Towing a caravan when car is fitted with a skinny spare wheel...

[SillyBilly]

My car comes with one of those horrible spacesaver wheels. These are limited in mileage and speed in ordinary use. They are clearly not up to the rating of a standard wheel and tyre.

If I get a puncture and have to use the spacesaver on the car will I be breaking the law?

 

[RogerL]

Under the UK Construction & Use Regulations, it's a requirement that tyres on the same axle are the same size and construction - so under UK law spacesavers are illegal in any circumstances.

However, because they are legal (at reduced speed, distance and purpose) in the rest of the EC, then CPS don't prosecute this offence.

There are no further legal restrictions when towing but the vehicle manufacturer may impose further restriction or ban towing in some cases.

A spacesaver is intended to allow the vehicle to be driven to the nearest tyre repairer/supplier - there are not intended to allow you to continue your journey as you might with a full size tyre.

You need to check your vehicle handbook to determine specific restrictions when towing.

Given that a spacesaver reduces the speed of a solo car from 100+mph (where limits permit) to 50mph, I personally wouldn't tow with a spacesaver on the car at any more than 30mph.

 

[GeorgeB]

Roger is quite right, in the UK technically they are illegal under the C & U regs.

As in use they are restricted to 80kph (50mph) & they usually come with no more than 3mm of tread, plus their max load rating (USA, Canada & Australia) is around 700kg. Given that when towing you will usually be loaded up to the eyeballs, I'd only use one in an absolute emergency to get me off a dangerous area, I would not under any circumstances tow the van to the nearest tyre repairer/supplier with a space saver fitted! Just my view point!

 

[DJM]

I have a brand new full size unused steel wheel and tyre suitable for a BMW 320D, which I purchased for the safe towing of my van, as my previous car was supplied with a space saver spare wheel. If it is of use to anyone they can have it for nothing. I have changed cars and it is taking up valuable space in my garage. Tyre size is 225 x 50 x R16

Contact the moderator for my email address.

 

[Peter_5129011]

On that point if the a space saver is illegal, isn't a car supplied with such a tyre "not fit for purpose"?

 

[Del_374232870]

If a car being driven on a space saver wheel were to be involved in accident, would your insurance still be valid? Personally I wouldnt entertain any vehicle without a proper full sized spare

 

[RichL812]

My car handbook (Ford Mondeo) says that I must not tow with the space saver spare on.

It is to be used to get go a garage or manoever out of danger only.

 

[Lutz]

On that point if the a space saver is illegal, isn't a car supplied with such a tyre "not fit for purpose"?

No, because fit for the purpose only refers to the standard condition as the car was delivered and it was delivered with 4 perfectly adequate tyres. Even if the car was supplied without any spare wheel or emergency puncture equipment it would still be fit for the purpose.

 

[emmerson2]

With all this talk of spare wheels, and most of us lug them around (probably two when towing)when did any of us last use them? Punctures are so rare now that is it worth carrying a spare? Discuss

 

[Peter_5129011]

No, because fit for the purpose only refers to the standard condition as the car was delivered and it was delivered with 4 perfectly adequate tyres. Even if the car was supplied without any spare wheel or emergency puncture equipment it would still be fit for the purpose.

Hmm, but as I recall if your carry a spare it has to be in roadworthy condition even if it never leaves the bootwell (can't remember if a check on the spare is part of the MOT), so technically the car is always illegal, with a space saver fitted or just sitting under the car.

 

[Peter_5129011]

Been driving for over 10 years, and never had a problem until 2 years ago.....

My company Audi must be the unluckiest car I've had, lost count of the number of wheel changes. went form not having clue how to change a wheel (well I knew the theory) to being very adept.

Couple of random punctures, one memorable time where I phone a tyre place to ask for 5 new tyres (3 need changing, 2 flat), and the lang change incident where I hit a huge rock which took out both tyres on the driver's side.

 

[RogerL]

Peter - a space saver is fit for purpose - it's purpose is simply to get you to a tyre depot.

Manufacturers aren't obliged to supply a spare wheel, some don't like the BMW mini.

 

[SillyBilly]

Thanks for the comments so far. My query about the spacesaver being of lower rating than a standard wheel brought the response that if the speed and distance is restricted they are within the law. I want to know if the tyre would be of the required rating for when I am towing a caravan of mass upto the maximum allowed for the vehicle. Sure the static noseweight is only 70kg but I assume that the figure may get significantly above this and traction would be impaired on a narrow tyre with poor tread/plys. If I have a puncture in my car on the motorway while towing a caravan I would have to use the spacesaver to get off the motorway to a tyre dealer. This is why I bought an original alloy to serve as the sparewheel.

