...what spare wheel did you get- full size or space saver ? i think early cars had full size and later ones had space saver. trying to work out what i am going to get so i can look at alternatives as i dont like space savers.

...what spare wheel did you get- full size or space saver ? i think early cars had full size and later ones had space saver. trying to work out what i am going to get so i can look at alternatives as i dont like space savers.

The "early one" I have has got a space saver as well, contrary to what Skoda advertised

I don't know about the Superb II's, but I ordered a full size (alloy) spare as a non-cost option with my Octy (MY07).

thats naughty of skoda to put the wonrg specs in the brochure. i will see if i can source a full size wheel. the current brochure says that the S model is a full size but SE and elegance is space saver. this would imply (assuming this is waht happens in reality) that there is room for a 16" wheel.

I hope (and expect!) to receive a full size steel spare wheel with my 'S'.

VAG are doing a good job of shooting themselves in the foot with this one.

I got a really good cash offer for my AWX Mk I from an airport taxi firm who drive these things to starship mileages. Although I've decided not to sell the car (it's too good at its job even though I don't particularly like it) the operator told me that space-saver spare wheels are not allowed by many local authorities. The Mk I has a full size steel spare.

As VAG appear to have repeated the marketing disaster of the Mk I with the Mk II, most of them will no doubt end up as taxis. It seems they haven't even got the spec right for this...

rotodiesel.

Under the terms of the miscellaneous provisions act (1976) which 'most' local councils use as the 'bible' for taxi & private hire licensing you can't not licence a car if it has a space saver spare wheel as the car is still driveable up to 50mph....however if it has a can of puncture repair (like the new Galaxy etc.) then they will be refused as this is totally useless if your tyre is shredded or similar.

My Carens has a spacesaver, I was lucky enough to buy a set of (4) wheels & tyres on Ebay for £100, have used the tyres & sold 2 of the wheels for £50, bargain for me!

VAG will never admit they market the Superb at the cab trade, as others said recently that's beneath the average man in the street!

Just out of interest Roto do you know what kind of 'spaceship' mileage those guys go up to? The highest I know of is approaching 300k, it looks very tired!

Jonathan, I have just checked my one day old 170DSG Elegance, with Luna wheels and 225/40 18 inch wheels. The spare is a full size 205/55 16 inch!!

I will get ointo the dealer immediately to see if this is right, if not I don't have a spare tyre!

My SE with 17" wheels has a steel 16" (but otherwise normal) spare wheel

Jonathan, Problem solved, the spare is a steel wheel with a reduced spec tyre, not a conventional spacesaver, but never the less only rated for 50mph. A bit odd as there appears to be space in the wheel well for an 18" wheel, oh well it must have saved Skoda a few cost for each car with alloys.

Jonathan, Problem solved, the spare is a steel wheel with a reduced spec tyre, not a conventional spacesaver, but never the less only rated for 50mph. A bit odd as there appears to be space in the wheel well for an 18" wheel, oh well it must have saved Skoda a few cost for each car with alloys.

that doesnt make sense - the 16" is fitted on the S model so surely the spare is a standard 205/55/16 tyre which will take normal speed driving ? are you sure it s only rated to 50mph. i can think that i have ever seen a full size 16" tyre that is limited in speed to 50mph ?

The rolling radius of the 16" spare/tyre combo will be the same as the 18" wheel tyre/combo. Most manufacturers now supply new cars with small steel spare wheels with normal tyres on.

Jonathan, Yes defiunitely 50mph limit, a large yellow sticker on the tyre wall warns of maximum speed.

On a seperate tack the handbook describes how to adjust the height adjustable front arm rest, does this still apply as my armn rest and storage box seem fixed.

Should there be small storage nets on both sides of the transmission tunnel? I only have one on the passengers side.

Glasses case!! What a joke I cant even close the lid with a pair of clip on sunglasses in the box.

i agree. my dad had a puncture a couple of weeks ago and his spare was a steel 16" even though the car was fitted with alloy 17". it did have a limited speed - of 130kph !!!

On a seperate tack the handbook describes how to adjust the height adjustable front arm rest, does this still apply as my armn rest and storage box seem fixed.

