's easier to buy a small portable air compressor and kit it in your trunk. That way if your spare tire is not aired up when you need it, you can fill it up on the spot. Plus it's good to have one anyways.

[YarisSedan]

I think checking the air int he spare is a little obsesive. Maybe once every other month or so. You loose about a pound on adverage. I think the spare tire is supose to be set at 60psi. Mine was at 30ish last time i checked set from the factory. So even if you dont add air in a year. You would still be at about 50 which is still okay to drive on.

Or better yet find a place to fill it with nitrogen. Its denser and leaks out even slower. Maybe would take 2-3 years to loose 10 pounds.

[yarrr]

Do you lube your scissor jack every week as well? Hate to have a sticky jack AND low air in the spare..

[yaris2010RS]

Do you lube your scissor jack every week as well? Hate to have a sticky jack AND low air in the spare..
LOL, have u seen how much lube toyota puts on that thing?? lol, i looked at mine the other day, wow, lol

[nemelek]

It's easier to buy a small portable air compressor and kit it in your trunk. That way if your spare tire is not aired up when you need it, you can fill it up on the spot. Plus it's good to have one anyways.

Great idea! These compressors also have a light and flashing light built into the unit for emergencies.

[MadMax]

Great idea! These compressors also have a light and flashing light built into the unit for emergencies.

Unless of course you have a low or dead battery, at which point your sticky jack and underinflated spare will be the least of your worries!

LOL, have u seen how much lube toyota puts on that thing?? lol, i looked at mine the other day, wow, lol

No kidding, the thing looks like a 1944 Mosin-Nagant rifles right out of the crate! :headbang:

Cheers! M2

[Yaris Hilton]

Carrying a compressor is a good idea.

It's false that nitrogen is denser than air. It's a little less dense. Gases' densities are directly proportional to their molecular weights. Air (dry) is approximately 78% nitrogen, around 21% oxygen, with various trace gases making up the rest. Oxygen's molecular weight is about 32, nitrogen's 28, so air with its oxygen content is a little denser than nitrogen. I doubt you could measure a significant difference in the leakage rate. Nitrogen's a current "snake oil" fad for the most part.

[127.0.0.1]

Do you lube your scissor jack every week as well? Hate to have a sticky jack AND low air in the spare..

LOL I jus sharted

[127.0.0.1]

Carrying a compressor is a good idea.

It's false that nitrogen is denser than air. It's a little less dense. Gases' densities are directly proportional to their molecular weights. Air (dry) is approximately 78% nitrogen, around 21% oxygen, with various trace gases making up the rest. Oxygen's molecular weight is about 32, nitrogen's 28, so air with its oxygen content is a little denser than nitrogen. I doubt you could measure a significant difference in the leakage rate. Nitrogen's a current "snake oil" fad for the most part.

nitrogen is not snake oil for the racetrack where tire temps hit extremes. but everywhere else, yes snake oil

[Yaris Hilton]

That's why I said "for the most part." It's long been used in jet aircraft tires that get really hot, too. And avoiding the water that builds up in tires with compressed air is a good thing.

[b_hickman11]

Unless of course you have a low or dead battery, at which point your sticky jack and underinflated spare will be the least of your worries!





Cheers! M2

My compressor doesn't use the car's battery. It has it's own power supply. You just have to charge it up once every 6 months, which is that big of a problem.

[yarrr]

It's false that nitrogen is denser than air. It's a little less dense. Gases' densities are directly proportional to their molecular weights. Air (dry) is approximately 78% nitrogen, around 21% oxygen, with various trace gases making up the rest. Oxygen's molecular weight is about 32, nitrogen's 28, so air with its oxygen content is a little denser than nitrogen. I doubt you could measure a significant difference in the leakage rate. Nitrogen's a current "snake oil" fad for the most part.

For the record, I run good ole regular air in my tires, but:

The idea behind nitrogen fills isn't about density, its about the size of the molecule, and a nitrogen molecule is bigger than an oxygen molecule. This supposedly helps individual molecules from seeping through the rubber.

[127.0.0.1]

best article about it

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2694/is-it-better-to-fill-your-tires-with-nitrogen-instead-of-air

[yarrr]

2nd hit when you google nitrogen tire:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2694/is-it-better-to-fill-your-tires-with-nitrogen-instead-of-air

fixed!

[Yaris Hilton]

The oxygen molecule is about 3% smaller than the nitrogen molecule. Works in membrane diffusion oxygen concentrators, but I remain skeptical that you can measure a difference in leakdown rate in a tire. Snake oil.