As the manual states: ".. if the vehicle does get a flat tire, there is no spare tire, tire changing equipment, or place to store a tire. Contact Roadside Assistance for help.", are there aftermarket options for a spare tire kit ? like a donut space saver ?
Bolt spare tire options
-
Hey Guest, welcome to ChevyBolt.org. We encourage you to register to engage in conversations about your Bolt.
-
Battery replacement master thread - please do not create a new thread.
moombolt
181 - 200 of 304 Posts
Joined
·
1 Posts
I don't think you will find one that will fit into the lower well, it's just too small. I left the Styrofoam template in there and managed to fit the jack and the 110V charger in there along with the towing bolt. I found a decent donut and jack combo on eBay (#323318035864) and it works on both front and back tires, just fine. I managed to ruin my original self-seal on a hunk of road debris and vowed I'd never have to be towed to a dealership (the next day, of course. . .and I was out of town at the time) again.
Bought a new 2019 Bolt on Saturday and drove it home. Went on Sunday to charge it at a free local charging station. A Jaguar was already there and using a bit over half of the two spaces so I parked close to pavers on one side as he finished (to give him room to get out).
As he left, I backed out and took over the better charging parking spot and grazed the pavers with the right front tire and pretty immediately had a flat. The flat fix kit in the car did not seal the sidewall puncture and i had to ask OnStar for a tow to a local dealer. This wasted 1/2 a day.
I will be looking into getting a Spark spare, spare cover, and jack. I know it was a fluke, but the whole notion that you don't need a spare is ridiculous.
As he left, I backed out and took over the better charging parking spot and grazed the pavers with the right front tire and pretty immediately had a flat. The flat fix kit in the car did not seal the sidewall puncture and i had to ask OnStar for a tow to a local dealer. This wasted 1/2 a day.
I will be looking into getting a Spark spare, spare cover, and jack. I know it was a fluke, but the whole notion that you don't need a spare is ridiculous.
Wait until they tell you how long it'll take to get it replaced. When I put my spare tire kit together it took me well over a month for the tire store to get an OEM tire from Michelin.
Even if you don't carry the spare mounted on a wheel in the car with you, it's probably a good idea to have one even if it's just sitting in your garage since it's an odd size that seems to be in short supply.
It doesn't seem to take much to trash the sidewall on these tires. Something similar happened to me. Expensive mistake. The repair shop found a replacement in stock without the self-sealing goop, which they didn't think much of.
Couldn't agree more. Put in a full sized spare after reading this and other threads just to be safe. It did take the local Costco 3 weeks to get the tire in. It's not something they stock regularly.
Thanks so much for the thoughts, folks. It looks like my luck is a bit better up here in Central NJ. The dealer is having them FedEx the tire and it should be in tomorrow. It'll be about $250 with balancing which stinks but is the "new user idiot tax", I guess.
I'll be careful as heck about the sidewalls going forward and have ordered a spare kit (incl. jack) off EBay for $160. Will likely keep that in the car, and probably put together a full sized spare that I'll keep in the garage (or toss in the car on long trips). [Costco is a great thought.]
I really appreciate your thoughts and feedback.
I'll be careful as heck about the sidewalls going forward and have ordered a spare kit (incl. jack) off EBay for $160. Will likely keep that in the car, and probably put together a full sized spare that I'll keep in the garage (or toss in the car on long trips). [Costco is a great thought.]
I really appreciate your thoughts and feedback.
Sorry, where did you find the rim for the full size spare and what size is it? i.e. Can you just use the rim off of a Spark Spare (e.g. off EBay) and put a full size tire on it?
The rim I got was a "refurbished" Premier wheel. I got the idea from another thread:
https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/9-2...ev-general-discussion-forum/28979-full-size-spare-tire-complete.html#post421753
The reason I went with the full-size spare (Premier) was that if I ever needed to use it, I could choose to leave it on the Bolt and run it as far and as long as I needed to, especially since the tire takes so long to order. Actually, looking forward, my plan is this: if one of the current tires blow out, I intend to slap on the spare, order the new tire and then mount it on the opposite side as the spare so that the tire wear is evenly spread.
Not sure what spare kit you got off eBay but all the ones I've seen that are advertised for the Bolt aren't really designed for the Bolt. GM does not offer a spare tire or a jack for the Bolt so it's likely that someone took a spare tire for a different GM vehicle that happens to fit the Bolt and is selling it as a "Bolt spare tire". The tire may still work (though probably the spare tire will have a significantly different tire diameter than the OEM tires) but the jack is the bigger problem. Almost all "emergency" car jacks (the kind that are included with cars) lift the car via a pinch weld, the Bolt does not have pinch weld jacking points like most cars (probably because GM never intended anyone to attempt to change a tire on the side of the road in a Bolt). I know some people have been successful in getting a pinch weld style jack to lift their Bolt but I don't think it would be secure or safe. The best bet for an emergency jack for the Bolt is to get a jack from a Chevy S-10 or Blazer, these are designed to lift the car via a little socket which is what the Bolt has.
