Alternative spare wheel

[ianwayne]

Edit: Major error by me. I only test fitted it on the front. It doesn't fit the rear. There's a reason the space saver spare is 15". Please feel free to read the thread, I will explain the problem with a bump post.

My 2000 Chimaera has no spare and I don't think from that year it had one (no clips in boot to tie space saver to) and no jack. Up to recently I've risked it, carrying Tyreweld for what it's worth. Got full breakdown cover in case but getting a tyre to fit out in the sticks at a weekend would cost... a lot.

Second hand spacesaver spares go for £50 +, but I think they are next to useless. So, I bought a couple of second hand Ford Focus wheels off fleabay with 185/65 x 14 tyres. Not only are these much closer in diameter to the tyres fitted than the skinny spare, the speed isn't an issue, the bore size is correct and although the offset is ET47, they are only 5.5" wide so not an issue. Not that I'd drive fast and hard with one on, but you'd be OK at motorway cruising.

Any others used different spares? A full size one would be god but second hand TVR alloys aren't cheap enough to languish in the boot 'just in case.'

The only issue now is to carry round a trolley jack and wheel brace. Could just risk it I suppose, and then a breakdown firm would only be needed to put my spare on for me.

Edited by ianwayne on Wednesday 4th March 12:08

[ianwayne]

I forgot to mention that it does fit in the corner of the boot. It squeezes up against the boot edge and it closes fine. The spacesaver has to be lashed down because it's so small it would rattle about otherwise.

edit: Went out for 2 better photos:





Note: Need a valve cap, got loads somewhere.

A trolley jack will lie in the corner on the near side nicely. Exuberant cornering may shift it though.

My point is that it's not only cheaper than getting a genuine spacesaver, it's a better solution.

Edited by ianwayne on Wednesday 25th February 22:04

[ianwayne]

Perhaps saying it was better than a proper spacesaver was over-egging it, but it's better than having no spare at all. And for less than £10. I can still get the roof in there too, by putting it behind the roof once it's in the boot.

My 1995 Chimaera 500 that I had in 2001/02 had a spacesaver spare but it was wedged in the corner of the boot, not tied down at all.

The post about diff wind up is something I'd heard from advice on cars with full time 4wd, where they advise you shouldn't have a new and very worn tyre on the same axle for this reason. The size of the wheel would be immaterial though, just the overall diameter of the wheel / tyre combination.

[ianwayne]

When I test fitted the wheel, I only tried the front. It's a good job I tried it on a rear today rather than when I had a puncture. It doesn't fit.

I forgot the strange quirk that is TVR in fitting a bigger brake disc / caliper to the rear than the front. The wheel won't clear the rear caliper. Oh well, I have a spare for the front only then.

I suppose I could switch a front to the back if I have a rear wheel puncture so that the spare could go on the front. Balance would be all to rats but it would get me off the moor / mountain or whatever.

[ianwayne]

Sardonicus said:

I will say one thing about all this but god forbid you have an accident and traffic plod are at the seen of the accident you are in effect running different sizes tyres across an axle which is illegal and may void your insurance amongst other issues a space saver is type approved for certain vehicles a s/hand rim and tyre of differing sized rubber is not you know how insurance companies like to wangle out of things just a heads up

I wasn't serious about switching wheels. That would be dodgy, 2 different size wheels on front and back at the same time.

And if I did use it on a front wheel puncture, it would be to get off the mountain, moor etc and a very sedate pace to the nearest place to get a tyre.

All in all, I doubt I'll carry it unless I intend being a LONG way from home.