Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - OldSock
These increasingly-fitted spare tyres are designated 'for temporary use only' - but just how long - or far - is 'temporary'?

To use an example, would you consider continuing a journey from, say, Newcastle to London if a puncture occured twenty miles into your journey on a Sunday afternoon?

Or would you use it on three consecutive days for a five-mile trip to the shops?

Assuming, of course, that one's speed is kept below the rated maximum for the tyre (usually about 50mph), and that the high inflation pressure is maintained.

Would it depend on whether the space-saver was fitted to a driven or steered axle?
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - gmac
On a FWD car, I would always swop a punctured front tyre for a rear and put the space saver on the rear axle.
On RWD, the space save would go on the front and a full width on the driven axle to prevent transmission wind up.
What would I do on a RWD car with fat rears and thin fronts ? Would depend on which tyre was closest the punctured tyres rolling radius and look for a fix ASAP.
Newcastle to London on Sunday afternoon - after 3pm you're unlikely to hit 50mph.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - daveyjp
Space savers should be used to get you to the nearest tyre centre and no further. It's an offence to use them for an extended journey.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - nick
>>On RWD, the space save would go on the front and a full width on the driven axle to prevent transmission wind up

Would this happen? Surely the overall diameter of the spacesaver is the same as the original wheel and tyre?
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Manatee
>>On RWD the space save would go on the front and a full width on
the driven axle to prevent transmission wind up
Would this happen? Surely the overall diameter of the spacesaver is the same as the
original wheel and tyre?


It wouldn't happen anyway - the differential would take care of it.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - the swiss tony
It wouldn't happen anyway - the differential would take care of it.

I think gmac was thinking of 4wd... heres a link;

tinyurl.com/3xlwum


and heres the bit about 'wind up';

A four-wheel-drive vehicle will have at least two differentials (one for each pair of wheels) and possibly a center differential to apportion power between the front and rear axles. In many cases (eg. Lancia Delta Integrale, Porsche 964 Carrera 4 of 1989 [2]) the center differential is an epicyclic differential (see below) to divide the torque asymmetrically between the front and rear axle. Vehicles without a center differential should not be driven on dry, paved roads in four wheel drive mode, as small differences in rotational speed between the front and rear wheels cause a torque to be applied across the transmission. This phenomenon is known as "wind-up" and can cause damage to the transmission or drive train. On loose surfaces these differences are absorbed by the tire slippage on the road surface.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Manatee
Yes swiss, I was being a bit glib I suppose. A very different diameter might well confuse the ABS/ESP as well. Poor things altogether in my view.

The CR-V is interesting (in this respect at least). It has no centre differential, so would tear itself to pieces just going round corners in 4WD. Good thing it normally operates in 2WD. There are hydraulic pumps driven off the gearbox (front) and rear differential. Normally the multiplate clutchpack which transmits the power to the rear wheels is disengaged. When the front wheels lose grip and spin, the front drive pump overpowers the rear one and the clutchpack engages, sending the drive to the rear wheels. It's then in 4WD with no centre diff. However, this isn't a problem because unless a wheel is slipping (therefore preventing transmission wind-up) the rear clutch pack will just disengage.

It works impeccably despite being essentially simple and mechanical.

I suspect a smaller diameter pram-wheel-type spare could well cause additional wear in this system. It must be fairly tolerant of diameter difference though or the clutchpack would engage at every corner (the front wheels having to revolve faster) so maybe it's not a problem. I still rotate the wheels though to even out the wear.

When the clutch pack gets water in and the plates rust up, the rear clutch groans on full lock - so perhaps it does drag a bit if you get enough lock on. The cure for this common problem is to run the car in gear on a lift with the handbrake half on for a few minutes. This makes the clutchpack slip and cleans the plates, the fluid is changed twice to flush the crud out and it's fine.

I think HJ mentioned recently that Honda has now produced a better fluid which helps, but mine is only three years old and has had this issue (correctly diagnosed and fixed as above)

PU, if you're reading, does the current CR-V have a pram wheel, and if so is it a smaller diameter?

Edited by Manatee on 22/02/2009 at 17:26

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - L'escargot
Surely the overall diameter of the spacesaver is the same as the
original wheel and tyre?


