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While driving to this morning I saw a 57 plate Citroen C4 SX (if I remember correctly) in front of me with the tyre fitted underneath the boot of the car. I've had this in my Peugeot 106 and I'm sure there are few more cars out there with the same sorts of fitting. I just would like to know doesn't it make life very hard to remove and re-fit the tyre when you've to replace the punctured tyre when you're out and about? I personally never had to remove or fit the tyre back in there but I'm pretty sure it'll require much more effort than taking the car out of the boot?
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Yes, they are a pain.
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The C4 spare is inside the boot, its possible it was the C4 picasso, some models have spare wheels underneath and some have a pump and sealant (must be good stuff to seal a full blowout if you clip some debris).
I prefer spares underneath unless you live in chav central in which case it'll disappear.
A sight easier to wind the spare down and pull it out than to empty a bootfull of gear all over the motorway in pouring rain to get to the spare otherwise.
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My first car was a Saxo with the same set up- I had to change the tyre once or twice and didn't find it a problem at all. One benefit of having the tyre underneath is that you don't have to empty the boot to get to the spare wheel.
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Had this setup on BX, 205, Xantia and Berlingo. Changing a wheel on your own drive, never mind on the road is never going to be fun. On the whole easier to access the spare this way than have have everything out of the boot wet and potentially blowing around.
Theft much more of a risk with alloys than my standard steel jobbies, but there are additional locks etc that provide some protection.
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Thieves are mostly only interested in new tyres that they can easily sell on. After you have done a few hundred miles it is best to swap one of the fronts with the spare and they won't want to know. When SWMBO had a Saxo and I had a 106 her new spare was nicked one night and my used one had been removed and left leaning against the car.
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It's an easy job if you take care and plan in advance. that means for 95% of motorists it will be a pia cos they do neither.
Keep the screw for raising /lowering the wheel greased.
Check tyre pressure of spare every year or more often.
Ensure wheelbrace to lower wheel is kept in rightful place clippped to boot side.
Ensure jack etc kept in spare wheel well in plastic boi. BUT I cover ours with a plastic bag (supermarket- Coop best) to ensure it is kept dry and dirt free.
Keep old carpet along boot floor to ensure you have something to kneel on when changing wheel. pair of rubber disposable gloves to change wheel in tool kit.
Ensure jack is greased and wheel nuts are tightened up to approx correct torque.
And yes we have a used tyre as a spare..
IQ of 150 not required: a little forethought and 5 minutes work is.
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>>Check tyre pressure of spare every year or more often
How many people have got a flat spare in the boot, let alone hanging under the car ;>)
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I have a VAG Passat clone and my partner a 106. The VAG car has the spare bolted to the boot floor in a well the wrong way up, so it's never checked. All the luggage has tp come out to remove it. My car was delivered from a dealer with a flat spare (unused) which was not punctured and has remained correctly inflated since. (Thanks, VAG organisation).
The 106 set up is brilliant if the common sense guidelines pointed out by madf are followed. You can get it out with a full boot load of luggage and check the pressure easily with the spare in situ. I always have the best tyres on the road. The worst is relegated to the spare.
659.
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Didn't there used to be some sort of tube you could buy for those "wrong way up" spares so you didn't have to take it out to check the pressure?
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If you are using a commercial security device on PSA range of cars the chances are that you have to have the valve side up. ie the valve is not accessible. One option is get a proper tyre valve extension- fit it to the tyre and make another small hole in the boot floor. Then you can check and inflate without lowering the cradle. However the down side is that if the cradle is not lowered on a regular basis, the chances of getting the spare out when you need it diminish!
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 01/03/2008 at 15:29
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And when you've been driving through mud or snow then the under-the-car spare is particularly nice. That's why one has AA membership.
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My last 2 cars Cit ZX & Xsara Mk2 both had spare wheel and Jack (in plastic box which clipped to the tray) located in cradle under car. It is def convenient come wheel replacement time but is a worry as it can be nicked and if steel from my experience goes rustier than the other wheels . I used to keep the jack in the boot and clean and wipe the wheel with an oily rag 2/3 times per year. Be thankful that you have a full size spare wheel wherever it is located!
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My Ka had a security lock on spare wheek;I wanted to fit spare wheel other way up so icould check pressure easily-contacted supplier of security bolt who supplied longer bolt by return of post.
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