lowrider question

[Fv2]

Although I've decided to break from building, I haven't lost interest in bicycles.
Actually, I've recently developed an interest in lowriders. But there's something throwing me off.

A lot of bikes I've seen the past couple weeks have continental kits, but the spare is always smaller than the wheels of the bike.
For example, the 20" bikes all seem to have a 16" spare wheel hanging off the back.
The 24's have a 20, and the 26's have a 24.

This seems completely redundant to me, I'd think you'd want your spare to be the same size as your riding wheels.

I know there's not a lot of lowrider chat here, but can anyone answer this?
Is there some historical background as to why the spare is smaller?
To me it just throws off the aesthetics of the bike.

 

[OneHorsePower]

its basicaly just for looks , i think its smaller just cause a bike is narow , on a car it fit well cause its wide and dont stick out on both sides

would be nice to try to mount the appropriate spare tire size on the side like this

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Maybe it's like the donut spare in the trunk of all the cars from the 90's...Smaller tire gets ya home and prompts you to change it. Only problem I see is them bikes are all pedal scrapers as they are, soon as you put a smaller tire on there your done.

Merle.

 

[Jaypem]

True above!
Speaking of pedal scrapers, anyone know anything about spark blocks?
Going to need some before our next big ride on the 16th!

 

[Danssoslow]

Titanium drag blocks. They are decently priced on ebay, but to get it by the 16th may be a push.

 

[Jaypem]

I didn't see anything made for pedals..wonder if it's possible to get some thin strips of titanium and epoxy on?