Spare Wheel

[pensioner]

Hope I'm in the right section,,
We've just been away for a week and we tend to make early ( 5am ) starts.
A mile into the journey I realised I had a flat tyre,,rear left,,so I fitted the spare, one of those skinny emergency things that limit you to 80kph,,and completed the 240 mile journey.
I'm sure several of you will say I shouldn't have traveled that far on that wheel, but the alternative would have been to sit around untill 8 or 9 for a tyre place to open,,defeating the object of the early start.
My technical question is,,should I have put the spare on the front to ease the stress, as I'm towing a caravan,,but risk compromising the steering,,or put it where I did on the rear left.
I did have visions of being pulled over by traffic police or highways agency,,but it never happened.

 

[ProfJohnL]

It is reasonable for a car manufacturer to offer a spacesaver wheel and place distance speed limits on how it can be used, but it would be unreasonable (and might be illegal) if the space saver was incapable of carrying the maximum permitted loads of the vehicle including any trailer loads it can legitimately tow.

As for fitting it to any preferred axle, all wheels do important jobs, but in the grand scheme of things I view the front wheels as having the more important role of providing more braking and of course steering, Consequently I would choose to keep the regular tyres on the front, and space saver on the rear.

 

[otherclive]

It is reasonable for a car manufacturer to offer a spacesaver wheel and place distance speed limits on how it can be used, but it would be unreasonable (and might be illegal) if the space saver was incapable of carrying the maximum permitted loads of the vehicle including any trailer loads it can legitimately tow.

As for fitting it to any preferred axle, all wheels do important jobs, but in the grand scheme of things I view the front wheels as having the more important role of providing more braking and of course steering, Consequently I would choose to keep the regular tyres on the front, and space saver on the rear.

I’d agree with your thoughts. My 2010 XC 70 had a space saver that was marked 80kph for 50 miles. Very useful in Scotland on a weekend. But it’s outer diameter was 2 inch less than the road wheels so the recommendation was to fit it to the rear. Great when you have a flat front tyre. My Forester I converted the space saver stowage by removing foam undertrays and squeezing a full size alloy spare in. Australian Foresters could only be sold with an OEM fitted full size spare
Thankfully my Skoda Superb has a full size spare but on a smaller OD rim which means it has a greater aspect ratio. So Skoda have marked it 80kmh but no mileage restriction as it’s in all other respects a standard road tyre.

 

[AlexandriaUK]

We don't actually possess a spare in ours, Volvo XC60 but we have tyre replacement on our breakdown cover, I agree though that can't imagine they can restrict distance, speed isn't too much of a problem anyway as caravan keeps you down to 60 anyway.

 

[otherclive]

We don't actually possess a spare in ours, Volvo XC60 but we have tyre replacement on our breakdown cover, I agree though that can't imagine they can restrict distance, speed isn't too much of a problem anyway as caravan keeps you down to 60 anyway.

What does the XC60 give? Runflat, skinny or goo kit?

 

[AlexandriaUK]

It supplies you with air compressor so in theory you can get to nearest garage and AA come out but I hate the Idea of blow out as you can't blow that up can you, suppose some cello tape and superglue would help LOL

Just been to check and it has a glug kit LOL knackers tyres though I think

 

[audiorob]

My Ford handbook expressly forbids using the spare while towing - when my rear n/s got gashed by some road rubbish on a Sunday afternoon - fortunately without the van on the back - I had to delay departure by a day to get the tyre replaced and then tow home. The tyre was only a couple of months old and sourcing one to match the other three without being able to pre-book on the internet was almost silly money!

 

[otherclive]

It supplies you with air compressor so in theory you can get to nearest garage and AA come out but I hate the Idea of blow out as you can't blow that up can you, suppose some cello tape and superglue would help LOL

Just been to check and it has a glug kit LOL knackers tyres though I think

You have a point about the goo kit but in Europe tyre depots will repair a repairable tyre that has had goo inserted. Continental actually publish the correct procedure for tyre depots to use if repairing a tyre with goo in it. I’m dear old UK Health and Safety stops us doing it sir! Either they can’t be bothered or more likely see it as a chance to sell you a brand new tyre at top notch price.

 

[Gafferbill]

.......I don't and wouldn't tow without a full size spare available.
In the OP'S case I would have delayed the journey.

 

[AlexandriaUK]

Excuse me sir but what would we do without health and safety

Live LOL I'm always surprised when I see the risks with having babies and we are still allowed to do it

 

[Dodger524]

My 2011 XC70 has a proper spare wheel; unfortunately I am too feebly to lift it.

 

[Brasso530]

Personally, I'd rather not tow with a space saver,I'd only use it to tow to nearest tyre outlet if on tour.Space savers are ok ish for normal driving,but not usually towing,if you read the sidewall it says temporary only?whats temporary?couple of miles,or when you get to destination.
Although you do see people going at Mach 10 on them.

 

[otherclive]

Personally, I'd rather not tow with a space saver,I'd only use it to tow to nearest tyre outlet if on tour.Space savers are ok ish for normal driving,but not usually towing,if you read the sidewall it says temporary only?whats temporary?couple of miles,or when you get to destination.
Although you do see people going at Mach 10 on them.

Some owners manuals specify 50 mph max and 50 mile distance.

 

[Brasso530]

Just a thought for all you without a spare wheel.If you go on salvage company sites you can usually pick up a full size spare inc tyre for good money.For instance we use a company in the north west called hills salvage-NO AFFILIATIONS,mods please delete if not appropriate.
Or there are companies that do brand new spares with bag and jack brace etc...but you will pay for it.

 

[otherclive]

Just a thought for all you without a spare wheel.If you go on salvage company sites you can usually pick up a full size spare inc tyre for good money.For instance we use a company in the north west called hills salvage-NO AFFILIATIONS,mods please delete if not appropriate.
Or there are companies that do brand new spares with bag and jack brace etc...but you will pay for it.

eBay is also a good source. I bought a Subaru 17 inch brand new alloy for less than £100 inc delivery. It was a different pattern to the road wheels but all fitting dimensions were the same. It actually came from IMG the official UK Subaru importers. I fitted it with a part used tyre to the exact speed and load specifications. One that came from a premium maker and similar tread pattern to the OEM tyres. The reason I didn’t opt for a brand new tyre was I needed to recognise Subaru need to keep tread depths on all four tyres virtually identical orcwithin 1mm of each other. So I specifically sought one with between 4-5 mm tread depth as it was close to the other tyres. It more than paid for itself when I got a non reparable puncture. Without it I would probably had to fit four new tyres. In the end I bought a brand new tyre for spare and the put the spare and it’s wheel as a road wheel until all corners required changing.