Hi Guys, hope someone can answer my curiosity.

 

I am the very happy owner of an SE Connect since last October and specified a spare wheel from new as it gives me a certain peace of mind.

 

Unluckily had to use it last weekend and wondered why the spare is a 195/65 R91T when the normal wheel is a 205/55 R16 91V.

 

I see from other posts that this is the norm, but as the wheel I took off seemed to happily fit in the space under the boot, I wondered why a speed restricted spare was provided?

 

Thanks for any answers, I might be tempted to get a full size spare wheel if that was a realistic option.

Because it's cheaper for Skoda to use the same size for spare wheels, regardless of the size of the wheels fitted to the car.

I think you can spec a full sized alloy as a spare wheel from new. 

 

My 2006 Octavia has a 16" alloy spare the same as the wheels on it, but I think it was a £150 option.

pretty sure my car has a 195/65/15 spare but the alloys are 205/60/15

It should be said, it's not just a skoda phenomenon.

 

I don't think I have ever owned a car with alloy wheels that has the same size spare tyre in steel or alloy.....except my Octavia.     

the vrs has a 16" spare but with 18" wheels. They fit a bigger profile tyre to make up for it.

 

The spare's remember are full size, not space savers so they just use the same wheels as they'd put on the car

I have the same as ryan-re, though don't forget, spacesaver or normal tyre if the rim is a different size the same speed restriction applies as if you had a skinny spacesaver

50mph limit isnt it and they are designed to get you to the nearest tyre place.

 

Saying that, i've seen loads of people driving down the motorway at 70+ on a space saver. Talk about asking for trouble

50mph limit isnt it and they are designed to get you to the nearest tyre place.

 

Saying that, i've seen loads of people driving down the motorway at 70+ on a space saver. Talk about asking for trouble

They're the same people who drive around on bald/knackered/half flat tyres.  They were alright at the last MoT!

It should be said, it's not just a skoda phenomenon.

 

I don't think I have ever owned a car with alloy wheels that has the same size spare tyre in steel or alloy.....except my Octavia.     

 

The A4 1.8T Sport that I was driving as a company car in 2003 had 16" alloy wheels with 205/55 tyres - the spare was the same alloy wheel with the same size tyre.  My 2002 Honda Accord had 15" alloys with 195/60 tyres - the spare was a steel wheel of the same size with the same size tyre.

 

No other car built since 2002 that I have owned  has had a spare with the same size wheel and tyre as fitted to the car.  However, I have always purchased a full sized wheel and tyre as a spare and they have always fitted in the spare wheel well.  I intend to do the same with my recently purchased 2012 Octavia vRS which has 225/40 tyres on 18" Neptune wheels.

50mph limit isnt it and they are designed to get you to the nearest tyre place.

 

Saying that, i've seen loads of people driving down the motorway at 70+ on a space saver. Talk about asking for trouble

 

 

Usually it's one of those skinny bicycle tyres too, not something like the 195 the VRS has.

At that age, the spare matched the car, at least on the 16 inch alloys.

 

Both my 54 plate and 08 plate are Elegance spec, with factory Vega alloys, and both have a full size Vega alloy as spares.

 

Mike

 

Interesting. My Octavia has been in the family since new. I'm sure my Dad said the alloy spare was an option.......I could be mistaken, I'll investigate.  

It should be said, it's not just a skoda phenomenon.

 

I don't think I have ever owned a car with alloy wheels that has the same size spare tyre in steel or alloy.....except my Octavia.     

I have a 13 year old Mk2 Mondeo, and it still has the unused original spare alloy plus new tyre in the well - same size as the rest - 195/60/15.

 

Come to think of it, I still have the five alloy wheels and tyres (all the same size) from my old 1982 Alfa Giulietta in the garage.

Edited 9 July, 201312 yr by andyoctavia

I have a 13 year old Mk2 Mondeo, and it still has the unused original spare alloy plus new tyre in the well - same size as the rest - 195/60/15.

I had a mk11 Mondy and it's value went down faster than a skydiver in freefall so it must be worth more than the rest of the car by now  

Interesting. My Octavia has been in the family since new. I'm sure my Dad said the alloy spare was an option.......I could be mistaken, I'll investigate.  

For many years Skoda was one of the very few car manufacturers who still gave a full size alloy spare as standard. Unfortunately in about 2009 or 2010 they went to the opposite extreme and now only supply a silly can of foam & pump as standard, or a space saver as an option

I bought a spare with my new octavia elegence in 2012 the only option was full sized steel.

Thanks for all the comments guys.  My last two cars - not Skoda - were steel wheels all round so the issue did not arise and it is probably 10 years since I had alloys when the steel spare was the same size as the alloys.

 

Like most of us these days I guess, changing a wheel is fortunately rare, this was only my second time in 10 years or more, but as I make longer trips once or twice a month a can of foam which would not cope with a badly damaged tyre or take me more than 50 miles was not a comforting option.

 

When I got the car I was able to specify a spare over the foam, but I did not pick up that it was a temporary wheel and I was not offered a full size alternative - which I would have gone for.

 

With the rarirty of tyre problems, and as the spare will get me home, I have to decide whether replacing it with a full size spare makes sense.

 

Thanks again - always a good read on the forum.

I had a mk11 Mondy and it's value went down faster than a skydiver in freefall so it must be worth more than the rest of the car by now  

I bought it for £2350 in 2005 from auction, and it has not cost me very much to maintain. If I wanted to sell it, then I reckon I could get around £800 maybe more, so that is not bad depreciation over eight years.

I haave a full size wheel, 205 55 r16, spec'd from new for 75 quid. Mines a 61 plate octavia estate

For many years Skoda was one of the very few car manufacturers who still gave a full size alloy spare as standard. Unfortunately in about 2009 or 2010 they went to the opposite extreme and now only supply a silly can of foam & pump as standard, or a space saver as an option

 

Not true - it depends on the geographical market.

Here in oz, Skoda supplies its cars with a full size spare as standard.

they're not alloy spares, but the full size steel version.  

not the skinny space saver "bicycle" version.

hello!

 

Can you use an 15'' (spiked winter tyre) as a spare for 16'' summer tyres and vice versa winter time on an octavia 4x4, or is there risk for transmission wind up such as on my Land Rover?

Or do i Need to get 2 spares one for 15'' and one 16''?

 

//Jan

Edited 10 July, 201312 yr by lacrits68

You need a spare Tyre with a Total Diameter & Rolling radius near enough to the Tyre it is temporarily replacing, so as not to cause effects like windup on AWD systems, or any other drivetrain.

(remember to re-set the TPMS when the spare is put on the car, and again once the repair is done or tyre pressures changed.)

 

The wheel size is rather unimportant as long as it fits on the vehicle.

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

 

george

 

PS Wind up is less likely where there is slippery surfaces,

central diff & open diffs in the axles.

But care does need taken with many AWD systems when on surfaces with good traction,

& tyre size differences.

That can include new tyres mixed with old, & different pressures across axles with some vehicles.

All 3 of my Octavia VRS have come with full size alloy spare. If you stand your ground and don't take no for an answer you can normally get them free in the deal or at least heavily discounted. Its a no brainer for me if you have a blow out then tyre repair can might as well throw it in the bin and if you accidentally curb / scuff one of your alloys then you have a spare to put on while it gets repaired etc.

hello!

 

Dumb question, what is TPMS? Does not ring a bell....di my 2006my 1,9tdi 4x4 have one?

 

//Jan

Edited 10 July, 201312 yr by lacrits68

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.