According to the AA website, if a directional tyre is fitted the wrong way round, the tyre won't be dangerous, but you won't gain any of the benefits of it's design.

Learn something new every day. Still with the reaction I got on my fabia vrs (felt like it was badly balanced with tracking out and pulled away from spare on braking) I wouldn't advise going much over the marked 50mph.

Learn something new every day. Still with the reaction I got on my fabia vrs (felt like it was badly balanced with tracking out and pulled away from spare on braking) I wouldn't advise going much over the marked 50mph.

Definitely with a slim space saver, I would agree, don't exceed 50mph. The 205/55/R16 supplied with my Elegance as a space saver is effectively a full size replacement, admittedly it is 20mm narrower than the alloy but when you take into account the combined wheel and tyre diameter, there are only a few mm between them.

 but when you take into account the combined wheel and tyre diameter, there are only a few mm between them.

What between the heights of the wheels? I thought they were meant to be the same heights overall. Otherwise the spare is hardly fit for purpose.

So what are people searching on when looking to buy a spare on ebay?

 

I have the 18" wheels on the 2013 vRS. do I just search for 7.5J wheel or am I missing somethng?

Search by wheel size and spec. You can also search on vehicles like seat Leon, cupra, golf r32, Audi TT. And others. 

What between the heights of the wheels? I thought they were meant to be the same heights overall. Otherwise the spare is hardly fit for purpose.

Just had time to find this, not sure if the link will save my data but I entered your wheel sizes and it states about 2mm difference in diameter!

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=225&aspect=45&diameter=17&wheelwidth=7.0&offset=45&width2=205&aspect2=55&diameter2=16&wheelwidth2=6.5&offset2=45#content

Just had time to find this, not sure if the link will save my data but I entered your wheel sizes and it states about 2mm difference in diameter!

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=225&aspect=45&diameter=17&wheelwidth=7.0&offset=45&width2=205&aspect2=55&diameter2=16&wheelwidth2=6.5&offset2=45#content

Cheers Matt.

Well to me, thats a spare wheel which is not fit for purpose. Space saver or not space saver, it has to be the correct diameter.

I accept spare wheels arent seen in the same light as they used to be. They are purely seen as an emergency piece of kit. Not much better than a tyre repair kit really. But if you advertise a spare wheel, it has to enable you to drive the car safely. Otherwise it isnt a spare wheel designed for the car it comes with.

With the spare wheel on the car will constantly try and turn to one side.

 

Will be checking my paperwork, and can see an angry visit to the dealers coming on.

Cheers Matt.

Well to me, thats a spare wheel which is not fit for purpose. Space saver or not space saver, it has to be the correct diameter.

I accept spare wheels arent seen in the same light as they used to be. They are purely seen as an emergency piece of kit. Not much better than a tyre repair kit really. But if you advertise a spare wheel, it has to enable you to drive the car safely. Otherwise it isnt a spare wheel designed for the car it comes with.

With the spare wheel on the car will constantly try and turn to one side.

Will be checking my paperwork, and can see an angry visit to the dealers coming on.

That's why there's a 50mph limit on it, so it is fit for purpose and totally safe, otherwise they wouldn't supply them.

It no it won't try to turn to one side, as even with the spare on the wheels will still point straight ahead so it will go in a straight line.

That's why there's a 50mph limit on it, so it is fit for purpose and totally safe, otherwise they wouldn't supply them.

It no it won't try to turn to one side, as even with the spare on the wheels will still point straight ahead so it will go in a straight line.

The car will be leaning int towards the spare. It will be ever so slightly lower in that corner. This could possibly cause the car to try and turn towards this direction.

Admittedly it will only be 1mm lower, but still. That is not fit for purpose.

Its about time we got back to the day when spare wheel meant spare wheel. Even if it is still a charged extra.

 

Oh, and even if something isnt fit for purpose, it could still be perfectly safe. I havent mentioned anything about it being safe.

Edited 31 December, 201312 yr by JungleJames

The car will be leaning int towards the spare. It will be ever so slightly lower in that corner. This could possibly cause the car to try and turn towards this direction.

Admittedly it will only be 1mm lower, but still. That is not fit for purpose.

Its about time we got back to the day when spare wheel meant spare wheel. Even if it is still a charged extra.

Oh, and even if something isnt fit for purpose, it could still be perfectly safe. I havent mentioned anything about it being safe.

Yes it will be leaning but the wheel will be still be point straight ahead to the car will carry on straight, simple physics.

It is a still a spare wheel, no has ever said it has to be the same size when it's supplied as a temporary spare with a restricted speed.

Anyway good luck telling VAG the the spare wheels they've been supplying for decades aren't for for purpose.

Yes it will be leaning but the wheel will be still be point straight ahead to the car will carry on straight, simple physics.

It is a still a spare wheel, no has ever said it has to be the same size when it's supplied as a temporary spare with a restricted speed.

Anyway good luck telling VAG the the spare wheels they've been supplying for decades aren't for for purpose.

Must just be the way i look at it then. Spare wheel= correct size, space saver or not.

Yes the wheels will be pointing the same direction, but the vehicle may try and pull to the side of the spare. Hence extra effort to keep it straight.

Whether VAG agree or not, doesnt mean they are right. A spare wheel should be the same diameter as the wheels the car is delivered with. VAG will no doubt not agree with me as this has no doubt saved them money over the years.  

