No spare tire - What are my options?

[nxm]

Hello all,
I have a Sienna LE 2009 FWD which I purchased almost 10 months ago but completely forgot to check if it had the spare tire underneath it. It was a Certified Preowned vehicle. I wondered many times where spare might be, I looked inside, under the car but never found it. Until recently I read on the internet that it should be under the car. So I looked under the car but there was nothing there. I called the dealership but as expected they denied and said the tire was there when you purchased it and now it must be stolen or something.

I am trying to find a spare tire (donut) but having a tough time find one. Can I use a full-size spare tire from costco/tirerack with a steel wheel and use it as a spare tire?

Please advice.

Thanks.

[sharkinstx]

Stolen? Who would want to steal one? Also, it's not that easy to steal one unless you're able to get into the van and crank it down. I guess you could switch to a full-size spare; my only concern would be ground clearance with the wider wheel and tire.

I didn't have the same problem with my 2008, but then I got to try out the spare the night we drove ours home - we had a tire fail on the way home from the dealer, about five miles from home, at 10 o'clock at night. Good times, good times...

[Zembonez]

After 10 months I can't seriously expect that the dealer is going to think it was their fault... you really can't either.

Go to www.car-part.com and search for some common part for your vehicle like an engine or transmission (doubtful that they will list the spare). You'll be able to see what salvage dealers have a similar vehicle and where. I'm sure the spacesaver is still in most every salvaged vehicle around. You should be able to pick one up that way somewhat inexpensively. Most can ship right to your door.

[maxwell]

before or as you are securing the proper spare tire and wheel you need to insure you get all the other jack and lug wrench equipment to change the tire.

my 2008 model has a special part that fits the lug nuts, this part then attaches to the wrench you use to loosen and tighten the lug nuts.

1st: get your owners booklet out and read, insure you have all parts.

some salvage yard should be able to get you the parts you need.

then when you have some spare time:

do as we did, have a practice run: jack the van up, take a tire off, install the spare, drive the van, return to driveway and take the spare tire off, install the reg tire and secure all your tools.

note: if you cannot loosen the lug nuts with the tools that came with the van, you will need to have your tire store tighen your lug nuts with a torque wrench.

you should know the lug nut torque requirements or specs.

no good to have all the tire changing tools, if you can not get the tire lug nuts loose.

glad you found the problem before you needed the spare tire someday when you are in the backside of nowhere.

[NoHeat]

Originally Posted by sharkinstx

Stolen? Who would want to steal one?

Used spare tires and more importantly the wheels for them seem to be unavailable, at least for the 2004. Lots of people with AWD want one, because they want to drive regular tires instead of run flat. I tried tirerack and a local junkyard with no luck.

So maybe what happened is that someone who knows about this unobtainium stole it.

[burned300]

Full size tires hang a bit low on the Seinna, they might hit the road, If your van came with run flat tires, they had no spare. I bought a new full size wheel & tire for our 06 & it stays in garage.

[soniclos]

Another option would be to buy a small air pump, and the fix a flat stuff. Many of the rental cars (Kia and Hyundia) have not had any spare tire for a couple of years, instead just a little kit with a single use "Fix-A-Flat" and pump. Only had to use it a couple of times, but got the car back to the rental site when needed.