As an roadtrip adventurer ,planning to to be self sufficient as possible , I want a real spare with me .Now the real challenge is to mount it in a way that will : Not kill me in a otherwise survivable crash ! and Doesn't Greatly reduce cargo space .I am considering 2 storage options . 1) Cutting and molding the existing odd shaped Tub , as there appears to be some room to work with on the bumper end .(concerned that this option will change the crumple zone physics in a crash, making ME the crumple ,as the un-giving wheel is pushed forward in a rear _ender . . 2) Mounting Vertically- Not Horizontally ,Removing the plastic molded interior on the drivers side ,and Welding a threaded post to metal available , replacing the plastic ,now with the mounting post through the new custom hole. The tire standing on tread held to the side by the threaded post , I would then cut the false floor so that I could leave the tire in place while lifting the remainder up to access the storage space below . Thoughts,comments suggestions . I will be traveling with a real spare NOT ,mounted on roof rack , carried on a trailer , laying on its side in my cargo space .
Man, you are making this really hard. How about the spare mounted on a swing down or swing away mount, that fits a 2" receiver?
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Cargo/Roadmaster/RM-195225.html
https://www.carid.com/wilco-offroad...ilco-offroad/standard-hitchgate-solo-black-spare-tire-carrier-mpn-uhg32130.html
There are adapter bars/sleeves to convert from one receiver size to another, as well as 2" receiver tow bars for the Bolt.
https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/121-towing/30075-best-2-inch-receiver-hitch.html
https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/121-towing/30075-best-2-inch-receiver-hitch.html
I put my spare (which is a full-sized OEM tire mounted on an OEM wheel) into the lower cargo compartment. It fits underneath the "false floor" to make a nice, neat installation. I also concocted a couple of trays that hold a bunch of stuff that I like to keep with me, such as a jack, tire wrench, ice scraper, booster pack, blanket, etc. etc.
While the tire does consume some of the cargo space, it hasn't been an issue for me. In the event that I need that extra space for a special load, the trays make it possible to completely empty out the lower cargo compartment in just a few seconds.
Lots of us have done something similar. 57kwH said, specifically, he did not want to do that because of the possible effect on the crumple zone in a rear-end collision.
I interpreted that more as not wanting to have the spare flying through the air and hitting someone...
Thanks for the Pics , looks nice ,However this is NOT what My 19 LT looks like .As you can see , there is No way the false floor ( stock or your nice "special" one) would work, tire sits too high .! Though I am considering this my best option for carrying the tire as of now. Questions : what are the Vents in the side panels for ? , what year and trim is your Bolt . /////////// ////As a special Bonus I include the Mouse Nest Pic in my 2 Month old Bolt /// ( nice warm space during overnoc L2 charging ) Pissed is an Understatement . Now checking DAILY, and using various deterrents - There is no magic . . Life with rodents and no Garage space . . . . . .I put my spare (which is a full-sized OEM tire mounted on an OEM wheel) into the lower cargo compartment. It fits underneath the "false floor" to make a nice, neat installation. I also concocted a couple of trays that hold a bunch of stuff that I like to keep with me, such as a jack, tire wrench, ice scraper, booster pack, blanket, etc. etc.
While the tire does consume some of the cargo space, it hasn't been an issue for me. In the event that I need that extra space for a special load, the trays make it possible to completely empty out the lower cargo compartment in just a few seconds.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Attachments
If you look at the indentations on the interior side panels, you'll see that the false floor lines up with the bottom of the indentation on my photos, and it's above the top of your tire in your photos. So I think there is actually enough room to install the false floor above your tire. The floor doesn't fit flush with the hinge point of the rear seats, it sits close to flush with the top of them when they're in the folded position.
I have a 2017 Premiere model, which comes with the false floor - although I understand you can buy the parts for it (the floor itself as well as the side supports for it) to install on an LT.
My false floor just the stock one, nothing fancy, except that I also bought two official "Bolt EV" cargo mats - one to install at the bottom of the lower cargo compartment (that the spare tire actually sits on), and one on top of the false floor (that any cargo I'm carrying sits on). The same mat design fits in both places.
I have no idea what the vents are for, I've never noticed them in my Bolt. I'll have to go out and have another look. They may be part of the exhaust path for flow-through cabin ventilation.
181 - 200 of 304 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
