Which Cars Get A Spare Wheel As Standard?

One of the sad truths of modern car design is the phase out of the traditional spare wheel, with just a handful of cars on sale today fitted with one as standard.

The decision to kill off the spare wheel is inextricably linked to emissions, with the EU test-cycle for CO2 rating using a car’s weight to calibrate the rolling road for the test. Hence, the lighter the car, the less the owner will have to pay in tax.

As a result, car manufacturers’ fight to save every gram and the spare wheel has been seen as an easy route to cut weight. Indeed, a typical 17-inch alloy wheel weighs about 20kg, which can add up to nine grams of CO2 to an average vehicle’s emissions. 

Spacesavers are the most likely spare wheel fitted as standard. However, the spacesaver is not designed to be driven for long distances, with most having a maximum recommended speed of around 50mph (80 km/h) restricting drivers to short distances.

The majority of new cars are sold with a tyre repair kit as standard, while a smaller proportion get runflats, which use reinforced sidewalls and rubber to prevent a puncture and allow the driver to continue for a limited time. The remainder are fitted with either a compressor or a self-sealing tyre. 

See also:  Full guide to choosing a tyre - and making it last

Where can I buy a spacesaver or full-size spare wheel?

The first place to start is probably the most expensive - and that's your local franchose dealer. If you're buying new from them, you might be able to get either a full-size spare wheel or spacesaver added as part of the deal (if there isn't one fitted already).

If you've already bought the car and don't want to go down that route, then Amazon* is useful place to start, with many wheel sizes covered. For something like a Fiesta, you'll be looking at around £100. You can give a ebay* a go, too, and it will be cheaper, but you need to be sure about what you are buying. After all, will it be a false economy if the tyre turns out to have been used (so you don't know its history) or isn't up to scratch when you might need it.

Spacesavers "in a bag"

A number of specialists have cropped up in recent years who offer everything you need in a bag (spacesaver wheel and tyre), jack and tool kit. For a Fiesta, these are around £200, but as they come packed in a bag, can be kept in the boot of a car if it doesn't have a wheel well for a spare. One of those is Tyremen who kit includes a Continental tyre and two-tonne jack (prices vary from model-to-model). Another supplier offering a similar product is Road Hero.

* Sometimes we show a link with a * next to it. It means that it is an affiliate link and as a result helps HonestJohn.co.uk stay free to use. It's tracked to us and if you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site.