Mine will come WITHOUT the spacesaver spare

The cost of the after fit spacesaver "kit" is quite expensive

I think that I will do the following.

1). make do with the "gunk" kit and supplement this with a large can of Halfords tyre weld, (much) cheaper AND the BMW Bike 'type" tyre repair kit that I carry on my motor bike, (similar to the old plug repair kit for tyres)

2). Buy 4 steel wheels and winter tyres, I intend to use winter tyres anyway, - cost should be maybe £400 or less.

I am concerned because I travel quite a lot in the UK and Europe - I have had the odd puncture over the year and three years ago "took out" the two nearside tyres when I hit a pot hole on a French country road - It took me two days to source replacement tyres - not a common size and had to travel 50 miles to get them in a friends car.

For shortish journeys the can and compressor plus the breakdown services should be the job and in an extreme case can be supplemented with a temporary plug repair if needed.

On longer journeys plus holidays etc., one of the steel wheels/winter tyres will be taken and in winter the reverse - presumably I can get this to fit in the boot space but will have to make some kind of plywood floor to fit over it

this way I'll be happier when I travel plus the investment in the "spare" will be worthwhile and not much greater than the skoda spacesaver.

Skoda replacement "gunk" is expensive and reading up on the alternatives, Halfords tyre weld seems up to the job - (a question - is Skoda gunk the same stuff as Ultraseal, (it's a greeny/blue in colour), that can be put permanently in most types of tyres

What do you think/

The standard wheels are deeper than the factory spare and I think, if laid down will be above the boot threshold height. I fit mine vertically to the horizontal bar in the boot and tie it down to that and the tie down point in the the corner.

Mike

PS, yes in my opinion it is best to have a spare. I have used it 2 times now in under 4000 miles....

Edited 7 March, 201115 yr by rockhopper

do any other skoda/vw/seat/audi wheels fit the yeti?

I think thats a wise move. I ordered my Yeti with spare wheel and went on to buy 4 steels with winter tyres (from mytyres) since it was really pathetic in snow with the original 17in wheels with summer tyres. Would have been cheaper to just have used one of my winters for a spare, from a quick glance think it would fit into the boot space fine. On the other hand carrying your 17in for a spare in the winter dont think that will fit easily!!, so have just screwed up my logic!!- just buy your Yeti with the spare wheel (doesnt cost much anyhow) and leave it in there to cover all eventualities.

On the other hand carrying your 17in for a spare in the winter dont think that will fit easily!!, so have just screwed up my logic!!

Why not buy 5 winter wheels/tyre from mytyres for a winter spare if this is the direction you are thinking about.

I think thats a wise move. I ordered my Yeti with spare wheel and went on to buy 4 steels with winter tyres (from mytyres) since it was really pathetic in snow with the original 17in wheels with summer tyres. Would have been cheaper to just have used one of my winters for a spare, from a quick glance think it would fit into the boot space fine. On the other hand carrying your 17in for a spare in the winter dont think that will fit easily!!, so have just screwed up my logic!!- just buy your Yeti with the spare wheel (doesnt cost much anyhow) and leave it in there to cover all eventualities.

my 140 4WD is coming next week - I only ordered it last week - it is one a dealer has in stock - it's LHD which I wanted and I bought it in France

It is coming with NO spare and 17" Spitsbergs

I was suggesting a solution to consider for someone in the same position

I'm happy with the Gunk solution plus a self administered plug if really necessary near to home - but I use the car a lot in Northern Spain and SW France and I want a proper spare that is useable over some distance if the need arises

I'll buy 5 x 16" with winter tyres once I have checked out what will fit in the boot - I'll then carry the full sized spare if I am travelling some distance

as a factory option the spacesaver is a good £ deal - but as an aftermarket dealer fit you may as well buy an extra 16" steel - especially if you go the winter tyre route - much more useful if you have a puncture a distance from home and far more "cost effective" as it will get used as a normal tyre, (part of the winter set)

an extra 16" steel with a winter tyre is maybe £100 - the dealer kit with space saver is much more than that - and it is not really needed if you are nearish to home as most of the time the Gunk method sorts the problem out quicker and cleaner

Take the best from the can/compressor solution, and supplement this if you feel exposed on any trip out.

Just me views

Edited 7 March, 201115 yr by BillN_33

an extra 16" steel with a winter tyre is maybe £100 - the dealer kit with space saver is much more than that - and it is not really needed if you are nearish to home as most of the time the Gunk method sorts the problem out quicker and cleaner

Just me views

A dealer kit with a Spacesaver is "an extra 16" steel"

tom

A dealer kit with a Spacesaver is "an extra 16" steel"

tom

tom

so I can use the spacesaver as a 'winter" tyre and only need to buy another three

so I can use the spacesaver as a permanent tyre

have you read the thread at all!!!!

Edited 7 March, 201115 yr by BillN_33

I think the reason for the speed restriction on the 'spare' is because there is a mismatch between the wheels/tyres - rather than the tyre itself?

If you had 4 spares with winter tyres there's be no problem?

Thats how I understand it, though I wouldn't want to lose all that ride height.........If using the 195's.....

Mike

Edited 7 March, 201115 yr by rockhopper

Don't forget that the dealer kit also includes a reinforced boot floor to cover the spare wheel, plus extra storage bins to go either side of the tyre. It's not just the wheel & tyre combination.

See the Plumbers excellent guide