System and method for using a lightweight spare tire

1. A spare wheel system, said system comprising:

a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim suitable for use with a spare tire;

a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle;

a plurality of sensors, wherein a sensor is associated with each wheel that is in use on the vehicle, each sensor monitoring the rotational speed of the wheel that the sensor is associated with; and

a controller, said controller programmed to receive signals from the sensors, said controller further programmed to determine whether the spare wheel is being used based on the signals from the sensors and to track a distance driven using the spare wheel, wherein each of the sensors provides a signal only when the wheel that the sensor is associated with is in use.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the carbon fiber composite rim is thermoset and includes reinforcing fibers that are randomly oriented.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the carbon fiber composite rim is thermoset and includes reinforcing fibers that run at particular angles.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the lightweight tire includes woven fiber belts or polyester belts.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the lightweight tire is foam-filled, tubed, or an advanced run flat tire.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller determines if the spare wheel is being used if the difference between the rotational speed of one of the sensors compared to the remaining sensors on the vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller monitors the time that the spare wheel is being used such that a driver of the vehicle is warned if a determined wear of the spare wheel achieves a predetermined threshold.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the predetermined threshold is when 10% of a predetermined life of the spare wheel remains.

9. A method for using a spare wheel, said method comprising:

providing a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim that is suitable for use with a spare tire;

providing a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle;

providing a sensor, said sensor embedded in the lightweight tire, said sensor sending a signal when the spare wheel is in use; and

providing a controller, said controller programmed to the receive signal from the sensor to determine the use of the spare wheel, wherein the sensor provides a signal only when the spare wheel is in use.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the carbon fiber composite rim is thermoset and includes reinforcing fibers that are randomly oriented.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the carbon fiber composite rim is thermoset and includes reinforcing fibers that run at particular angles.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the lightweight tire includes woven fiber belts or polyester belts.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the lightweight tire is foam-filled, tubed, or an advanced run flat tire.

14. The method according to claim 9 wherein sensor sends the signal and the controller receives the signal wirelessly.

15. The method according to claim 9 further comprising programming the controller to monitor the time that the spare wheel is being used, and the controller also monitors vehicle speed during the use of the spare wheel such that a driver of the vehicle is warned if a predetermined wear threshold of the spare wheel is achieved.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the predetermined wear is when 10% of a predetermined life of the spare wheel is remaining.

17. A lightweight spare tire system, said system comprising:

a carbon fiber composite vehicle rim suitable for use with a spare tire;

a lightweight tire that is suitable for use with the carbon fiber composite rim, said lightweight tire and said rim creating a lightweight spare wheel that may be used on a vehicle; and

at least one sensor, said sensor monitoring the rotational speed of the wheel that the sensor is associated with, and a controller, said controller receiving signals from the sensor, said controller programmed to determine if the spare wheel is being used based on the signals provided from the sensor, wherein the at least one sensor provides a signal only when the wheel that the sensor is associated with is in use.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the carbon fiber composite rim is thermoset and includes reinforcing fibers that are randomly oriented or that run at particular angles.

19. The system according to claim 17 wherein the lightweight tire includes woven fiber belts or polyester belts, or the lightweight tire is foam-filled, tubed, or an advanced run flat tire.