A vehicle tire carrier system for installation beneath a motor vehicle and protecting the wheel from unauthorized removal. The tire carrier system comprises: a raising and lowering mechanism comprising a cable and a rotational member for winding and unwinding the cable. A hub carrier is constructed to receive the wheel. The cable has a free end, and a ferrule is fixed to a free end portion of the cable. A rotatable cable end shield is mounted about the free end portion of the cable. The rotatable cable end shield comprises a housing having a top aperture in an upper portion thereof through which the free end portion of the cable is received. The housing encapsulates the free end portion of the cable and the ferrule for protection thereof. The rotatable cable end shield is configured to rotate independently to the free end portion of the cable and the ferrule.

An active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly improves airflow dynamics and reduces drag at an underbody and rearend of a vehicle, ultimately extending vehicle battery range in an electric vehicle and providing better fuel economy in a gas-powered vehicle. The active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly moves the spare tire between a stowed position and a deployed position based on vehicle speed. At lower vehicle speeds, the spare tire is kept at the stowed position. And at higher vehicle speeds, the spare tire is moved to the deployed position. In varying implementations, the active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly can include a spare tire carrier, an actuator, and a spare tire cover.

An active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly improves airflow dynamics and reduces drag at an underbody and rearend of a vehicle, ultimately extending vehicle battery range in an electric vehicle and providing better fuel economy in a gas-powered vehicle. The active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly moves the spare tire between a stowed position and a deployed position based on vehicle speed. At lower vehicle speeds, the spare tire is kept at the stowed position. And at higher vehicle speeds, the spare tire is moved to the deployed position. In varying implementations, the active aerodynamic vehicle underbody spare tire assembly can include a spare tire carrier, an actuator, and a spare tire cover.

A spare wheel carrier intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle comprising a chassis for storing a spare wheel, the spare wheel carrier comprising a mounting bracket intended to be mounted on the chassis of the motor vehicle; a latch mounted on the mounting bracket, the spare wheel being intended to be attached to the latch, wherein the latch is movable, with at least a rotation movement relative to the mounting bracket, between a storage position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a horizontal plane, in a horizontal position and a release position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane, in a vertical position perpendicular to the horizontal position.

A spare wheel carrier intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle comprising a chassis for storing a spare wheel, the spare wheel carrier comprising a mounting bracket intended to be mounted on the chassis of the motor vehicle; a latch mounted on the mounting bracket, the spare wheel being intended to be attached to the latch, wherein the latch is movable, with at least a rotation movement relative to the mounting bracket, between a storage position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a horizontal plane, in a horizontal position and a release position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane, in a vertical position perpendicular to the horizontal position.

The framework includes a pair of right and left side frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a second cross member connected to the rear portions of the side frames so as to bridge along the lateral direction of the vehicle and supporting the rear portion of the motor, and the side frames. A third cross member is connected to the rear of the second cross member so as to bridge along the right-left direction of the vehicle, and detachably supports the spare tire so as to hang it. The third cross member is formed in an inverted U shape, has a spare tire lifting device in the middle in the longitudinal direction, and has attachment portions to which the rear ends of the leaf springs are attached at one end side and the other longitudinal end side of the third cross member.

The framework includes a pair of right and left side frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a second cross member connected to the rear portions of the side frames so as to bridge along the lateral direction of the vehicle and supporting the rear portion of the motor, and the side frames. A third cross member is connected to the rear of the second cross member so as to bridge along the right-left direction of the vehicle, and detachably supports the spare tire so as to hang it. The third cross member is formed in an inverted U shape, has a spare tire lifting device in the middle in the longitudinal direction, and has attachment portions to which the rear ends of the leaf springs are attached at one end side and the other longitudinal end side of the third cross member.

A vehicle includes a suspended spare-tire attachment mechanism including an attachment linear member and first and second linear members. The attachment linear member supports a spare tire from a vehicle body when the spare tire is in an attached state in which the spare tire is attached to the vehicle. The attachment linear member breaks in case of a rear collision of the vehicle. The first and second linear members support the spare tire from the vehicle body when the attachment linear member breaks and the spare tire falls. The second linear member is disposed behind the first linear member. The first and second linear members have lengths set such that, when the attachment linear member breaks, the spare tire moves downward and forward, and the first and second linear members support the spare tire from the vehicle body while the spare tire is tilted forward and downward.

A vehicle includes a suspended spare-tire attachment mechanism including an attachment linear member and first and second linear members. The attachment linear member supports a spare tire from a vehicle body when the spare tire is in an attached state in which the spare tire is attached to the vehicle. The attachment linear member breaks in case of a rear collision of the vehicle. The first and second linear members support the spare tire from the vehicle body when the attachment linear member breaks and the spare tire falls. The second linear member is disposed behind the first linear member. The first and second linear members have lengths set such that, when the attachment linear member breaks, the spare tire moves downward and forward, and the first and second linear members support the spare tire from the vehicle body while the spare tire is tilted forward and downward.

A spare tire anti-theft device for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, device includes a latch, a lever and a mechanical line. The latch is configured to move between a locked configuration that prevents a tire hoist from releasing a spare tire from a tire storage space and an unlocked configuration that allows the tire hoist to release the spare tire from the tire storage space. The lever is operable between a first position and a second position. The mechanical line includes a first end operatively connected to the latch and a second end operatively connected to the lever. The mechanical line causes the latch to move from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when the lever is moved from the first position to the second position so that the tire hoist can release the spare tire from the tire storage space.