I think so - my center storage box lid , like on my Superb I, opens on a ratchet that locks it at various heights to rest my left arm on:)

Glasses case!! What a joke I cant even close the lid with a pair of clip on sunglasses in the box.

I must say I have a pair of prescription sunglasses easily fitted into mine

Jonathan, Yes defiunitely 50mph limit, a large yellow sticker on the tyre wall warns of maximum speed.

how utterly ridiculous. i think i will nip out and get a proper tyre when i get my car. budget 16" shoudl be about £50. I would be interested to get all the data from the tyre and research it as i would be inclined not to believe the sticker !!! the tyre will have a speed rating which indicates the max speed. is it a 205/55/16 ?

Should there be small storage nets on both sides of the transmission tunnel? I only have one on the passengers side.

passenger side only - would not be practical on drivers side as you would catch your leg on the items in it when you are driving and be distracted from driving when reaching down to retrive stored items

Glasses case!! What a joke I cant even close the lid with a pair of clip on sunglasses in the box.

...

Maybe the lower limit is because you have 2 different sized tyres on one axle.

The sidewall on a 16" is going to be softer than an 18". so if you go into a corner "hard" you would get to different responses from the tyres in one bend which could upset the balance.

Just my thought on the matter.

The rolling radius of the 16" spare/tyre combo will be the same as the 18" wheel tyre/combo. Most manufacturers now supply new cars with small steel spare wheels with normal tyres on.

...is the correct answer. It's irrelevant what size the temporary spare wheel is, so long as the rolling radius is the same as the original wheel tyre combo. This means that manufacturers save money by utilising the smallest wheel size fitted to the car normally as the spare (i.e. 16'' in the case of the Superb II) and adjust for whether 16'', 17'' or 18'' wheels are fitted by fitting succesively higher profile tyres. The simple test to see if you have the correct size spare is to stand the spare next to one of the original wheels and tyres (when off the car) the two will look different and the tyre width will likely differ but the height should be the same.

Naturally a different profile, thinner tyre will alter the handling characteristics of the car, hence the speed limitation.

I'll be checking this on mine when it arrives before I drive it away from the showroom.

2slo

you dont even need to do that. simply do some maths . 16" is 407mm. a 205/55/16 tyre has a sidewall of 112.75mm (55% of 205mm). thus the overall diameter is 112.75+112.75+407 = 632.5mm. with a 225/45/17 you get 635.15mm. this is essentially the same as it only varies by 0.4%.

i cant understand (or believe ) the 50mph limit on a full size tyre. I will be checking the tyre manufacture's speed rating on the spare and using that as the guide on how fast it is save to drive.

The low limit is very reasonable. You would not want to drive any faster with two completely different size tyres on the same axle. Braking and steering will definetely be affected if you have a tyre that is 2cm wider than the other on each site.

And anyway, how many times are you expecting to use it? It's a spare for emergencies

Jonathan, I almost follow your tyre size caculations except from my original post you will see that I have standard 225/40 18inch wheels. The results is very similar and I guess therefore acceptable for an emergenecy situation.

I seem to remember the speed reduction being mentioned on spare wheels on Fabias and possibly Octavias and people mentioned it could have been down to the fact that some of the tyres were directional and to cover themselves Skoda put limited speed stickers on.

I think I remember reading a similar thread on the Fabia I forum, and I recall the speed sticker being on there not because of a different wheel on the axle, but the possibility that the tyre could be worn in different directions depended on what side of the car it was fitted to.

So on that basis the 50mph limit is just there to cover Skoda's behind...

EDIT: bigal rallyred beat me to it...

none of this makes sense. My das laguna has a smaller wheel as a spare and is OK up to 80mph. the roling radius will be the same . OK the sidewall will be taller and the width narrower but i am sure there is no risk driving up to 70mph.

obviously i am not planning on using it but i like to be prepared and have all the facts whiclst i am sat in the warm at my PC rather than waiting for the cold wet day on teh side of the M1 with my caravan on before i discover what i am up against.

I shall wait until my car comes along ans check the actual speed rating on the tyre and go from there !