These are available as an option when the car is bought and they fit under my car, a Fiat Multipla.

The reason I started this thread concerns my TowTrust towbar which after it was fitted allowed the spacesaver wheel to be stored in its space but will not allow the alloy to be fitted under the car - it is of a different size and offset and fouls the centre of the bar. TowTrust say that the 'original' spare is a spacesaver so they are covered. I don't think they are as a towbar manufacturer should know that a spacesaver is unsuitable for towing. Buyers of TowTrust towbars (ad other manufacturers too) might like to get it in writing that their design allows an alloy or steel replacement for a spacesaver wheel to be fitted. Comments welcomed.

 

[Lutz]

It is perfectly conceivable that a towbar cannot be designed in any other way except to encroach into the spare wheel well, thereby preventing a full-size spare to be carried. Some ex-works optional wide wheels cannot be accommodated in the spare wheel well, either.

 

[CheapnCheerful]

Hmm, but as I recall if your carry a spare it has to be in roadworthy condition even if it never leaves the bootwell (can't remember if a check on the spare is part of the MOT), so technically the car is always illegal, with a space saver fitted or just sitting under the car.

Your spare does not have to be in a roadworthy condition, a car with a completely bald spare would still pass an MOT and would not in any way be illegal. However a tyre in that condition would be useless as a spare as it would of course become illegal as soon as you fitted it!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello George,

Just a note regarding the maximum load that your space saver can carry. You state it is 700Kg, and I bet that if yo look at your other tyres they are not much different.

As for towing or not, If the car manufacture does not exclude towing, then towing is acceptable, but as with solo the speed and distance will be limited.

 

[Gafferbill]

With all this talk of spare wheels, and most of us lug them around (probably two when towing)when did any of us last use them? Punctures are so rare now that is it worth carrying a spare? Discuss

Take care

Having no spare wheel on car or caravan will mean your breakdown cover provider will charge full price for attending damage to wheel or tyre breakdown incidents

 

[ChrisUK]

Hello George,

Just a note regarding the maximum load that your space saver can carry. You state it is 700Kg, and I bet that if yo look at your other tyres they are not much different.

As for towing or not, If the car manufacture does not exclude towing, then towing is acceptable, but as with solo the speed and distance will be limited.

The Mazda 6 has a spacesaver and in the handbook it says it is not suitable for towing (I seem to recall it is not suitable for the front solo either (massive roll circumference difference?) so after a puncture solo on the M25 I immediatly bought a full sized spare - from a scrap yard, it does fit in the same space as the spacesaver. Looking for a new repacement I am looking at which cars do have a full sized spare option, and the list is getting shorter. The Honda CV? looks good, but all you get is an aerosol ! That would not have filled the 50 p sized hole in my tyre on the M25.

 

[ValA.]

With all this talk of spare wheels, and most of us lug them around (probably two when towing)when did any of us last use them? Punctures are so rare now that is it worth carrying a spare? Discuss

Emmerson - in the last couple of years we've used both car and caravan spare wheels. In Burgundy in May last year we had a complete caravan blow-out, which shredded the tyre, and damaged the inside of the wheel arch, but we were able to pull into a layby conveniently placed as we managed to pull up - and change the wheel. We spent the rest of the holiday trying to obtain a spare tyre for the caravan.

In May this year Mr Val A was called out at night and had a puncture just as he was about to hit the M1. He changed the tyre and got on his way - so not quite as rare an occurrence as you might think.

On both occasions we were very glad we had a proper spare wheel. We've seen so many caravanners who don't carry one - and all Mr A's company cars were fitted with space savers, which only very reluctantly did the leasing company agree to replace (only after we'd bought a proper spare at our own expense).

 

[Martin_374319553]

If a car being driven on a space saver wheel were to be involved in accident, would your insurance still be valid? Personally I wouldnt entertain any vehicle without a proper full sized spare

Del - I think you'll find your choice of cars in future will be severely limited then.

I know for a fact neither BMW, Mini, Ford or Honda provide spare wheels of any kind. BMW and Mini use run flat tyres, Ford and Honda provide a pump and bottle of gunge (although our S-Max has optional run flat tyres). Certainly that's the case with the new Honda Civic as a guy at work has one. My BMW 5 series has run flats but still has space for a spare in the boot whereas the 3 series and Minis don't even have space for one.