Space Saver Spare Wheels - speed limit.
Discussion
A few months back one of my colleagues had a puncture and fitted his spare wheel, which was a space saver type with the yellow sticker saying 'Max 80 kph/50 mph' on it. He didn't care about this, when pointed out to him he just removed the yellow sticker! Fast forward to tonight and I'm driving along the M4 when an Insignia goes past me (I was doing 65) with one of the teeny width space savers fitted on the front left and you could see it had the warning sticker. He must have been doing 75+, well above the limit these tyres have on them.
The question is what would happen if you had an accident with one fitted where you were obviously going faster than the speed stated on the wheel? Prosecution/points the same as a bald tyre? Insurance deemed invalid? Nothing? Surely these wheels are only really meant to get you to a tyre shop. I'm sure the space saver skinny wheel in my old Audi 80 had a max distance moulded into the tyre with 'Emergency Tyre' in big letters. My current car's spare (which was an optional extra!) is the same size as the normal wheels with a normal tyre but in steel, not alloy and even that has the big yellow sticker. Even the manual says (yes, I read it when I bought the car) that you must drive at a reduced speed if mixing steel and alloys.
Anyone know the implications of ignoring the big yellow sticker? I can't imagine having mismatched wheels and tyres across an axle will be any good for safety!
The question is what would happen if you had an accident with one fitted where you were obviously going faster than the speed stated on the wheel? Prosecution/points the same as a bald tyre? Insurance deemed invalid? Nothing? Surely these wheels are only really meant to get you to a tyre shop. I'm sure the space saver skinny wheel in my old Audi 80 had a max distance moulded into the tyre with 'Emergency Tyre' in big letters. My current car's spare (which was an optional extra!) is the same size as the normal wheels with a normal tyre but in steel, not alloy and even that has the big yellow sticker. Even the manual says (yes, I read it when I bought the car) that you must drive at a reduced speed if mixing steel and alloys.
Anyone know the implications of ignoring the big yellow sticker? I can't imagine having mismatched wheels and tyres across an axle will be any good for safety!
Interesting my wife hit a pothole in June and it bent the wheel and deflated the tyre, quite slowly so it ran at low pressure on mway for a bit and knackered the tyre etc. Space save spare in boot, she called recovery as was late and on mway. They tow her off m way, and then say as she is 80 miles from home, they cannot fit the space saver (new, never fitted but 12 years old as was the car!), as they are only allowed to do 50 miles. She says, is it not 50 mph? Oh no, it’s both says the recovery guy. She calls me and I say wtf, call recovery to say can’t you just fit tyre and get on her way as to recover home as they were suggesting was a two truck recovery, and recovery emergency centre reiterate this!
It’s all news to me, obviously the speed limit is for safety and they run at high pressure etc, but I can’t see anything on tyre, car manual online etc that says only 50 miles,!
Question is, if she’d have been 40 miles from home, how would they know if we’d done say 30 miles on that tyre last year?
I can only think it’s an internal policy with Britania rescue or something.
It’s all news to me, obviously the speed limit is for safety and they run at high pressure etc, but I can’t see anything on tyre, car manual online etc that says only 50 miles,!
Question is, if she’d have been 40 miles from home, how would they know if we’d done say 30 miles on that tyre last year?
I can only think it’s an internal policy with Britania rescue or something.
I vaguely recall something about a 50 mile limit on one of my cars, can't remember if it was in the manual or on the actual spare. Although I'm sure our old shed Focus's spare did more than that over it's 14 years with us.
In the situation above, could you not have told them you'll just drive to a relative's place a bit closer then get a lift back from there. Or would they still refuse to change it?
A couple of years ago I got a puncture just as I was pulling in to the industrial estate where I work. As it was pissing it down with rain and I had all day I handed in my man card and called out the AA to get them to change it. He didn't ask how far I'd be driving on it, just suggested I go to the place down the road and get it changed rather than driving anywhere too far. Although I preferred my local (to home) place so drove the 25 miles back on the space saver. Kept the speed under 50mph and took the bends a bit slower than usual, and to be honest I didn't notice much difference.
In the situation above, could you not have told them you'll just drive to a relative's place a bit closer then get a lift back from there. Or would they still refuse to change it?
A couple of years ago I got a puncture just as I was pulling in to the industrial estate where I work. As it was pissing it down with rain and I had all day I handed in my man card and called out the AA to get them to change it. He didn't ask how far I'd be driving on it, just suggested I go to the place down the road and get it changed rather than driving anywhere too far. Although I preferred my local (to home) place so drove the 25 miles back on the space saver. Kept the speed under 50mph and took the bends a bit slower than usual, and to be honest I didn't notice much difference.
A long time ago i used to have a mentally unstable friend (cut ties with him now thankfully)
He had one of those space savers on an old fiat turbo diesel saloon he owned, and it was on the back.
I have memories of him keeping it on for about 2 weeks and him overtaking me on some corners on a dual carridgeway at 100mph+ with it on.
Never any issues, luckily for him and everyone else.
He had one of those space savers on an old fiat turbo diesel saloon he owned, and it was on the back.
I have memories of him keeping it on for about 2 weeks and him overtaking me on some corners on a dual carridgeway at 100mph+ with it on.
Never any issues, luckily for him and everyone else.
poo at Paul's said:
Interesting my wife hit a pothole in June and it bent the wheel and deflated the tyre, quite slowly so it ran at low pressure on mway for a bit and knackered the tyre etc. Space save spare in boot, she called recovery as was late and on mway. They tow her off m way, and then say as she is 80 miles from home, they cannot fit the space saver (new, never fitted but 12 years old as was the car!), as they are only allowed to do 50 miles. She says, is it not 50 mph? Oh no, it’s both says the recovery guy. She calls me and I say wtf, call recovery to say can’t you just fit tyre and get on her way as to recover home as they were suggesting was a two truck recovery, and recovery emergency centre reiterate this!
It’s all news to me, obviously the speed limit is for safety and they run at high pressure etc, but I can’t see anything on tyre, car manual online etc that says only 50 miles,!
Question is, if she’d have been 40 miles from home, how would they know if we’d done say 30 miles on that tyre last year?
I can only think it’s an internal policy with Britania rescue or something.
I remember this being the case back in the mid 00's. Not sure whether space saver spec tyres have 'improved' in the interim but he may have been right. It’s all news to me, obviously the speed limit is for safety and they run at high pressure etc, but I can’t see anything on tyre, car manual online etc that says only 50 miles,!
Question is, if she’d have been 40 miles from home, how would they know if we’d done say 30 miles on that tyre last year?
I can only think it’s an internal policy with Britania rescue or something.
poo at Paul's said:
I can only think it’s an internal policy with Britania rescue or something.
- https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/non-st...There is no distance restriction in the legislation, only speed.
See C&U Regs 1986 Section 27(3) - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...
It is written in a rather convoluted fashion but what it means is that the moment you exceed 50mph it renders the tyre unsuitable per 27(1)(a).
Also - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The space saver in my car's boot has a 80kmh sticker. No mileage restriction thereon, or the tyre, or in the handbook.
Anything about a mileage limit which may be written in an owner's handbook is best practice/guidance, not law.
Probably about the right time to remind everyone of this: Chris Harris video: C63 AMG on space savers. 
jeremyc said:
Probably about the right time to remind everyone of this: Chris Harris video: C63 AMG on space savers.
Hahaha! That is brilliant 
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