mx5cartalk.com

I got sick of taking mine out of the boot every sprint, so I sold it for $15.

Hasn't been an issue yet.

What he said.

Get roadside assist if you must but flats are uncommon, just not stressing works for me.

Dann

I've only ever had slow punctures since my cars started to have radial tyres so have never needed a spare during a journey. If you're less lucky the repair kit might work some of the time. Also carry a spare valve and the tool for it and maybe look at the tyre plug kits used by offroaders.

JBT wrote:http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=40950
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=60797&hilit=nc+spare

In those threads it's suggested you can't get a full size spare in an NB boot. You can, if the side and rear boot trims are left out, and if you get the front edge as far as you can into the boot first, with the back edge resting above the number plate panel, then push the bottom of the front forwards and slightly upwards. Bit fiddly and tight, but it can be done. Removal is the reverse, and just as fiddly. Should work with all wheel diameters as long as the rolling radius is as standard. Might not work with tyres wider than 215.

davekmoore wrote:In those threads it's suggested you can't get a full size spare in an NB boot. You can, if the side and rear boot trims are left out, and if you get the front edge as far as you can into the boot first, with the back edge resting above the number plate panel, then push the bottom of the front forwards and slightly upwards. Bit fiddly and tight, but it can be done. Removal is the reverse, and just as fiddly. Should work with all wheel diameters as long as the rolling radius is as standard. Might not work with tyres wider than 215.

You can 100% get a full sized spare into an NB boot, without needing to remove any panels etc.

I can happily fit a 15x6.5 with a 195/50/15.
The issue is that once it's in there you can't fit anything else.

A number of cars no longer have spares. Its not really ideal and results from cost savings or design / space restrictions. Most people will probably get by without a problem and RACV service gets you a flat top if the flat tyre cannot be fixed with the kit. Country driving is somewhat more debatable i.e. service from RACV or NRMA etc might not be so good and a space saver is "insurance" .

PS flats are not uncommon- ask RACV or NRMA what are main reasons for call outs. I have had plenty of punctures over the years. Most people just join one of those organisations and many people do not even know how to change a spare anymore .

I carry a full size spare in my NB as well as the space saver all the time, I can also fit a 15 x 7.5 with 205-50-15 KU36 without removing anything, the NA is a little harder but it does fit!

My GTS 86 came with no spare, so I bought a similar sized alloy with tyre and then later secured a genuine 17" for $150 and installed that without worry

Cheap insurance when I don't want to be sitting around over a weekend waiting for some tyre place in the 'outback' to tell me on a Monday 'sorry, we can't get that size and your tyre mate, well it's screwed!'

Iv got the nb8b with the stock 16" wheels and I cant get one of those in the boot of my mx5. I had always wondered if I did get a flat and used the wheel barrow tyre (space saver) if I would actually get the full sized wheel in the boot and turns out, no.

Yea ive got 15's and i wonder the same? Even thought ive got the spacesaver I also carry a $20 supercheap compressor and a tyre plug kit. The plug and pump is would be first option, spacesaver is a last resort. Could always fold down the top and sit the tyre on the parcel shelf...

You certainly cannot get the standard wheel/tyre combo of an NB8B in the boot without dismantling things.
I would never be interested in removing liner panels in any case.
Bit of a stupid oversight by Mazda in my opinion.
I can accept that some people might be willing to use the 'space savers' but common sense would dictate that you should at least be able to squeeze a full size wheel/tyre into the boot if you need to.
Ridiculous.

Owners of NCs who're worried about getting an unrepairable flat could look at buying an RX-8 alloy spacesaver on eBay. It fits snugly in the NC boot once you move the compressor kit. The compressor then fits in the wheel well of the spare.

Some folks are organisers and have to do lists and guaranteed to have their suncream and jacket in the boot and others well just don't.

The first MX5 was designed for a space saver as both weight and size ruled out the full size wheel but there is more to it. The spare was considered necessary due to legislation in the bigger market and some would not even accept a space saver- Mazda opted to not sell ( read small market) the MX5 where a full size spare was mandatory. Mazda even considered supplying a cover for the wheel that was removed if the space saver had to be used.

This is all personal choice - the truth is many people will choose for many reasons not to change or repair, on the side of the road a flat tyre, but instead rely on their Motoring organisation to do it for them.

Rocky wrote:You certainly cannot get the standard wheel/tyre combo of an NB8B in the boot without dismantling things.
I would never be interested in removing liner panels in any case.
Bit of a stupid oversight by Mazda in my opinion.
I can accept that some people might be willing to use the 'space savers' but common sense would dictate that you should at least be able to squeeze a full size wheel/tyre into the boot if you need to.
Ridiculous.

Good point, I have yet to consider whether my 17x7 would fit in the boot with all the boot liners installed...

This is a 15" in the rear parcel shelf but soft-top delete (correct me if I'm wrong)