I can live with a space saver (even if i dont agree with the way it is going), but it should be the correct diameter.

You must frequently rotate your tyres then if you keep your spare within less than 2mm of all 4 running tyres. Serious commitment there.

The car will be leaning int towards the spare. It will be ever so slightly lower in that corner. This could possibly cause the car to try and turn towards this direction.

Admittedly it will only be 1mm lower, but still. That is not fit for purpose.

Its about time we got back to the day when spare wheel meant spare wheel. Even if it is still a charged extra.

 

Oh, and even if something isnt fit for purpose, it could still be perfectly safe. I havent mentioned anything about it being safe.

Don't forget that your tyres wear out, so a part worn full size tyre, may well have the same or less diameter than a new space saver tyre, and with the probability of a flat being greater as your tyres wear, then the likelihood of the spare being of lesser diameter is reduced. You could also easily have the same effect as you describe between the OEM wheels/tyres if for some reason one tyre is wearing quicker than the others?

Putting this all into context, if the typical wear depth between a new and fully worn tyre is say 5mm, then surely the tolerance for any spare being fit for purpose must be +/- 10mm overall diameter compared to the OEM wheels with new tyres?

I think the service manager will be thinking "we've got a live one here" if you barge in demanding a replacement spare. My advice would be that this approach might damage your future relationship with the dealer that you may need to support you if anything serious goes wrong with your car in future, tread carefully, no pun intended!

Don't forget that your tyres wear out, so a part worn full size tyre, may well have the same or less diameter than a new space saver tyre, and with the probability of a flat being greater as your tyres wear, then the likelihood of the spare being of lesser diameter is reduced. You could also easily have the same effect as you describe between the OEM wheels/tyres if for some reason one tyre is wearing quicker than the others?

Putting this all into context, if the typical wear depth between a new and fully worn tyre is say 5mm, then surely the tolerance for any spare being fit for purpose must be +/- 10mm overall diameter compared to the OEM wheels with new tyres?

I think the service manager will be thinking "we've got a live one here" if you barge in demanding a replacement spare. My advice would be that this approach might damage your future relationship with the dealer that you may need to support you if anything serious goes wrong with your car in future, tread carefully, no pun intended!

Fair point. Hadnt thought about the effect of the tyres wearing out.

I still think the spare should be the same size, but yes, i was probably typing before thinking it all fully through.

Newbie alert!!

 

About to pick up a 1 yr old octavia estate and have ordered a spare wheel as an extra (at some cost!). Not sure whether to cancel the order as it will be a proper steel wheel but with smaller sized tyre than the standard meaning that it is restricted to 50mph - i.e. it is not a replacement. The dealer said that the tyre was good for more than 50mph but it was Skoda UK's decision to restrict as wheel will be slightly different size. Perhaps I should go for kit  and liner and source my own tyre and rim? 

 

Not sure what to do from here!

 

Rob

It's not suks choice, its the law as it is a different size to the other wheels.  This is why I sorted out my own full size spare as that would be a real pain for a high percentage of my journeys.   Watch ebay and within a few weeks you'll find the right size used but perfectly healthy alloy, most probably from a seat Leon or golf. All the details of size needed and such are in this thread (if you need an 18"). Expect to pay £60 to £65 if it's an 18" you need

I think the rims are supposed to be 16" Velorum as it is a greenline. They look like velorums on the photo. I will get the details and watch ebay for a spare. I wonder how much they would ask for the toolkit! I'll ask tomorrow. Cheers!

 

Rob 

oops sorry I didn't look at what your car was.  I thought only the vrs got space saver wheels?  although i believe all the others are labeled as such, i thought the other model's were full size spare wheels.

 

you'll still save a few quid if you buy a used rim, alloy or steel, on ebay.  at 16" you'd get an alloy for under 50 quid, steel cheaper.  a 2 tonne scissor jack and a wheel brace would be another 20 quid at amazon.

Don't forget that the OEM spare is a full size 16" steel on non vRS so with 16" alloys fitted, there will be no speed restriction as the spare is the same size. Speed restriction only applies to cars fitted with 17" or 18" alloys.

Oops - I have just realised that the thread was about VRS. The dealer tells me that it is speed limited. In theory there is no OEM because the Greenline is not supposed to have a spare.

 

Rob

I asked for a spare wheel in with the deal for my new vrs. I am not a great lover of the gunk n pump system, plus tyre fitters dont like repairing tyres that have been a victim of gunk.

I have now been assured that because they are 16" wheels the spare will be exactly the same tyre size!

Good, that sounds correct.

I have a full size steel spare on my MkII VRS estate and asked to swap it into the MKIII I have ordered and the dealer told me it won't fit as the well in the boot is sized for the skinny spare they now supply so have ordered one of those as its better than silly foam.

 

I did read a thread on here saying due to the size of the front brake discs the old full size steel spares wont fit......

the full alloy spare will fit in the well, just sticks up about 1/2 ",also if you chop the legs and sides off the tool carrier it will fit perfectly in the spare, thats what iv done with my kerbed alloy as it was cost egffective

the full alloy spare will fit in the well, just sticks up about 1/2 ",also if you chop the legs and sides off the tool carrier it will fit perfectly in the spare, thats what iv done with my kerbed alloy as it was cost egffective

not much point if the wheel won't fit on the front hub of the Mkiii vrs due to the disks