OK, there seems to be some interest in this so I'll post it here officially. I came up with a nice way for MCS owners with compact spares to store the tire in their car...



The bag shown above matches the Lapis Blue leather interior almost exactly! If you're not into that, the canvas is available in a variety of colors. If you want another color please let me know. So far I have found colors that will closely match Silk Green, Pepper White, British Racing Green, Liquid Yellow and Indi Blue. I also found a source for black.

Prices:
Compact spare tire bag: $37.
Full-size tire bag: $50.
Optional Lettering: $1.50/letter (these are very nice embroidered letters available in the blue shown, red, black, white, or yellow)
Other designs available upon request; price to be determined upon complexity.

If you want the full-size bag I will need the diameter and width of your tire. The size of the small bag is based on a MINI compact spare. If you're using something else, please send the dimensions (just in case they are slightly different).

Shipping will be extra and will be based on your zip code. There is no handling/packaging cost (help me get rid of some of the small boxes I've got lying around the house

_________________
Robyn
<p>Nittany: 03 IB/W MCS, Lapis Blue lthr, 3 packages, H/K, rally lts, THE ORIGINAL blue dash, US flag OR White sunroof decal (depending on mood)

 

Colors I've been able to find available so far: Silk Green, Pepper White, Liquid Yellow, Indi Blue, Lapis Blue, British Racing Green, and the ever popular Black.

_________________
Robyn
<p>Nittany: 03 IB/W MCS, Lapis Blue lthr, 3 packages, H/K, rally lts, THE ORIGINAL blue dash, US flag OR White sunroof decal (depending on mood)

 

very nice
do you have pic's of the "full size tire" bag?

 

Haven't made the full size one yet because I'm waiting for my new wheels/tires to arrive. Once they're here I'll measure them and start sewing.

The larger bag will be very much like the smaller bag, just.... larger.

 

Found a source for black fabric this evening so I'm set for all those interested in black!

 

Looks very nice! You should market these!

 

Looks very nice! You should market these!

 

OK, the zippers for the bags are on their way. Should have them in a few days. I've ordered a few extras in case any more people decide they want one. :smile:

 

Any luck with getting a picture of the bag in the boot? I'm really curious about how you strap the tire down securely (as I posted yesterday). Thanks!

 

>>Any luck with getting a picture of the bag in the boot? I'm really curious about how you strap the tire down securely (as I posted yesterday). Thanks!

She posted this a few posts above here

 

Robyn,
I just ordered via Paypal. Black. Will it have the cool stripe too?

Edit: OK, so I now I know it's a bungee cord and not a wicked cool stripe. But, it would make a nice option. Black bag w/ a chili red stripe or piping would look wicked cool.

_________________
CCM=CAPE COD MINI. Red/black S, full aero kit w/painted wheel arches,BMP intake,BMP strut brace, Madness rear sway, H-Sport springs, Alta pulley, Whalen ****, Pole Positions, M7 venom nitrous, AMD One Click (wahhhooo!!!)

 

Thanks...sorry, I get in the habit of going to the bottom of threads automatically so I didn't check the original post. :smile:

 

Great Idea !!!! But I have a few questions? What about the tire you take off? will it fit in the spare bag or do you need to have 2 sizes. Also instead of bungee cord could you some how make the carrying straps do the same thing?

 

>> >>I still say though that it looks very cool and is a neat solution for those willing to take the safety risk.
>> :smile:

A heavy rear-impact would simply crush the tire between the boot lid and seats - theoretically providing addtional impact absorbtion.

 

Great product, great price too.

 

I'm still confused about the big concern with the tire becoming a missile in a rear-end impact. If it's strapped into the boot, the rear seats would prevent it from moving forward. The bungee is simply used to keep the wheel from shifting from side to side as you go around a corner.

 

>>I'm still confused about the big concern with the tire becoming a missile in a rear-end impact.

Robyn,
You have done a great job designing and producing this thing. It would not be hurled forward because the seats would stop it, as they are latched securely into position. Of course it would not be able to be stowed in any other position. And asking for it to be is silly. I want to know just how anyone carries it without the bag that they feel so much more secure?
If you change from runflats on your S and want to carry a spare, this is about the most elegant solution I have seen.
If I ever get rid of my runflats, I will just risk going without, personally. Maybe buy a can of flat fixer.

Cheers,
John L

 

jsun,

What are you talking about? For your scenario to happen the tire would have to lift straight up vertically (even though the force is horizontal), crash through the cargo separator, rotate in mid air to a horizontal position (which by the way there isn't enough room for the tire to rotate, and then come hurtling toward you. Never mind the fact that the bungee cord would have to come undone as well.

Besides you can just loop the bungee through the handles. You would have a greater chance of the back seat separating from it's bolts and hurtling toward you. I don't think this is a safety issue at all. It is securely fastened in the back, held in place by the bolted seats in front of it, and the cargo separator above it, and far enough away from the driver. Like someone else said, it would probably lessen the impact (obviously not by much) more so than increase any kind of safety problem.

 

OK, definitely interested, but, I don't have a compact spare to put in the bag! Any idea what these run from a dealer? Last time, I heard an un-godly price of over $400, though, I think it was either a misplaced decimal, or me getting horn-swaggled. (A good horn-swaggling is good for the blood every now and then)

 

>>I'm still confused about the big concern with the tire becoming a missile in a rear-end impact. If it's strapped into the boot, the rear seats would prevent it from moving forward. The bungee is simply used to keep the wheel from shifting from side to side as you go around a corner.


How much extra for an airbag to be incorporated into the bag?

 

>>How much extra for an airbag to be incorporated into the bag?

The compact spare tire airbag system is currently under development.

 

>>OK, definitely interested, but, I don't have a compact spare to put in the bag! Any idea what these run from a dealer? Last time, I heard an un-godly price of over $400, though, I think it was either a misplaced decimal, or me getting horn-swaggled. (A good horn-swaggling is good for the blood every now and then)

Classic Auto Campus sells the compact spares for MUCH less than your local dealership. Even with shipping it's still cheaper. I paid around $80 for mine but I believe the price is a bit higher now. Call or email Classic. They are great to deal with.

 

Just an idea, but maybe you might want to think about adding a large pocket to put a small jack. Can't change a flat without a jack...

 

>>Just an idea, but maybe you might want to think about adding a large pocket to put a small jack. Can't change a flat without a jack...

Actually what I want to try, but haven't yet, is to see if the jack fits inside the spare tire rim. My old VW was like that. Then I could strap the jack into the rim and put them both in the bag. Have to find out if it fits first. I'm just concerned that putting all the weight of a jack into a pocket is going to really strain the stitching on the pocket. I wouldn't consider doing that unless I could really test it out for a while. I don't want to make and sell a bunch of bags and end up having people tell me they all ripped!

 

>>Just an idea, but maybe you might want to think about adding a large pocket to put a small jack. Can't change a flat without a jack...
>>

the 2003 "S" (& beyond) should come with a jack straped down in the hatch