Quote:
|
Originally Posted by gpsman1
Will a full size spare even FIT under the car in the same space as the compact spare? My guess is, it will not! Otherwise your FEH would have came with a full size spare. In fact, it is my understanding, that the standard Escape comes with a full size spare, but due to the HV battery pack, there is no room for such a spare in the Hybrid.
|
I can't confirm it yet, but I've read in a couple forum threads (not necessarily all here) that a full size spare will in fact fit on the FEH.
Just because it doesn't ship with a full-size spare doesn't mean one doesn't fit. My 1992 Toyota Corolla didn't ship with a full size spare tire, standard; it was a paid option (and even then, the dealership tried to stiff us -- I had to return a week post-purchase to pick up my rightful full-size spare.)
Also, all Ford pickups and SUVs that I am aware of store the spare under the vehicle so
the size and presence of the HV battery in the hybrid Escape has no bearing on the ability to hold a full-size spare. If anything about the hybrid constrains its spare tire stowage area, it's the coolant lines and such in that area of the vehicle -- the same thing that posed challenges for early adopters seeking a suitable tow hitch for their FEH's.
My sense is the "donut"/temporary spare was shipped with the FEH for two reasons -- cost-savings (cheaper tire) and weight savings (less weight). Even my father's 2005 Ford Mustang GT shipped with a "donut"/temporary spare rather than a full-size spare tire, btw.