In some cases it's only approximately the same. In my last car the difference caused the traction control to activate. Fortunately it had the capability of being switched off.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - the swiss tony
Awful idea.... how on earth did they ever get approved?
Ive never driven on one, and dont ever want to!

as a slight aside, when the need to use one occurs, just where are you supposed to put the displaced wheel?
It wont fit in the spares space, and sods law, when you get a puncture, you will be loaded with passengers, have a full boot - and its bound to be raining!
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - gmac
just where are you
supposed to put the displaced wheel?
It wont fit in the spares space and sods law when you get a puncture
you will be loaded with passengers have a full boot - and its bound to
be raining!

That's a standard puncture scenario isn't it?
Why do so many cars now have a roof box? :)
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - martint123
you will be loaded with passengers have a full boot - and its bound to be raining!



Yup - overloaded, so more weight to push the screw into the tyre and wet to lubricate it on it's way.

Every puncture I've ever had has been in the wet, (very few in total considering I used to do 50k a year for 20 years).
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Spospe
The space saver tyre for our Toyota Yaris is quoted in the driver's handbook as having a life of up to 3000 miles (depending on driving conditions). The handbook also quotes a maximum speed of 50 mph and advises changing from the space saver as soon as possible, but it does not quote any maximum journey length.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - scouseford
My wife's 2007 Fiesta had the off side rear tyre knifed outside our home recently. I couldn't get the wheel off with the equipment supplied by Ford and had to resort to our AA Homestart. The excellent AA guy changed the wheel in about 3 minutes and said that the only restriction on the replacement tyre was a 50 mph speed limit and, I quote, 'no distance restriction'.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Robin Reliant
My spare has neither a distance nor speed restriction. But then my car is not lumbered with an oversize frosbee.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - NARU
I did a google on stopping distances and found this test

www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/27/108283156922...l
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - mjm
It must depend upon the spacesaver provided to a certain extent.

Son's MX5 has a "wheelbarrow" size thing, advice is to drive minimum distance required to repair at not over 50mph.

My Xantia has alloys with 185 wide tyres. The spare is a steel with with a 175 and different aspect ratio. There is no distance restriction applied but speed is limited to 100mph.

I would feel happier with the Xantia spare if I had to run with a spare fitted.

Where would the oversize spare go if it wouldn't fit the cradle?

Easy, big plastic bag and on the passenger's lap to save the leather :)
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Mookfish
The spare is a steel with with a 175 and different aspect ratio. There is no distance
restriction applied but speed is limited to 100mph.


Sound like the standard steel wheel for that car, except for the 100mph limit, is that the speed rating of the tyre or is the limit because you will be running on mismatched wheels? I would have thought the latter myself.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - mjm
Mookfish,

The missmatched wheels are my take on it as well.

It probably is the standard size wheel but the bosses have been modified to take the wheel bolts from the alloys.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Rustyw
A little off topic but I would rather have a space saver tyre than the tube of glue provided with my VW.
Three punctures over the past 5 years; two were not fixable at the road side and required callout of the breakdown services, the third was a nail in the centre of an almost new tyre. The sealant worked and I was able to drive to a national tyre chain where I was told that using the glue had rendered the tyre unrepairable. The final insult was to be charged £35 by my local VW dealer for a replacement bottle of the glue.
I wish I had a space saver tyre.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
I used to have a Renault 18 with those Renault-only modern alloys. The spare was a steel wheel the same size. Even that annoyed me, and I obtained another alloy from a breaker.

Space savers are rubbish except for saving a cubic foot or so of space. I wouldn't want to live with one, let alone a can of shaving cream. If there isn't a place for a proper spare it can go in the boot, or in the back of the car.

Serious boy racers often used to have a few spare wheels stuffed in the back under the roll cage. Passengers? Who needs 'em?

Edited by Lud on 22/02/2009 at 16:39

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Alby Back
When I was a child, I'm sure some Rover saloons had their spare wheel bolted to the top of the boot lid. I remember thinking at the time that this looked sort of rakish. I expect they would be stolen or at least interfered with now. Probably wouldn't do a lot for airflow or rear visibility either.

OK it's a stupid idea. Forget I mentioned it.

;-)

Had a similar arrangement on my Westfield come to think of it......

Edited by Humph Backbridge on 22/02/2009 at 16:59

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - gordonbennet
The vast majority of cars that come with a space saver (read makers money saver) have a spare wheel storage compt suitable for at least the standard size tyres that the model should come with, probably not the superwide sporty jobs though.
In fact some new models started off with normal spares and have developed the spacesaver disease bedded into a huge polystyrene type of holder to take the saved room up..bizarre.

