"Skinny" Spare Wheels

[Jc]

The EU directive on tyres states that tyres fitted to the same axle must be of the same size and type.Other European countries interpret "type" as meaning Radial,Cross-ply or Bias-ply.

[Chancer]

[quote user="cooperlola"]Oh, Jc, I can just imagine a nice little trip in a Porker with a wheel on my lap!! (Polly bag or not.) [/quote]

 

Someone with a new Audi TT complete with Audi carphone pre-programmed with the Audi assistance number phoned them during a wheel change for a puncture.

"I cant get the punctured wheel back in the space vacated by the specesaver spare" said he.

"its very easy sir" they replied" you will find in the storage pocket a vinyl cover which you put on the wheel, you then put the wheel on the passenger seat and continue to your destination"

"And where do you propose I place my wife who is dressed for the gala dinner we are en route to?"

There was a stunned silence, much background discussion then they told him to cache the wheel in the hedge and continue to their destination, they recovered it, replaced the tyre (or perhaps exchanged the wheel) and put it back on the car while the couple were dining.

This is a true story, at the time Audi UK did not have a clue what to do as they were initially convinced that:

A, the road wheel would in fact fit in the spare wheel well

And B. There would be room on the passengers lap or behind the seats.

[Andyphilpott]

I have just today had the misfortune to use my skinny for the first time! (Mazda 6). Punctured front drivers side in the fast lane (as far as any lane is fast) of the M25 during the morning rush and a wait in the rain for rescue as no way was I dealing with it on the hard shoulder with juggernauts thundering alongside!!

The skinny wheel felt very weird to drive with and I do not think that I won any popularity stakes driving at a steady 50 the last 20 miles to the office. I would not want to drive far with these wheels - it felt amost unstable. Although it seemed like a simple nail puncture and thus repairable, the time it took for me to be able to stop meant that they tyre was well and truly defunct; when they took it off bits of disintegrated tyre fell from inside it! The 'experts'tell me that it does not take long at all for enough heat to build up in a flat tyre to kill it. Another substantial dent in the wallet.

I take delivery of a new Mazda MX5 in a couple of weeks and that has no spare at all - just the gunk which others have mentioned. Once you use that stuff I understand that it cannot be washed out so you have to replace the tyre regardless of the severity of the puncture - no repair is possible according to my Maxda garage. To add insult to injury, I believe that replacement cans of gunk do not come cheap!

I will get my tyres injected with Ultraseal which is supposed to prevent puncture - or at least if you get one the sealant seals it without dramatic loss of pressure. I have had good reports on this product via the MX5 Owners Club.

To be fair this is only the second time in 20 years I have had a puncture - the last time was just as I drove into the tyre place to have 4 new tyres fitted (I got around 40,000 miles out of the old ones) so that caused no inconvenience! Incidentally, for those of you in the UK, try Black Circles on the internet - they source tyres and arrange fitting locally at very reasonable prices (and for the cynics - no I have no connection to them!)

Andy

[cooperlola]

During the BX incident I mentioned earlier, we did not even notice we had a flat for some miles because the suspension system compensated for the difference in pressures.  By the time we did the original tyre was fit for nothing but the scrap heap. Depressing, as they were about £130 each even then (10 years ago) as they had to be fit for 130mph driving.  Sure, the "gunk" is fine if you notice in time, as you say.

[Pickles]

[quote user="ErnieY"]

To Pickles:  Space saver wheels are of the same diameter as the original to prevent the problem of reduced ride height.

[/quote]

I beg to differ, but on many cars the space saver overall diameter is significantly different to that of the "standard" tyres fitted to the car. For instance on Saabs it can be over 2 inches (though this may be an extreme example). I've helped a few people to fit space savers and found similar differences on Fiats and other cars.

I think the basic issue with regard to their legality is that they are recognised as being for emergency use only.

I will also refrain from further comment on this topic on the grounds that I will be tempting fate and do not want a puncture ....

Regards

Pickles

[Anton Redman]

The longest distance I have ever driven on a space saver was St Tropez to Surbiton in the late 70s. Early 16v Mk II GTI. visted every VW dealer and tyre specialist in Avignon before concluding that nobody stocked the correct sized tyre. Puncture happended on Saturday afternoon otherwise I would have bought a pair of second hand wheels. Mounted spacesaver on the back kept to the recommended limit and got incrediable fuel economy. Took two weeks for replacemnt spacesaver to arrive as ' Nobody ever wears them out'