Unused Spare Wheel/Tyre - A Selling Point?
Discussion
I remember being told by several guys that having a unused tyre on your spare wheel is a good selling point. I've never agreed with that, always thinking that it's a waste of a good useable tyre!
I've been looking closely at the tyres on my newly aquired SL320. It's got a mixture of 3 Kumhos and 1 Rapid (made in China, never heard of them). All have got a fair bit of life left in them but the spare was an unused Dunlop SP Sport. The car is a 2000 model and the age of the tyre is the same as the car so it has sat in the boot for 15 years!
My first thoughts were to get rid of the Rapid and get another new Dunlop to match the unused spare but then realised that the unused Dunlop could be dangerous due to its age and so is worthless.
How many other cars are driving around with expensive spare tyres which are slowly becoming worthless! I can't see how this is a selling point for a car! Also I wonder just how many people will scrap an unused tyre on their spare wheel just because of its age. I don't think I will be!
I've been looking closely at the tyres on my newly aquired SL320. It's got a mixture of 3 Kumhos and 1 Rapid (made in China, never heard of them). All have got a fair bit of life left in them but the spare was an unused Dunlop SP Sport. The car is a 2000 model and the age of the tyre is the same as the car so it has sat in the boot for 15 years!
My first thoughts were to get rid of the Rapid and get another new Dunlop to match the unused spare but then realised that the unused Dunlop could be dangerous due to its age and so is worthless.
How many other cars are driving around with expensive spare tyres which are slowly becoming worthless! I can't see how this is a selling point for a car! Also I wonder just how many people will scrap an unused tyre on their spare wheel just because of its age. I don't think I will be!
I had no idea why people used "unused spare" as a selling point until I looked at a car advertised as coming with a spare wheel, which you could see under the boot floor, but would only realise was completely bald if you took the plastic shroud off from around it... 
Most modern cars only come with space-saver spares, and with these I'm not so worried about the age, as you wouldn't leave it on any longer than necessary. But with a full-size spare, you could conceivably fit it if you get a puncture and then just drive normally for thousands of miles until it wears out.. And that I would not want to be doing on a fifteen-year-old tyre. I suppose it should last a little better for being kept unloaded and out of the sun, but even so.
Most modern cars only come with space-saver spares, and with these I'm not so worried about the age, as you wouldn't leave it on any longer than necessary. But with a full-size spare, you could conceivably fit it if you get a puncture and then just drive normally for thousands of miles until it wears out.. And that I would not want to be doing on a fifteen-year-old tyre. I suppose it should last a little better for being kept unloaded and out of the sun, but even so.
Technically an unused spare is not a useful selling point, and as you guys point out, ends up being a waste of a perfectly good tyre. However what would you prefer? A half worn wheel and tyre, full of brake dust and road dirt, greasy and dirty toolkit and jack? Or everything new and untouched?
Most people would prefer the unused shiny bits, even thought they'll never see them - so its definitely a positive selling point, doubt it adds any real value on though...
Most people would prefer the unused shiny bits, even thought they'll never see them - so its definitely a positive selling point, doubt it adds any real value on though...
zedstar said:
Technically an unused spare is not a useful selling point, and as you guys point out, ends up being a waste of a perfectly good tyre. However what would you prefer? A half worn wheel and tyre, full of brake dust and road dirt, greasy and dirty toolkit and jack? Or everything new and untouched?
Most people would prefer the unused shiny bits, even thought they'll never see them - so its definitely a positive selling point, doubt it adds any real value on though...
I think this is the crux of it. It's the same reason sellers seem so proud to point out "original unused tool kit" or, even better on some BMWs like mine, "factory first aid kit, still sealed".. It's all pretty meaningless, but as you say, people like things staying shiny and new.Most people would prefer the unused shiny bits, even thought they'll never see them - so its definitely a positive selling point, doubt it adds any real value on though...
I have the same thing on my 2003 BMW. Trouble is, it has staggered 18" alloys and the spare is a 16", so has never been used on the car. Leaving me with a perfectly unworn but probably unsafe 12 year old spare tyre which will cost me to replace.
On cars with a set of 5 identical wheels the spare can be rotated on to the car so gets replaced due to wear.
On cars with a set of 5 identical wheels the spare can be rotated on to the car so gets replaced due to wear.
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