Exploring a clean FK8 spare tire kit install in the FL5.

[hhkb]

It's common knowledge by now that in many markets the FL5 does not have an available spare tire -- instead, it comes with a less desired fix-a-flat kit. This forum explores various options such an Acura RL spare, a low-profile BMW spare, and a few others. I personally prefer sticking with OE Honda products so I wanted to explore the closest option which is the FK8 spare tire kit.

The purpose of this thread will be documenting a way to cleanly install the FK8 spare tire kit into the FL5, acknowledging the fact that the floor will be raised a few inches.

The goal is to achieve a perfectly flat, stable, and usable trunk while maintaining low cost and minimal custom-crafting.

If someone else has already accomplished this specific goal then please let me know -- it would save me a lot of time

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[hhkb]

First step entails purchasing the FK8 spare tire kit. It turns out the FK8 spare tire kit has everything but the tire itself.

Here are the parts:
06421-TGH-A33ZA -- FK8 spare tire kit (does not include tire). Lowest price I could find is $221.47.
42751-CTL-039 -- Continental tire that fits on the wheel in the kit above. Lowest price I could find is $127.53.

I price shopped 3 of my local Honda dealers and after some haggling I got it down to $350.71 out the door. Both parts will take 5-7 days to arrive at the dealership.

The dealer said they can mount and balance the tire for an additional $25 which I will likely have them do.

That brings us to a total of $375.71.

Note: The individual parts are cheaper online but you'll be paying another $300-400 just for shipping so buying from a dealership is much cheaper!

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Next steps will be picking up the parts and just seeing how everything fits. Following that I will look into any additional parts such as foam blocks or flat panels I will need to retrieve from a local hardware store like Home Depot.

 

[Zone47]

That's probably a better option if you had to use it in the front for an emergency ^^ however, I don't think any spare is going to give you a flat trunk space. Below is the option I picked:

I just bought an 05-12 Acura RDX spare rim and tire off ebay for $127 shipped and then went to Pick a Part and bought a Jeep scissors jack that has the slot for the jack point for $7 and I'm good. Well, I need to paint it black, then I'm good. This won't fit on the front but I don't think I'd want to run a space saver on the front anyway due to the limited slip.

These cars really should have come with a spare but no spare seems to be a trend now a days.

 

[hhkb]

That's probably a better option if you had to use it in the front for an emergency. ^^

For those looking to get this done, I thought this was a good option, but you can't run it on the front, and I don't think you'd want to run a space saver on the front anyway.

I just bought an 05-12 Acura RDX spare rim and tire off ebay for $127 shipped and then went to Pick a Part and bought a Jeep scissors jack that has the slot for the jack point for $7 and I'm good. Well, I need to paint it black, then I'm good.

You could swap a good back wheel/tire to the front and use the spare on the back!

 

[Zone47]

Yeah, it would be a hassle but if I understand right, the car is stiff enough were you can jack it up on either end and lift the other wheel as well .... so that will probably work ok.

 

[Trey]

That's probably a better option if you had to use it in the front for an emergency ^^ however, I don't think any spare is going to give you a flat trunk space. Below is the option I picked:

I just bought an 05-12 Acura RDX spare rim and tire off ebay for $127 shipped and then went to Pick a Part and bought a Jeep scissors jack that has the slot for the jack point for $7 and I'm good. Well, I need to paint it black, then I'm good. This won't fit on the front but I don't think I'd want to run a space saver on the front anyway due to the limited slip.

These cars really should have come with a spare but no spare seems to be a trend now a days.

Tell us more about this RL setup? Does the trunk mat sit flush still? I know the fk8 spare sits too high and looks wonky IMO.

 

[Zone47]

Tell us more about this RL setup? Does the trunk mat sit flush still? I know the fk8 spare sits too high and looks wonky IMO.

Any spare tire (FK8 or the RDX) is going to raise the cover. Honda didn't incorporated a deep spare tire well in the FL5 like they did in the earlier FK8. It's going to raise the floor about as your picture there. Still no big deal, better that than stranded with a flat or waiting on rescue to come.

