Maybe a dumb question, but it looks to me like the spare tire mounting bar is attached where a strut brace should be. Is it possible to have a rear strut brace with the spare tire kit installed? Does this mount act as a brace? It looks pretty solid.

 

Nope, and it's far from solid LINK

Greddy and AutoExe make rear strut bars that mount low in the trunk. You can keep the spare with these.

 

Cool, thanks.

I removed the spare tire (who needs 25 lbs mounted high in the back??) and had planned on removing the mount. It just looked solid enough that I thought it might be worth its weight.

 

Your car came with a spare and not just the tire repair kit? Interesting.... With the mazda speed bar you have to relocate the tire repair kit.

 

Bought the car used. The previous owner paid $400 for the spare tire kit.