Compact Spare Tire one use only?

[mferring]

In this video The Rivian R2 Road Trip Question That Actually Matters Travis implies that the $755 compact spare offered by Rivian is a one time use only tire. My research indicates that it can be used again as long as it is not damaged.

What say you wise people of the internet?!

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[Mos Eisley]

@travisketchum
Travis?

 

[mferring]

@travisketchum
Travis?

Yes. Right at the beginning of this video he says that he is glad he has the compact spare for the R2, even though it is one time use only. I do not currently think it is one time use only, and wondered what the forum members thought about that.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

I heard that too when I was watching the video last night. It definitely made me do a double take.

 

[Sharmon]

If it functions like the R1S Spare (they definitely look similarly designed), then you can deflate them back to their original shape. Whether that means they are supposed to be reused or not I'm not certain. Here is a video with the deflating process at the end.

 

[kshtxag]

I heard that too when I was watching the video last night. It definitely made me do a double take.

Maybe he just meant you can’t leave it on any longer than it takes to get flat fixed or new tire.
unless the spare is made out of cardboard…

 

[pluck]

In this video The Rivian R2 Road Trip Question That Actually Matters Travis implies that the $755 compact spare offered by Rivian is a one time use only tire. My research indicates that it can be used again as long as it is not damaged.

What say you wise people of the internet?!

Unless someone can show documentation that states one time use I would argue that this is not true. These tires are Vredestein Space Master (195/70 R20) tires which are the same brand used as spares on many European brands such as Porsche and Audi. I can find no reference to "one time use" in either Rivian's R2 Tire Service Guide any other car manufactures documentation. They are "temporary" in the sense that they are only intended to get you someplace where your original tire can be fixed/replaced (Im assuming a reasonable distance and speed). As to deflating back to their original size there are a lot of videos showing how these deflate on YouTube such as "Rivian Dad - with Scott Lunt" or "Roman F" .

While it's easy to purchase a replacement Space Master spare tire in Europe, it's a pain in the US. In most cases you would have to special order it unless Rivian decides it will replace these tires in their service department.

 

[not_found]

most donut style spares say single use only. I'm mostly convinced this is a CYA provision by manufacturers so they don't get sued because someone used it 35 times going 100's of miles before fixing the original flat.

 

[Millbarge]

I asked at the Rivian store about the temp spare. I didn't ask if it was "one time use", but I asked if the tire inflator kit worked in reverse like for an air mattress, to get the tire to deflate to put it back in the storage bay. If it was "one time use", his answer would have been - "No you can't use it again." Instead he said that the inflator doesn't deflate, but you would just have the tire shop deflate it and get it back in the bay, since you presumably need to get the flat fixed or replaced by a professional.

I don't see how it would be "one time use" and no one realized this after Rivian has offered a spare for years.

 

[NY_Rob]

If it doesn't have "single use only" printed right on the tire sidewall... you can use it more than once provided it's still in serviceable condition when you're done using it.

IIRC, some/most/all run-flat tires can not be reused after running on them deflated.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Yes. Right at the beginning of this video he says that he is glad he has the compact spare for the R2, even though it is one time use only. I do not currently think it is one time use only, and wondered what the forum members thought about that.

I was tagging Travis as he’s a member here.

 

[mferring]

I was tagging Travis as he’s a member here.

Ahhh, thanks. Perhaps Travis will comment.....

 

[CharonPDX]

IIRC, some/most/all run-flat tires can not be reused after running on them deflated.

This is the only "single use only" I've ever heard of for spare/emergency-use tires. I've never seen any physically separate "spare" labeled single use only.

 

[mferring]

I asked at the Rivian store about the temp spare. I didn't ask if it was "one time use", but I asked if the tire inflator kit worked in reverse like for an air mattress, to get the tire to deflate to put it back in the storage bay. If it was "one time use", his answer would have been - "No you can't use it again." Instead he said that the inflator doesn't deflate, but you would just have the tire shop deflate it and get it back in the bay, since you presumably need to get the flat fixed or replaced by a professional.

I don't see how it would be "one time use" and no one realized this after Rivian has offered a spare for years.

Can't you just pull the valve core to have the tire deflate and be able to put it back under the floor?

 

[Mos Eisley]

I checked for @travisketchum 's response in the comments in 1the video. He's saying it will be "difficult" to get it back into shape to fit back under the floor. If true - that's enough not to bother with buying one. My insurance will cover the costs of road service cheaper than spending $800 on a use once then it's an annoyance tire.

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