Using two spacesavers?

[wombat172a]

I thought this was totally illegal?

On Sunday I followed a cream MX5 near bath with 2 spacesavers on the rear.

I know this is stupid, especially going over 70mph, on a damp road doubly so. But is it actually illegal to use 2 spacesavers at the same time?

[MGZRod]

Don't know but I bet they had an epic time at any roundabouts.

[RizzoTheRat]

My guess would be it's not illegal itself, but might invalidate the insurance as if it's outside the manufacturers recommended specification on tyres, which might therefore make it illegal.

[HRL]

Over 70mph on wet roads with two spacesaver wheels? Balls of steel.

[wombat172a]

MGZRod said:

Don't know but I bet they had an epic time at any roundabouts.

He was definitely squirming!

[MGZRod]

wombat172a said:

He was definitely squirming!

A stupid thing to do really... but part of me wants to stick a couple space savers on the back of my car and go for some slow motion drifts.

[AyBee]

Brings back memories of CH in a C63 doing the same

[Shaw Tarse]

AyBee said:

Brings back memories of CH in a C63 doing the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPh90yNX-mY

[s p a c e m a n]

Having 2 space savers on the back and doing 70mph is I think more legal than doing it with one, sounds fun anyway

[TonyRPH]

wombat172a said:

I thought this was totally illegal?

On Sunday I followed a cream MX5 near bath with 2 spacesavers on the rear.

I know this is stupid, especially going over 70mph, on a damp road doubly so. But is it actually illegal to use 2 spacesavers at the same time?

Going over 50 is illegal stupid with a space saver. All the cars that I've had with space savers have been restricted to 50 or 60 mph.

ETA: corrected my 'illegal' statement. Apparently there is no law against it.

Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 14th January 11:45

[Robert Elise]

Can't see a problem. The symmetry is probably better!
Of course, the caveat applies that they should be used as intended - low speed and not for too many miles.

[V8forweekends]

TonyRPH said:

Going over 50 is illegal with a space saver. All the cars that I've had with space savers have been restricted to 50 or 60 mph.

<pedant mode> - Illegal under what law? The 1986 Don't do anything forbidden by stickers on stuff Act?
<\pedant mode>

I totally accept it is, or may be, silly.

[Graebob]

I'm not sure that it's illegal to perform the act, but the tyres are only rated to 50, so it probably invalidates your insurance, at which point you'd be driving without insurance (which is illegal).

I imagine (note: I have nothing to back this up) that you could run a car on 4 space-savers, as long as you didn't exceed the rated limit for the tyres.

[davamer23]

Is the 50mph limit just a recommendation for the speed at which the space saver is rated before it starts to be pushed to the limit of its capabilities? Didn't know it was illegal to go over that speed?

If that is the case then fair enough, never needed to use a space saver thankfully, always has a full size spare.

[mmm-five]

I've swapped my 225 fronts with the 265 rears on a RWD car in the past. LOTS of front grip, and very controllable oversteer.

Craner's was a bit of a challenge though as the back just kept wanting to come around.

[TonyRPH]

V8forweekends said:

<pedant mode> - Illegal under what law? The 1986 Don't do anything forbidden by stickers on stuff Act?
<\pedant mode>

I totally accept it is, or may be, silly.

Indeed - I was wrong - there is no law against it.

With a single space saver, the car will fail MOT, but with 2 (or 4?) probably not!!

Just stupid then.

[Mr E]

TonyRPH said:

Going over 50 is illegal with a space saver. All the cars that I've had with space savers have been restricted to 50 or 60 mph.

Enforced by law, or just recommended?

[TonyRPH]

Mr E said:

Enforced by law, or just recommended?

Just recommended from what I can gather. I have corrected my post.

[Snowboy]

You can't put just one spacesaver on the back of a rwd car; it buggers the diff. (At least it said it did on the s2000)

You're supposed to move a front to the back then put the spacesaver on the front.

Chances are this guy just borrowed a mates spacesaver to get home rathercthan mess about with wheels too much.

[V8forweekends]

TonyRPH said:

Indeed - I was wrong - there is no law against it.

With a single space saver, the car will fail MOT, but with 2 (or 4?) probably not!!

Just stupid then.

According to another thread on here there is a specific MOT failure reason for spacesavers anyway -


4.1.A.1.b
Reason for Rejection: "special lightweight or space saving wheels and tyres fitted as road wheels"