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Swapping Tire Inflator Kit for Compact Spare Kit?

27023 Views 74 Replies 44 Participants Last post by  Padgett
Picked up my red/cashmere, di, with all the options today but couldn't get the optional $250 compact spare because it wasn't available from GM. Now I'm told that to order it from parts would cost $250-300 for just the tire, then more for the compact wheel and more to have it mounted!!! Has anyone bought this as an accessory and how much did it cost? Thanks. PS, the CTS is awesome
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I ordered the spare tire option, haven't recieved the car yet so I don't know if it will be on it.
i have a spare tire it came with it it was 250.
I recommend getting a real spare. Wheels here or on ebay. I paid $52 plus $20 shipping, and it is like new--polished 17 inch. No need to pay more than $100 including shipping. Plus tire. Also, some dealers have tire depts, and they sometimes have used Caddy rims. I believe most Caddy rims will fit lug nut pattern, 115mm, except 2008 CTS. 2008 CTS now uses 120mm pattern.
I recommend getting a real spare. Wheels here or on ebay. I paid $52 plus $20 shipping, and it is like new--polished 17 inch. No need to pay more than $100 including shipping. Plus tire. Also, some dealers have tire depts, and they sometimes have used Caddy rims. I believe most Caddy rims will fit lug nut pattern, 115mm, except 2008 CTS. 2008 CTS now uses 120mm pattern.
True, it all depends on IF a matching spare wheel & tire actually fits into the compartment. Usually if it can, it's then an option, but as it is without...not sure if anyone has actually verified the size of the new compartment, yet.
i love my spare tire. better then the can inflate ........................i guess gm is running out of some parts..........
I have the 18" summer performance tires, attached is a picture of the factory spare. It is a T135/70R18. It is aluminum alloy and painted black - not the same steelie supplied with my 2005. Not sure if the same spare is for the standard 17" wheels with smaller rotor and aluminum single piston caiper.

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...not sure if anyone has actually verified the size of the new compartment, yet.
I measured the compartment and the 18" All Season wheel/tire combo. An exact replacement wheel/tire combo will NOT fit into the spare tire compartment. The 18" wheel/tire is too deep to fit. A big part of this is because the spare tire compartment lid is about 2" thick. Unlike the thin/flimsy lid on my 2004 CTS, this new lid is made of some sort of molded fiberglass. It is very sturdy.
I recommend getting a real spare. Wheels here or on ebay. I paid $52 plus $20 shipping, and it is like new--polished 17 inch. No need to pay more than $100 including shipping. Plus tire. Also, some dealers have tire depts, and they sometimes have used Caddy rims. I believe most Caddy rims will fit lug nut pattern, 115mm, except 2008 CTS. 2008 CTS now uses 120mm pattern.
MOST CADDY RIMS WILL NOT FIT. 2008 uses 120mm. My mistake. You will have a hard time finding one for about a year. You could contact a national junk yard like LKQ. They will eventually have on rim for a 2008. Expect to pay at least a hundred, maybe more. I don't know if they charge for shipping or if they ship between their yards.

When you get a rim, try it on the car before you mount tire. Hate to see you get stuck a year later with wrong lug nut pattern.

Keep an eye on ebay too.
Maybe the inflation kit is all we need. I don't want to jinx myself but I haven't had to use a spare in 25 years, maybe more so I think maybe not having one is OK.
My salesman dropped the $250 charge because we both know it's bull$hit.
GM needs every gimmick to try and make a few dollars.
GM needs every gimmick to try and make a few dollars.
Every manufacturer does things like this. It isn't new.
I wish we in Canada got the pump option. I have used one for 4 years with my
04 CTS. It works great and if you also use a plug patch kit with it, its 10X faster than changing to a compact spare. Also, if done properly its good to go until you change out tires.

I work in a area where I get 1-2 flats every 6 months.

I'm now able to patch and go in less than 5 min..
If anyone is interested I am in the process of trying to procure this for our customers at my dealership. Looks like it is a complete kit including the wheel and all jack components. I have had one on order for a while and they are just now releasing them. Will let you know what I find out. Looks like the whole kit would be around $275.00 or so from your dealer.
My salesman dropped the $250 charge because we both know it's bull$hit.
GM needs every gimmick to try and make a few dollars.
Every manufacturer does things like this. It isn't new.
Wait a second- so you guys think a wheel, tire, jack, tub and lug nut tool are free? Perhaps GM is picking them off a tree in Lansing and just ripping you guys off by charging for it?

Come on now.....
Wait a second- so you guys think a wheel, tire, jack, tub and lug nut tool are free?
You don't think that there isn't already enough markup on a Cadillac to "throw one in for free" do you? My truck had a spare tire, no additional charge, but a Cadillac's spare I gotta pay for? Come on now.... :bigroll:

I will say that my car does not have the spare, nor would have I paid for it.
The base price of the car was calculated without the spare tire and jack, plain and simple. I much prefer the inflator kit and foam anyway, especially for my Wife who I don't want changing a tire in the middle of BFE if I'm not around.

While it's easy for you to cavalierly declare that they should "just throw it in", $250 x 80,000 CTSs = $20 MILLION dollars (per year) extra cost to GM. If they save 20 million on spare tires AND give you a perfectly useful (some would say superior) alternative in the inflator kit, that's 20 million more they can use to improve other areas of the car.

Personally, I would rather have the more luxurious interior and exterior with a tire inflator kit then have GM cut corners on the car so they can include a clunky spare tire.
G
The base price of the car was calculated without the spare tire and jack, plain and simple. I much prefer the inflator kit and foam anyway, especially for my Wife who I don't want changing a tire in the middle of BFE if I'm not around.

While it's easy for you to cavalierly declare that they should "just throw it in", $250 x 80,000 CTSs = $20 MILLION dollars (per year) extra cost to GM. If they save 20 million on spare tires AND give you a perfectly useful (some would say superior) alternative in the inflator kit, that's 20 million more they can use to improve other areas of the car.

Personally, I would rather have the more luxurious interior and exterior with a tire inflator kit then have GM cut corners on the car so they can include a clunky spare tire.

See how much good a inflator kit will do you if you get a cut in the sidewall and you are stuck on a deserted road somwhere.

The vehicle should come with either run flat tires or a spare tire period!
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