Space Saver Wheel - Is my paranoia justified?

[adhock]

If your vehicle is fitted with 7.0 J x 17 ET 49 wheels on 225/45 R17 tyres (which it is, since it's a Highline) then you'll need the exact same wheel and tyre assembly if you prefer not to be limited to 80 km/h while driving on the spare.

Thanks. Point understood, even tho rolling radius should be the same. However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta), I'd really rather have a full size spare wheel that could get me further than Caiguna roadhouse, which isn't the centre of the universe despite what their bumper stickers say. Put otherwise, I shudder to think of the price of a 225/45 x 17 Pirelli in Mundrabilla or Billabong roadhouse, should they even have one.

[Diesel_vert]

thanks for the clarification. But my point (admittadly not made with sufficient clarity) is that the manual doesn't prohibit use of the spare on the front tire. It only says that you ought travel a distance of no more than 200 kms (as you have correctly emphasised).

That is how I understand it, yes.

My concern was that there was a sleeper clause in the manual somewhere that placed more debilitating restrictions on front tire use.

It doesn't state the reason, but it's mostly to do with protecting the vehicle's drivetrain and/or differential.

Again, this has nothing to do with any limitations of a T-type temporary tyre. The same rationale would apply if you were to fit a non-matching standard tyre.

If point four is the only restriction then within a 200 km range, the only need for two tire change should be if snow chains are fitted on the front (I think).

In case the front tyre needs to be replaced with a temporary spare (T-type or standard) on a FWD vehicle:

Unmount the rear tyre first and mount the temporary spare in its place (first tyre change).

Unmount the busted front tyre and mount with the rear tyre that was just taken off (second tyre change).

Thanks. Point understood, even tho rolling radius should be the same.

The difference in rolling circumference figures may be relatively small (apart from the T 125/70 R16 tyre), but are enough to have significant effects on the drivetrain in the long term.

Standard tyres:

195/65 R15 91H - 1937 mm
205/55 R16 91V - 1928 mm
225/45 R17 91W - 1934 mm
225/40 R18 92Y - 1943 mm
225/35 R19 88Y - 1955 mm

T-type temporary tyres:

T 125/70 R16 96M - 1787 mm
T 125/70 R18 99M - 1943 mm

However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta), I'd really rather have a full size spare wheel that could get me further than Caiguna roadhouse, which isn't the centre of the universe despite what their bumper stickers say.

As you are probably already aware, travelling in remote areas takes a bit of thought and preparation. In such circumstances, carrying a matching spare wheel and tyre would be considered essential (amongst other items).

If I could help it, I too would not attempt to cover vast distances in remote areas without a matching spare wheel and tyre assembly.

I shudder to think of the price of a 225/45 x 17 Pirelli in Mundrabilla or Billabong roadhouse, should they even have one.

The tyre itself need not be of the same make, model, tread pattern, load index or speed symbol - only that it be of the same size (225/45 R17), be of the same construction type (radial), not have a lesser load index than the what has been approved for the size (91) and have a speed symbol of at least S (180 km/h).

[wai]

...However, if I'm halfway between Geraldton and Carnarvon (490 km apart) or halfway across the Nullarbor (~2000 km between significant civilization - Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, another half day odd to Port Augusta)...

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

[Mountainman]

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

You don't have to go too far out of the capital cities to find yourself isolated from any real car service at all. I travel west from Toowoomba often and on Sundays everything is closed down. Millmerran to Goondiwindi is 140km of nothing and outside working hours there will be no service to replace tyres. Continuing down the Newell H'way is much the same. I also use the Golf for interstate trips and after having crossed the Nullarbor a couple of times in my Forester as well as up the west coast to Shark Bay I really could not get myself to do it in the Golf without the security of knowing I had a standard replacement wheel and tyre with me. When leaving the Overlander Roadhouse way north of Geraldton I came across a poor guy in a new Alfa coupe with the spare spacesaver on limping slowly south and that made me determined to never end up in the same predicament. He had 300km to go to Geraldton where there was the first chance to replace the damaged tyre and had already done 150km. I hope he made it.

[brad]

But would you be using a vehicle that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare wheel if you were there? Most there would not be using vehicles that would be supplied with a spacesaver spare or can of pressurised foam.

Where the vehicles we are talking about are used, this is generally not an issue.

I would. I can't think of a better vehicle to cross The Nullabor with than my Octavia. It's a paved road all the way, the vehicle is comfortable, has excellant ground clearance, decent long travel suspension, cruise beautifully at 120kmh & gets <7L/100km & about 900km between fills.

There are plenty of other vehicles with RFTs & space savers that would do the job comfortably as well - better than some fuel gobbling SUV like my wife's Captiva which surprise, surprise has a spacesaver. I certainly wouldn't want to do the trip in a proper 4WD unless I intended going offroad.

