Recently I started considered whether I should have a spare wheel. I got my Yeti in Feb 2014 and decided against the spare wheel option, partly because of the space it takes up, partly because of the cost. Anyway, scroll forward 2 years and, although I haven't had to use the gunk kit, I was thinking that it could be a pain, especially in the dark on the motorway and obviously no use if the tyre has more than a simple hole in it. I still don't much like Skoda's prices and I also still don't fancy losing the space taken up by a full sized wheel, so I compromised and found an 18" Golf Mk5 space saver wheel and tyre, with toolkit (because I need the jack now!) for £60 delivered on ebay. It is a 125/70/18 tyre which has almost exactly the same rolling diameter as the Scudo alloy wheel/tyre combo I have on

 

A few hours of tinkering later and for no additional cost (because I had the bits and pieces lying around) I now have a space saver wheel in my boot with raised floor. Summary:

 

• test fitted the wheel to make absolutely sure it is the right PCD
• cut the polystyrene toolkit holder down so it fits under the wheel instead of on top, since that's the least space-using way of fitting the wheel in the Yeti's boot
• made a fixing bolt from the big washer from an MX5 spare wheel bolt, a standard bolt and a piece of steel bar, threaded to take the bolt. I also cut the end off the handle from an old office chair, as it has a hexagonal inside suitable for easy turning of the bolt head and saves having to faff around with a spanner.
• made left and right supports/storage boxes from plywood and wood from some dismantled drawers.
• boxes have holes drilled to fit on the threaded studs on the boot floor. The right hand one is additionally held down with a steel tab using one of the OEM plastic box fixing bolts.

I left the small net on the left attached to the bottom loops but the one across the backs of the seats I attached to the seats themselves, otherwise it would be a pain to remove.

 

I was going to put some plywood on top but since I have the optional double sided boot mat, I decided just to refit the carpet and put the boot on top. If it turns out not to be solid enough, I will put some plywood on top. I had to unclip the original boot carpet at the front edge, but it still just about tucks under the plastic trim OK.

 

I've left the compressor and gunk in there for the time being...

 

At some point, I may put some carpeting inside the boxes to stop stuff making a noise when rattling around.

 

The next result is that the new floor is only <=9cm higher than the old one

 

Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by simonmc

Well done .  

Oh dear!!

The Yeti is not Type Approved to use that sort of wheel, it probably does not have the correct weight rating, so therefore you are breaking the Law using it and will also invalidate your insurance.

Well done .  

 

Great job. This is the solution Skoda should have done . Guess you need to inform your insurance company however

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Hmmm - I just went and checked the load rating (I assume that is what is meant by weight rating above). The existing Skoda-supplied standard road tyres are W rated which I looked up as 670kg. The space saver is M rated which is 775kg, apparently, so it should be OK from that point of view.

 

Several places are selling that width of spare tyre as being for Yeti e.g. this and this. I did a search on www.skodaparts.com and it came up with what looks like exactly the same combo (though it does say Octavia VRS...)

 

As you say, a call to the insurance co may be in order.

Neither of the ones in your link are legal for fitment to a Yeti!

And the screenshots both say Octavia!

Just because a retailer says something fits does not make it correct or legal.

Hmmm - I just went and checked the load rating (I assume that is what is meant by weight rating above). The existing Skoda-supplied standard road tyres are W rated which I looked up as 670kg. The space saver is M rated which is 775kg, apparently, so it should be OK from that point of view.

 

Several places are selling that width of spare tyre as being for Yeti e.g. this and this. I did a search on www.skodaparts.com and it came up with what looks like exactly the same combo (though it does say Octavia VRS...)

 

As you say, a call to the insurance co may be in order.

Screenshot 2016-02-14 20.27.gifScreenshot05 2016-02-14 20.46.gifScreenshot07 2016-02-14 20.46.gif

 

"W" it's a speed rating (168 MPH)

The certainty of detection of this technical, Level 1, offence is nil, therefore I wouldn't give this aspect a second thought.

The insurance issue is somewhat different, however it only really impacts if you have an accident serious enough to warrant the car being inspected by an insurance assessor. Given you will only rarely (if ever) be using the spare and then probably for relatively short distances and at low speed, the probability of an issue arising is very low and the concomitant risk is one I would certainly be willing to accept.

A good job, well,done.

"W" it's a speed rating (168 MPH)

 

Yes, my mistake: I meant to say 99 = 670kg, 94 = 775kg

Other way around simonmc - http://www.blackcircles.com/general/load-rating

Although 94 is the load index rating of the normal (almost full size) spare wheel.

Other way around simonmc - http://www.blackcircles.com/general/load-rating

Although 94 is the load index rating of the normal (almost full size) spare wheel.

 

 

I'll get there in the end! Standard tyre has 94 = 670kg, space saver has 99 = 775kg i.e. higher load rating.

I have also added a Space Saver Spare Wheel and jack. My Insurance Co [L & V] were happy about it and so am I.