My first job should i buy such a vehicle would be to obtain a normal sized spare wheel and suitable nuts/bolts if appropriate for the vehicle.

I do not want one of these silly bicycle tyres on my vehicle even in an emergency, nor do i want some goo to squirt in either.

Having said that we so often see one of the breakdown companies changing wheels by the roadside, have people lost the ability to change a flat tyre on a normal car?


Edit, following Humph's nostalgiac drift, would a spare bolted to the bonnet look out of sorts similar to WD landrovers..;)

Edited by gordonbennet on 22/02/2009 at 17:14

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
spare wheel bolted to the top of the boot lid.


Both my first two cars (a thirties Fiat and a 1948 Citroen Light 15) had that. Each was supposed to have a cover for the wheel but the Fiat's one was lost. However they both looked better with the wheel naked.

Two spares on top of each other like a hamburger looked even more Mille Miglia and sporting...

2CV and variants, and DS, used to keep the spare on top of the engine where it served as a sort of crumple zone in extremis.

Edited by Lud on 22/02/2009 at 17:17

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Andy141263

Audi A1's come with the glue & compressor(we had one as a courtsey car while our A6 was in for cambelt).

I still prefer full size spares.

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - John F

V few have answered the OP's question on this re-resurrected thread (2009,2011,2016).

As far as I wanted to, as long as it was adequately pressurised, which I bet most are not. I have used the SS on our Focus once and it felt absolutely fine. Sturdy new tyre, 40psi.

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - xtrailman
Its not a space saver in the new xtrail, it's a cost saver!

The s saver has a packer on top to make up the difference to a proper spare.

But the most ridiculous thing about it?
You can not tow a trailer with it. And Nissan know that 25% of owners tow.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Alby Back
Just having returned from Aldi and Sainsburys, ( it's all rockin' here y'know ) The thought occurs to me that having a gert big spare wheel atop the bootlid would be a bit of a pain lid-lifting-wise. I really must try to think about something else now......
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - ifithelps
I'm sure I've worked on a Rover 2000TC or 3500 with the spare on the bootlid.

Can't recall, but the springs - there were no gas struts in those days - on the hinges must have been wound up to compensate.

No such luxuries with Land Rover - the spare just makes the bonnet very heavy.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - ole cruiser
I'm sure I've worked on a Rover 2000TC or 3500 with the spare on the
bootlid.

Both had the capability for it, but you had to have a specially strutted boot lid and not just bolt the wheel on. Normally the Rovers had a full-size spare stored vertically in the boot (and, in the case of my 3500, the battery on the other side) so the actual boot space was very limited indeed. The spare just fitted - another inch on the diameter would have made it quite hopeless. I find it interesting that, however much cars evolve, some of the design problems remain timeless. Battery split into two halves, as per the XK150 (I think), anyone? Or perhaps running boards will make a comeback.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Bilboman

There is absolutely no justification for manufacturers fobbing us off with cans of glop or so-called space-savers ("penny-pinchers" more like!)
Trust British engineering eccentricity in the shape of Bristol Motors to come up with a brilliant engineering soluiton to spare wheel storage that absolutely no other company in the world ever thought of copying: goo.gl/kATdkR

Edited by Bilboman on 16/04/2016 at 01:08

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - retgwte
happily paid the 20 quid upgrade for the full size spare on swmbo fiat panda, happily its got space for the full size wheel as that is what it was originally designed for

my old corolla had a full size steel spare which in its 3 years had to be driven on the spare a few times, once an alloy had to be off for a week getting refurbished, other times waiting for new tyre to arrive on special order as exact tyre i wanted wasnt available

new car only has space for a space saver, so no chance of upgrading it, and worse than that it takes a rare size of tyre on the alloys, so i imagine in event of flat it will always be a case of waiting a day or two for a specially ordered tyre to arrive - impending nightmare that i wish you had not reminded me about!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think full size spares should be mandatory, although steel rather than alloy is ok

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - retgwte
re people calling breakdown service to change a wheel, yea i do this mainly nowadays, because the jack supplied with most new cars is far too flimsy to trust with an expesive motor, the scissor jack supplied with new cars is really too flimsy for me to trust in anything other than a dire emergency

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - b308
the scissor jack supplied with new cars is really too flimsy for
me to trust in anything other than a dire emergency


Had a look at mine in the Roomie and its no more flimsy that the jacks supplied with the 1997 Polo or 1979 Maxi... I suspect that it will do the job its intended for (lifting one corner of the car so you can change the wheel) but thats about its limit... but if you wanted to do any more you'd buy a trolley jack, surely?!

