Space saver spare illegal?

[mybrainhurts]

Someone pointed me to a Wikipedia (spit) page about tyres, but I can't find it now.

It said space saver spares are illegal in the UK, due to wording in the Construction and Use regs that render them so, whilst not intending to do so.

It also said all manufacturers are phasing them out, in favour of those useless foam sealer things.

True or false...?

[Hammer67]

According to some manufacturers a spare wheel is now an opportunity to sell as an accessory.

[Rich_W]

Legal in a temporary/emergency measure.

i.e. You can fit it, but you can't drive around on it indefinetly. Heard cases of person puncturing late at night. Putting on SS, driving home. (that's fine) but then rather than drive straight to a tyre supplier. They drive to work/somewhere else first. (that's the ilegal part) Or drive around on it for a few days. (Again illegal)

On a related note a SS is an istant fail on the MOT.

[Deva Link]

Rich_W said:

On a related note a SS is an istant fail on the MOT.

You can't take a driving test in a car with one fitted, either.

[Snails]

I saw a woman this morning out in the snow, in her Nissan Micra, with a space saver on her front left. I saw her again later in the day, still with the space saver on the car. I imagine it made for interesting handling in the snow...

[GTIR]

Private hire and Taxi vehicles will fail an MOT it if its got a space saver.

[drakart]

Snails said:

I saw a woman this morning out in the snow, in her Nissan Micra, with a space saver on her front left. I saw her again later in the day, still with the space saver on the car. I imagine it made for interesting handling in the snow...

four space savers would be pretty handy in snow!

[The Riddler]

drakart said:

Snails said:

I saw a woman this morning out in the snow, in her Nissan Micra, with a space saver on her front left. I saw her again later in the day, still with the space saver on the car. I imagine it made for interesting handling in the snow...

four space savers would be pretty handy in snow!

When I worked in a Toyota dealership a fleet company specced 10 Avensis' with full size spares. This wasn't a factory option so we ended up with 10 Avensis space savers kicking around.

I bet they still have them...

[Mojooo]

Hammer67 said:

According to some manufacturers a spare wheel is now an opportunity to sell as an accessory.

Skoda do this

Outrageous.

[mattmoxon]

Deva Link said:

Rich_W said:

On a related note a SS is an istant fail on the MOT.

You can't take a driving test in a car with one fitted, either.

What happens if you get a puncture during the test and elect to change it. Does this mean it is an automatic fail due to having to fit a space saver??

[Deva Link]

mattmoxon said:

Deva Link said:

Rich_W said:

On a related note a SS is an istant fail on the MOT.

You can't take a driving test in a car with one fitted, either.

What happens if you get a puncture during the test and elect to change it. Does this mean it is an automatic fail due to having to fit a space saver??

I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if the test was abandoned, if nothing else, due to lack of time. OK, you or I could change a wheel in 2 mins, but your average dopey young lad, or pretty well all girls, would be clueless. And I don't suppose the examiner would be willing (or allowed) to help.

[Fish981]

GTIR said:

Private hire and Taxi vehicles will fail an MOT it if its got a space saver.

Every vehicle will.

[Hitch78]

Yep, this one is true. The huge legal departments of all of these multinational car companies told the Execs to turn a blind eye to this one in the hope of making a little more money and have just happened to get away with selling and registering illegal products for the past twenty years....

[mcford]

It's best practice to fit the space saver to the rear.

[Debaser]

mybrainhurts said:

Someone pointed me to a Wikipedia (spit) page about tyres, but I can't find it now.

It said space saver spares are illegal in the UK, due to wording in the Construction and Use regs that render them so, whilst not intending to do so.

It also said all manufacturers are phasing them out, in favour of those useless foam sealer things.

True or false...?

False

[Deva Link]

Hitch78 said:

Yep, this one is true. The huge legal departments of all of these multinational car companies told the Execs to turn a blind eye to this one in the hope of making a little more money and have just happened to get away with selling and registering illegal products for the past twenty years....

Xenon and LED lights are technically illegal in the UK, as are hazard lights that flash under heavy braking,

[kambites]

As I understand it, EU type approval overrides country specific law so anything which is legal in any European country is by definition legal here, even if it breaches stated UK law.

[peterguk M500]

Fish981 said:

GTIR said:

Private hire and Taxi vehicles will fail an MOT it if its got a space saver.

Every vehicle will.

I've had dozens of MR2s MOT'ed with a space save in the front boot, and they've never failed.

[eybic]

peterguk M500 said:

Fish981 said:

GTIR said:

Private hire and Taxi vehicles will fail an MOT it if its got a space saver.

Every vehicle will.

I've had dozens of MR2s MOT'ed with a space save in the front boot, and they've never failed.

Same here, my Celica has passed 6 MOT's with a space saver. I can't see how it is illegal to have one.

[Thorburn]

peterguk M500 said:

Fish981 said:

GTIR said:

Private hire and Taxi vehicles will fail an MOT it if its got a space saver.

Every vehicle will.

I've had dozens of MR2s MOT'ed with a space save in the front boot, and they've never failed.

I think they mean fitted to the car?