 

[MoodySara]

You could swap a good back wheel/tire to the front and use the spare on the back!

I have an FK8, not an FL5.
I have the FK8 mini-spare and tools.
When I had a flat of the right-front (in the pouring rain), I loosened both front and rear right-side lugs, jacked the car with the scissors jack under the front pinch weld. You can get it high enough to get both wheels off.
Moved the good rear wheel to the front, put the spare on the rear, lowered it, tightened the lugs and drove off (slowly).

 

[hhkb]

Tell us more about this RL setup? Does the trunk mat sit flush still? I know the fk8 spare sits too high and looks wonky IMO.

i think the topher has a post on it, as well as a youtube video documenting the RL spare. apparently it works well!

the picture you posted though is exactly what i'm aiming to work with -- i think the fk8 spare tire kit includes a panel that i am aiming to retrofit so i can get a fully flat trunk floor, albeit lifted a few inches.

 

[SKINNIE]

https://www.civicxi.com/forum/threads/fl5-spare-tire.51603/page-4

 

[frenzal]

Good info on here too!
https://www.integraforums.com/forum/threads/spare-tire-kit.51075/

You're lucky to have a place to bolt spare in the trunk. We don't! But still, the RL spare will fit both cars on the rear!
In the thread, there is also another option from another member, but it requires more work.

For anyone going with the RL spare, don't forget to buy 5 of the right lug nuts for this wheel!

 

[s2kdriver80]

I have an FK8, not an FL5.
I have the FK8 mini-spare and tools.
When I had a flat of the right-front (in the pouring rain), I loosened both front and rear right-side lugs, jacked the car with the scissors jack under the front pinch weld. You can get it high enough to get both wheels off.
Moved the good rear wheel to the front, put the spare on the rear, lowered it, tightened the lugs and drove off (slowly).

Would not raise the car that high with the scissor jack, but just enough to remove one wheel at a time. I tried and learned the hard way. The scissor jack failed and the car came crashing down, luckily I had not fully removed the wheel. But the top of the jack punctured the entire driver rocker panel and had to replace it. Fortunately, no damage to anything else and Honda sells pre-painted rocker panels. I consider the scissor jack as an emergency last-resort tool only.

 

[MoodySara]

Would not raise the car that high with the scissor jack, but just enough to remove one wheel at a time. I tried and learned the hard way. The scissor jack failed and the car came crashing down, luckily I had not fully removed the wheel. But the top of the jack punctured the entire driver rocker panel and had to replace it. Fortunately, no damage to anything else and Honda sells pre-painted rocker panels. I consider the scissor jack as an emergency last-resort tool only.

That's unfortunate, also dangerous.

As I said, I was able to lift the whole side of the car with the Honda scissors jack. I was on the pavement in the breakdown lane. I'm sure that helped.

 

[AZCWTypeR]

It's common knowledge by now that in many markets the FL5 does not have an available spare tire -- instead, it comes with a less desired fix-a-flat kit. This forum explores various options such an Acura RL spare, a low-profile BMW spare, and a few others. I personally prefer sticking with OE Honda products so I wanted to explore the closest option which is the FK8 spare tire kit.

The purpose of this thread will be documenting a way to cleanly install the FK8 spare tire kit into the FL5, acknowledging the fact that the floor will be raised a few inches.

The goal is to achieve a perfectly flat, stable, and usable trunk while maintaining low cost and minimal custom-crafting.

If someone else has already accomplished this specific goal then please let me know -- it would save me a lot of time

An accessory trunk mat hides the spare tire pretty good.
I bought a "spare tire kit" off eBay. Doesn't quite fit (needed a 5mm spacer for the front hub), but good enough to get me home. The inflator kit also fits inside the spare, along with the jack and wrench. I made my own hold down bolt.
in retrospect, it looks like the OEM FK8 spare rim is a better option.

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