I'd have thought that it would have to be strong enough otherwise in this compensation-based culture we have at the moment someone would sue them!

I suspect the reasons that many people don't change wheels when they burst is twofold...

1. The don't know how, and
2. The roads are too busy for them to risk it when they can get someone else to do it for them!


BTW I can remember P6 Rovers with wheels on the boot lid as well!

Edited by b308 on 22/02/2009 at 18:08

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
You drive on the flat tyre until you reach a place where it's possible to change the wheel without getting in the way. Then you change the wheel, applying due care and diligence to the question of the jack and its footing.

Does anyone who thinks it is all right to call out the emergency services to change a wheel or clean mud, I ask you, off a rural road, ever wonder, I wonder, why everything is so expensive and inefficient these days and why councils and police forces don't seem to want to know?

Might not the deafening white noise of demands and complaints coming from passive, infantilised citizens be playing some sort of role here?

No offence to anyone of course.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - ole cruiser
Does anyone who thinks it is all right to call out the emergency services to
change a wheel . . . .?

I do. The goo and "pump" from our Picanto is in the loft and I bought a full-size spare (for which there is space) straight away. But still the idea of expecting my wife to change a wheel on a dark night is out of the question.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
the idea of expecting my wife to change a wheel on a dark night is out of the question.


Absolutely. I doubt if mine could do it in a garage with axle stands. Quite right, those physically incapable of changing a wheel shouldn't try to do so.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Alby Back
On the contrary, my wife would almost certainly slap anyone who even hinted that she couldn't change a wheel whatever the prevailing climatic or ambient light conditions. For what it's worth neither is she a combat jacket favouring, round spectacle affecting, makeup eschewing sort of woman. Despite her rapidly advancing years, in between her commitments to her day job she still gets regular modeling assignments.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - rtj70
>>On the contrary, my wife would almost certainly slap anyone who even hinted that she
couldn't change a wheel whatever the prevailing climatic or ambient light conditions.


Last person I stopped to help happened to be female. Turned into the road I was trying to a right turn out of. She got out and looked at the side of the car for a while (I could not move but saw "steam") so wound down a window to check.

She had a flat and had driven until she could stop. She was about to phone her insurance. Myself and a dentist (worked in the building next to us) sorted it.

Took a lot off effort to move the wheel bolts so maybe she should have called her emergency breakdown which she will have had.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
a bit of a pain lid-lifting-wise. I really must try to think about something else now......


Not if the lid is hinged at the bottom and supported in the open position by hinged struts or chains, as such lids were in the days of small boots.

My fathers 20/25 RR limo had a spare on one (or both, can't remember) front wing, sitting in a sort of well. The inelegant rear of the car had a folding grille to strap luggage to.

The tail of that car always looked a bit naked to me. A big black steamer trunk on the grille at all times, or a couple of spare wheels, would have made it look better.

Edited by Lud on 22/02/2009 at 18:06

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - retgwte
funnily enough i used the jack supplied with the car to put new locking wheel nuts on over the weekend, just about happy having the wheels lifted a mm with 3 nuts still in, but the jack definitely not sturdy enough to risk for a wheel change if i can get the aa or rac to do it !


Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - b308
Thats the crux of it! Why DIY when you can get someone else to do it! Though to be fair the jacks supplied with cars were never particularly stable things, even the old ones... I'd still have no problems using one if I needed to, you just have to be careful... if it can lift it off the ground by a mm or so then its done its job, surely!
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - yorkiebar
It may be ok at home on a known secure piece of ground/tarmac etc.

But I would strongly advise anybody who needs to change a wheel at the roadside to call out breakdown serivces if a member.

If you have ever changed a wheel at the roadside (I do quite a few), even in town, its dangerous. And thats without the stress/worry of the jack being secure/strong enough to do its job!

I am all for maintainance of vehicle, but not if causing other problems/risks!
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - gordonbennet
I'm at a loss for words here, its only a few years ago when me and thousands like me would change lorry wheels at the side of the road, and i'd be damned if i had to call breakdown services for such a minor thing as a car puncture.

