Jerry
SuperDork
3/22/16 6:14 p.m.
I really hate not having a real spare tire, even a space saver. I don't want to spend the $ on a 5th wheel and tire, and take up pretty much 75% of the hatch (even with the rear seat out).
I have a 1988 Toyota MR2 SC that has 4x100 bolt pattern and at least one donut spare. I've heard you can use "wobble bolts" to use 4x100 pattern wheels these cars. Has anyone tried this? Especially with the Fiat's on the Dragon trip in 2 weeks.
logdog
SuperDork
3/22/16 6:18 p.m.
I camt comment on the wobble bolts, but if I recall the 500 spare mounts under the car on NAFTA vehicles. They had to move it for US crash standards.
For wobble bolts to work the wheels have to be hubcentric.
If your spare is hubcentric to the Fiat get some PCD variation bolts and go! I doubt they will be though. Japanese cars tend to have a tiny center bore
Fiat center bore is big at 58 mm. I'll bet the MR2 is 54 mm like most current Toyotas.
In reply to Jumper K. Balls:
I caught the Fiat part 30 seconds after I posted, and then deleted.
I have used wobble bolts to install Fox body Mustang GT wheels and tires on a FB RX7. Over 1000s of miles and autocross runs, I never had a problem. They will have to be hub centric. I had to make a set of center rings for mine.
Some Alfa 164 owners in the States use wobble bolts to fit 5x100 wheels to their cars, since aftermarket wheels with the Alfa 5x98 bolt pattern are so rare over here. These guys sell TUV-certified wobble bolts, so they are safety-tested.
http://www.serpentautosport.com/wheel_accessories_lugs.htm
DeadSkunk is right, the AW11 MR2 has a 54mm hub bore. You would need to bore out the center hole of the donut to 58mm to make it fit the Fiat.
EDIT: Something else I just thought of is the bolt seat. Does the MR2 donut use an acorn/taper seat?
Wall-e
MegaDork
3/22/16 6:52 p.m.
We have wobble bolts holding the snows on the Fiat. The bolts and centering rings came from Tire Rack and have about 30,000 trouble free, pothole infested miles.
Jerry
SuperDork
3/23/16 7:13 a.m.
Must investigate the donut spare a bit this weekend I think. I wonder if my friend has a second one I could bore out the hub?
Get spare wheel for normal Fiat 500.
If flat occurs on front, rotate a good wheel back to front, and put spare on rear? (It won't clear Abarth front brakes)
Edit: Derp. Missed about not wanting to buy another.
Jerry
SuperDork
3/23/16 8:33 a.m.
In reply to flatlander937:
I admit I never checked, does the normal 500 have a real spare tire? If it wasn't crazy $$ (like <$100) I'd consider buying one.
Wall-e
MegaDork
3/23/16 10:49 a.m.
The 500s come with fix a flat. You can get a kit to hang a donut under the car for about $350 last I checked.
Jerry wrote:
In reply to flatlander937:
I admit I never checked, does the normal 500 have a real spare tire? If it wasn't crazy $$ (like <$100) I'd consider buying one.
http://www.fiat500owners.com/forum/8-fiat-500-general-discussion-forum/7232-spare-tire.html?nocache=1458751629447
4x98.. why not pick up an older fiat 13"rim and make it into your spare? Any 124 or X1/9 should have what you need. I think they are all of 13x5 1/2"
In reply to mad_machine:
Will a 13 fit over the brakes on a 500 Abarth?
Get the wheel re-drilled. I did that in Europe once. If the wheel design doesn't lend itself to four new holes then get the existing ones slotted. 2mm diff on the diameter is only 1mm slot.
Jerry
UltraDork
3/24/16 7:58 a.m.
13" spare on three other 17" wheels seems a bit drastic. Sure it beats stuck at 3am, rain, uphill both ways, dark and stormy night, etc. but it doesn't sound like a good idea. (Granted I realized the MR2 spare is going to be 14-15" itself.)
BrokenYugo wrote:
In reply to mad_machine:
Will a 13 fit over the brakes on a 500 Abarth?
I don't know.. but they are cheap enough to find out