Who has the oldest spare? Check in here.
 

Anyone else throwing caution to the wind and carrying an old spare?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7...87dfae9d_b.jpg

Original era Conti TT 714 size 175 SR 14. I have a receipt from 1979 for new tires. I suspect this was the best of the old ones and was relegated to "spare duty".

Not visible from this angle is a generous amount of tread still. It's lost only 5 psi since last summer.

I think I've got one from 1981 - almost the same...

...so you win so far!

None of my tires are that old, but I did find one in the trunk at PNP with that same tire on a rim that looked to not ever been mounted. I might have it on one of the rims I dragged home on a light alloy rim.

Charlie

Both of you have me beat, But if they are in active spare duty, watch your speed & distance with them.

I had a oldie in the trunk & (2) on the back of the '83. I blew a tire on the way into work, then heard that familiar wab, wab wab, on the return trip home. My daughter brought another tire I had in the house, with (2) beers & sandwich. Whata daughter !!

I have what appears to be the original issue spare, with the paint lines still on it appearantly never installed on the car; the rim also looks unused. It sill holds air but I doubt I'd want to drive on it very far or very fast.

I have what appears to be the original issue spare, with the paint lines still on it appearantly never installed on the car; the rim also looks unused. It sill holds air but I doubt I'd want to drive on it very far or very fast.

I never drive very far from home and rarely at speeds over 55.

Got me beat
 

My 84 300D had the original spare and appeared it had never been mounted on the car. Both the rim and tire looked perfectly new. Once I realized that it was very risky to use it, I had it replaced. That was just last year.

Why are so many of us keeping the original spare so long? I know I didn't want to part with mine, but it defeats the purpose of having a spare if you can't depend on it. I knew that I needed one I could depend on, even though I did not want to give it up.

Shoot, those sidewalls look better than my DD! :p

I don't even carry a spare. just a little compressor and some tire plugs. saves weight and space for tools and other stuff.

My 240D had the original unused Continental spare when I got it about 6 or 7 years ago. I replaced it with a used Michelin.

I'm surprised nobody has posted up a picture like this yet...

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumbla...1712gGoqg1.jpg

Carrying one of these around would impact my fuel MPG :eek: And I'd need help putting on the spare....:rolleyes:

How do you balance that ? a chisel and hammer.

I think it is polystyrene guys!

Not a Mercedes, but....
 

I have the original 9.15-15 Firestone spare tire for my 64 Lincoln convertible. I'm confident it's original, I bought the car 38 years ago with 27K miles. I saved it for seventy mental reasons...

Jim

Somewhere, there's a 220 or Ponton owner with an original spare waiting for the right moment to chime in.

I figure, "what the heck."

If it comes to the point where I actually have to use it, it becomes academic whether I have just one flat or two.

The spare on mine is mostly bald. Since it's mounted on a spare alloy I'll probably swap it with whichever tire is least worn, next time I need new tires.

Here is my spare. I'm sure it has never been used since new (1981)

wow, that's a PRISTINE aluminum rim! is this in your 300D? are all your other rims blessed with the white line?

I think my original spare tire (Michelin ZX) from my first 300D (1980) is around a tree here some place. I guess that doesnt count though as its not in active service.

Very nice!

:borat:

Yes, Aluminum rims on all 4 wheels as well with China Blue hubcaps.

Original Dunlop SP57 Rayon Radial (tube type) in my '72 350SL.

My 1979 280CE still has its original 1979 Michelin spare tire. About 3 years ago i had a tire blow out about 2.5 hours from home, i put on the old spare tire and drove 2.5 hours home on the interstate no problems at all, i do admit it was risky and i prolly shouldnt have done it, but the tire visually looked fine.

This is not necessarily aimed at you John as I guess you already know but for those who don't know the solid white line aluminium rims are super duper rare. They are 6 inch wide. There's a dotted line version as well but they are only 5.5 inches

W123 Aluminum disk wheel questions - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

I bet someone somewhere is filling in the dots on their 240D aluminium wheel to try and make it wider!

That's what I was thinking. I have never come across a set of those before.

the problem with this is that it only solves specific problems, like a nail or something.

I used to do this until I had a piece of metal off a truck rip a 3 inch hole in the sidewall of my tire. ended up having to wait forever for a tow truck. In my work van I carry two donuts instead of one full size. I like being able to blow a tires, repair it, and blow a second tire, and repair it. :D

I have one just like that I found in the trunk in PNP. wish I knew what they did with the other 4.


What is with these 20 - 30 yr old spare tires? doesn`t anyone rotate their tires, including the spare? I do with the 240, buy will have to admit on the 85 300D, it has 205 70 14 instead of the 195`s, and a 205 doesn`t fit in the tire well in the trunk, too wide and the board sits up a little. so I have a 195 for the spare. :o

The one under my Datsun has probably been hanging under there for the past 20 yrs. and can any of you beat this? the International Harvester 1 1/2 ton truck was last driven in 79, and has been sitting in the barn since then. these are 7.50X17" tube tires. still holding air.

Charlie