As for the fairer sex being unable to physically change a wheel, thats why gentlemen were invented.
A gentleman would feel it his duty to help a lone woman by changing her wheel, and a lady would gracefully allow a gentleman that privilege.

Not for the first time do i feel that i have gone to sleep somewhere and awoken in a parallel universe.
No wonder the country's in a mess....mumble grumble.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - retgwte
gordonbennet

i sort of sympathise

im tempted to go out and buy a more substantial jack to carry in my car, but the likelihood is i wont bother

the reality is that the aa or rac are usually there within 30 minutes and have a nice jack to change the wheel with no risk, with the bonus that you wont get covered in dirt if wearing nice clothes

but its important to be able to use a jack in real emergency when you cannot get a patrol out for some reason, but even then unless it was level flat good condition ground i wouldnt risk it with the jack that came with my car


Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Lud
Heh heh gb...

Have you forgotten though that there's no such thing as a gentleman and women are supposed to be suspicious of approaches from 'strange men'?

Walking in a deserted area of Trenton, New Jersey, thirty-six years ago, I found myself overtaking a lone middle-aged woman. As I drew closer it became apparent that she was trying to hurry. Then she tripped over a projecting kerbstone and fell heavily tearing her tights or stockings and bleeding a bit from one knee. I leapt forward to help her up only to find her whimpering with terror on the ground and, I ask you, pulling her skirt down.

Her whole fantasy of the Wicked Man pursuing her, the nightmarish fall and then, horror of horrors, a strange man with a foreign accent leaning down with what was in fact a reassuring smile but to her looked like a snarl of evil triumph, became clear to me in that moment. So I stepped back, wished her a civil good day and left. All she could do was gibber.

That was thirty-six years back down the line of tabloid media and no education (although I admit it was in the US, more hideously advanced than us in these ways). These days she would blast me with a .44 magnum or taser at least.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - ijws15
Am quite surprised at some of the comments on here . especially those who would put a space save on the FRONT!

Instructions in SWMBO's A2 said space saver must be fitted to the rear, so did the Honda. Consider HJs comment about braking and ask yourself where most of the braking is done. Those with RWD would but them on the front (presumably to maintain traction) should consider that the most important function a car has is STOPPING, not accelerating or going round corners!

Have driven on one once - In the Honda and decided it would be quicker to drop off the M25 and get a tyre than drive home on the space-saver (Staffordshire) sub 50mph.

SWMBO has driven on one once (Audi A2) and that was for one day while I took the wheel in (odd size tyres on the A2 (185/50 R16), and no-one carries stock) - she was not happy - at least that one was same diameter and kept ABS/ESP etc working correctly. It was one of the Vredenstein expanding ones designed specially for the car and only obtainable from Audi.

Better than a can of goo but prefer a real wheel and tyre.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - jc2
Having had an OSR wheel puncture on the M25,I called the RAC,not because I couldn't change the wheel but because I wanted protection from the stream of HGVs with their wheels running along the hard shoulder-anyway a police range rover turned up first ,the observer got out,told the driver to back up 100 yards,put his big blue flashing lights on and assisted me with the wheel change.Then he radioed his control room to turn off the RAC.One of my cars has a narrower section spare of the same rolling radius as the normal wheels-no speed restriction mentioned.The wide alloys are too big to go in the spare wheel space anyway.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - b308
Instructions in SWMBO's A2 said space saver must be fitted to the rear so did
the Honda.


That really shows up the stupidity of the things... if you have a puncture on one of your fronts you end up having to change two tyres... madness!

Edited by b308 on 23/02/2009 at 09:15

Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - em8
Hi, just need some advice with a problem.

I have a company freelander 2 and had a flat , I was in Newcastle on business and live in London. I phoned my office but they refused to purchase a new tyre as they've all just been replaced the previous month. They told me to drive home on the space saver spare which I did. It took over 10 hrs on the A1 but did finally make it. I've now given my notice to the company and they want me to return the car to their head office in Coventry again using the space saver.

Can this be legal or should I tell them to collect the car themselves?

Thanks for your help.
Space-saver spare tyre - how far would you travel? - Avant

I drove 100 miles on mine (on the N/S front wheel) to get home - no problem, and the Octavia was a sure-footed as ever. An indicated 60 mph (about 55 actual) was perfectly safe on the motorway and dual carriageway.