[Mountainman]

I would. I can't think of a better vehicle to cross The Nullabor with than my Octavia. It's a paved road all the way, the vehicle is comfortable, has excellant ground clearance, decent long travel suspension, cruise beautifully at 120kmh & gets <7L/100km & about 900km between fills.

I can - my Mk7 Golf. All the positives of the Octavia plus it's even quieter and it gets 5L/100km cruising on an indicated 115km/h. It does have the spacesaver spare but the only 2 flat tyres I've had in the last 25 years and more than 1 million km has been in my Forester on really rough outback gibber roads (and then I was lucky enough to find the only new spare of the correct size in Birdsville). You would have to be very unlucky to get a flat on the major h'ways like the Nullarbor, although back in 1976 I did pick up a nail near the Nullarbor Roadhouse and had the "joy" of doing a roadside change in over 40C summer heat.

[brad]

Suspension is a bit more suited on Octavia - tuned for lousy Czech roads

[Diesel_vert]

When leaving the Overlander Roadhouse way north of Geraldton I came across a poor guy in a new Alfa coupe with the spare spacesaver on limping slowly south and that made me determined to never end up in the same predicament.

He had 300km to go to Geraldton where there was the first chance to replace the damaged tyre and had already done 150km.

I hope he made it.

You make it sound like he was being chased by Mick Taylor.

Provided the temporary spare had sufficient tread depth, there's no reason why he wouldn't have made it.

The biggest issue for him would've been the boredom and tediousness of being limited to 80 km/h.

[Idle]

I still can't understand why these things were ever legal — maybe it's because car companies can afford more political pressure than their customers?

Try and get a car past roadworthy with one (or perhaps four) of them on it...

I recently had to make a quite long run (including about 75K's of freeway @ 80K) on one — got tailgated, sworn at, chopped in on and generally abused and then, despite the damage being due to lack of road maintenance (major highway with more and larger potholes than you'd find in a third world country), had to pay for the replacement of a tyre with less than 400k on it.

Also got soaked to the skin changing the wheel.

[Diesel_vert]

I still can't understand why these things were ever legal — maybe it's because car companies can afford more political pressure than their customers?

Many changes to the ADR have been a result of the harmonisation process with that of European vehicle regulations:

Harmonisation

The Australian Government’s policy is to harmonise the national vehicle safety standards with international regulations where possible and consideration is given to the adoption of the international regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Australia is a signatory to the UNECE 1958 Agreement and the 1998 Agreement. The policy to harmonise is also important to fulfil World Trade Organisation and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation commitments.

Source: Australian Design Rules

Thus, our regulations make allowances for the use of temporary spare tyres (T-type or standard) in emergencies.

Temporary spares are not meant to be installed and driven on for extended periods, irrespective of their tread life, and should be replaced with a matching wheel and tyre as soon as is practicable.

Try and get a car past roadworthy with one (or perhaps four) of them on it...

It won't (see above rationale). It is a requirement that all wheels and tyres fitted on an axle must be of the same size.

Though I love the idea of fitting four T-type temporary tyres and doing slides all over the place, haha!

I recently had to make a quite long run (including about 75K's of freeway @ 80K) on one — got tailgated, sworn at, chopped in on and generally abused and then, despite the damage being due to lack of road maintenance (major highway with more and larger potholes than you'd find in a third world country), had to pay for the replacement of a tyre with less than 400k on it.

I often see drivers dish out the same behaviour to any learner driver on a highway, even if they're in the left lane - just terrible. Whatever happened to courtesy and patience?

Having said that, if I had no choice but to drive at 80 km/h on such a busy motorway or highway, I would put the hazard lights on.

Also got soaked to the skin changing the wheel.

Well, look at it this way - you still would have got soaked even you had a matching spare.

[brad]

Though I love the idea of fitting four T-type temporary tyres and doing slides all over the place, haha!

I present this:

[Diesel_vert]

You've made my day - absolutely brilliant!

I now know what I want for Christmas.

[Eaglehawk]

All the spares that everyone is replacing with full size spares?

[Idle]

Having said that, if I had no choice but to drive at 80 km/h on such a busy motorway or highway, I would put the hazard lights on.

(And get pulled over by the first copper that saw me...)

Well, look at it this way - you still would have got soaked even you had a matching spare.

Yes, I'd have still got wet, but I'd only have had to jack the car up once and change one wheel — the flat was on the right front.

Also had to drive a long way on the flat (it was wrecked anyway — split sidewall, and fortunately the "solid gold?" wheel survived) to find a safe place to pull off.

[DV52]

I present this:

Brad: I agree with Deisal_Vert - brilliant Video! Is fun really better than speed? I had thought that for those who like their cars to slide around corners, fun eguals speed!

Anyhow, just one question. The space saver spares in the video were running at 60 PSI. Seems rather high. What's the accepted wisdom for pressures in these tyres?