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As I posted in an earlier thread, my wife recently purchased a 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid as a CPO. One of the first things she's asked for is to have the spare tire accessory for her car. After research on the spare tire threads, I've attempted to order one of the two kits that's posted as the accessory option, but both appear to be "on national backorder" (confirmed through multiple Acura dealer part depts). So I went on a searching effort and ultimately found a dealer who had the kit in stock and ordered it on eBay. Now this kit is the older part number from the 2014 RLX, but appears to have the same components - so I figured I'd go for it. Will find out if everything fits when it arrives.
One thing I've noticed, however, is that while I have the Sport Hybrid option, the kit I ordered does not have that metal brace that's listed in one of the kits (this is the one that's bolted to the trunk floor between the spare and the rear axle / battery. Now, obviously this brace appears to be some level of protection between the tire and the hybrid battery. But the installation info and part info on Acura's site is so inconsistent about whether that brace is needed. Even the estore.honda site's instruction don't talk about that brace at all.
So - bottom line here - anyone know for sure whether that part's needed for the hybrid, and has anyone put in a spare tire kit in their hybrid without that brace?
To follow up on my earlier post, I got the P-AWS kit from the eBay seller last week, got a spare tire from my local tire shop (Continential T155-70D17) and put the kit into the wife's SH-AWD. I did have to modify the foam tray/insert to fit into the shorter opening, but after doing that everything fit great. So it's all in place, except for the bar, mounting tabs and bolts that the SH-AWD kit adds.
I talked to my local dealer and the SH-AWD tire kit is still under backorder. The list price is like $156 for the whole kit, bar included. What's "silly" is that you CAN order the bar, mounting tabs and bolts separately (not sure if they're available). But the "silly" part is the list price of the bar itself is north of $400, and the mounting tabs are over $60 each, and then the bolts are a few bucks each. Which says that if you want to add the bar/tab/bolt pieces it costs you well over $500 before discounts - for parts that are INCLUDED as part of a larger kit (that includes a jack, wheel, tire iron, etc) for only $156 list. THAT is the really, really ridiculous part. I'll continue to look for a complete kit to get the bar to add in once it's available and maybe keep the other parts in my inventory, just in case (who knows...).
To follow up on my earlier post, I got the P-AWS kit from the eBay seller last week, got a spare tire from my local tire shop (Continential T155-70D17) and put the kit into the wife's SH-AWD. I did have to modify the foam tray/insert to fit into the shorter opening, but after doing that everything fit great. So it's all in place, except for the bar, mounting tabs and bolts that the SH-AWD kit adds.
I talked to my local dealer and the SH-AWD tire kit is still under backorder. The list price is like $156 for the whole kit, bar included. What's "silly" is that you CAN order the bar, mounting tabs and bolts separately (not sure if they're available). But the "silly" part is the list price of the bar itself is north of $400, and the mounting tabs are over $60 each, and then the bolts are a few bucks each. Which says that if you want to add the bar/tab/bolt pieces it costs you well over $500 before discounts - for parts that are INCLUDED as part of a larger kit (that includes a jack, wheel, tire iron, etc) for only $156 list. THAT is the really, really ridiculous part. I'll continue to look for a complete kit to get the bar to add in once it's available and maybe keep the other parts in my inventory, just in case (who knows...).
Silly.
andy
The bar is required for the hybrid models to protect the batteries in the middle of the car.
The bar is required for the hybrid models to protect the batteries in the middle of the car.
'
I do understand the reason for needing it (and continue to try and find one) - but a cost of over 3x for the bar vs the entire kit is what's 'silly'. Also the location of the bar is actually above the spare tire, so it looks like the protection is if the tire goes upward towards the battery. Anyway, my search continues...
Unfortunately, at last check 06421-TY3-A01 is on national backorder - that's what my dealer was going to order for me (and take off 20 percent). Not sure what the hold up is.....
The hold up is we drive unicorns and parts are scarce. Try getting your windshield replaced and it's a relative needle in the haystack. Took three tries before I
got the right one. Still love the car though!
Just finished the Spare tire installation, total cost was $190.
Kit - $136
Spare tire - $30
Removing tire from spare tire, mounting in Acura rim and balancing $23
I picked up a 18 CPO RLX Sport Hybrid the first weekend of Dec/19. I had the dealer install a spare tire for the sport hybrid (has the extra bar near battery pack). Drove it home from Sacramento to ABQ with zero issue until I got into town and hit a winter caused pot hole on the hwy on my way to gas up. The tire was flat in less than a minute and sealant would repair the hairline pinch flat near the rim. So glad I had the spare to put on because it still took 3 days to order the OEM replacement tire from Discount Tires.
I'm 6 years late to this party, but I did the same thing--ordered the non-hybrid repair kit and I'm going to have to trim the foam. Thanks for letting us know the metal brace was unneeded. I may put a couple pieces of styrofoam (maybe the ones cut from the insert?) to the left & right of the tire to protect those battery plugs from the tire. RLX spare tire inserts. Hybrid (left) and ICE (right) are not the same shape.
I'm 6 years late to this party, but I did the same thing--ordered the non-hybrid repair kit and I'm going to have to trim the foam. Thanks for letting us know the metal brace was unneeded. I may put a couple pieces of styrofoam (maybe the ones cut from the insert?) to the left & right of the tire to protect those battery plugs from the tire.
Not sure where you picked up the nugget that the bar isn't needed for the Sport Hybrid. In a rear-end collision, that bar will keep the spare tire from pushing into the battery area and causing potential fire issues. I'm not saying you can't do what you're proposing - trimming the foam insert and putting in some additional foam pieces. But that metal bar does serve a purpose. Just my $.02.
Thanks, Andy. I got the idea from earlier in this thread. But I hear what you're saying and am willing to fashion an equivalent of the metal bar to keep my RLX safe in a rear-end collision. This would be a *lot* easier if there is a photo available somewhere of what the metal bar looks like installed in the spare wheel well. Do you know of one? TIA
