JDog Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Right chaps I have a little poser for you, particularly those with either knowledge of wheels and tyres or those with a geometrical bent. I am considering buying a car and ridiculously the thing doesn't come with a spare wheel either normal size nor space saver. I am not inclined to use the rather weedy cans of spray which comes with the car in case of a puncture and I would rather have a wheel of the correct size (and therefore a tyre to match the existing ones) or a space saver with an appropriate tyre on it. The existing wheels are 18'' in old money and the tyres are 225/45/R18. If I buy a 17'' space saver (they are all that appears to be available) what sized tyre will give me an identical radius/diameter/circumference as the exiting wheels and tyres? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 (edited) Dunno if this will compare with space savers https://tiresize.com/comparison/ Edited October 15, 2020 by Dave-G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 (edited) Its possible to buy a steel wheel and tyre, but first you need the make and model of the car, I bought a spare wheel and tyre for my Jeep off Ebay for £200 Few here...https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Steel-Spare-Wheel-Car-Wheels-with-Tyres/179681/bn_7030533513?_pgn=4 Edited October 15, 2020 by old'un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 are they some sort of fancy design rim ?...........can you put a pic up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR1 Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 I think the nearest you will find is 225 50 17 which gives approx 3 mm difference in tyre diameter. This results in approx 9.5mm rolling circumference. wheel-size.com will give you all the parameters by vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 I would try and get a full size spare alloy. Gives you a bit of leeway while getting the puncture fixed. For what people try and charge for a steel, you might as well get a good condition secondhand alloy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Doesn't really matter if the space saver is a touch smaller (it will just spin a touch faster ) I doubt your gonna be driving about on it for weeks . I once had to do about 150 miles on mine down the motorway .it got me home . And I'm pretty sure its smaller than the normal wheels /tyres . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Mine was exactly the same , no spare wheel of any sorts only a kit with a couple of cans inside , I didn't like the idea of being down the marsh and run over a spike that no can of spray would put right so like one of the other replies I looked on Ebay and got the same wheel with a good tyre for £100 delivered from Scotland to my house , at the time Ebay were doing a promotion where they pay 20% of your purchase so it only cost me £80 , touch wood in the three years or so I have had it I haven't used the spare , but for peace of mind it is there if needed , Good luck in finding one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 It sounds like the car you are considering might have run flat tyres? Mate told me about his wifes mini having these - any puncture means a new tyre at £180, if you use the foam then that has to be cleaned off the rim which also has high cost. All that aside our peugeot came with a 'space saver' in a full height wheel well. The full sized identical wheel and tyre to the other 4 was £50 delivered off of ebay and of course fits in the wheel well. On a 17 inch rim rather than 18 inch you need to increase the sidewall height (the 45 figure out of 225/45/r18) - the exact running diameter with the weight of the car on the wheel depends on tyre pressure and sidewall stiffness so hopefully someone on here can give you a direct figure. I can only quote the peugeot space saver which is a 125/80/r16 to replace a 225/45/r17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Will a full size spare fit in the boot? I have a space saver for the golf and looked at getting a full size spare but a full size tyre is too big to sit in the boot with the actual boot floor shelf in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Beware buying any old wheel - there's umpteen different bolt/nut spacings and wheel depths. Best look for one off a breaker, wont really matter if its scruffy if its in the boot anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Neither my Audi nor Tesla have spare tyres. The Audi has foam the Tesla nothing. I don’t have a spare on the defender either. Not too bothered as I wouldn’t feel comfortable changing wheels on a wet and windy motorway or country lane. I’d call the RAC and get them to sort it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTaylor91 Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 What’s the motor you’re thinking of? A smaller wheel sometimes won’t clear the brake caliper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 I wouldn't bother a well serviced and looked after motor is highly likely never to have a flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 9 hours ago, AVB said: Neither my Audi nor Tesla have spare tyres. The Audi has foam the Tesla nothing. I don’t have a spare on the defender either. Not too bothered as I wouldn’t feel comfortable changing wheels on a wet and windy motorway or country lane. I’d call the RAC and get them to sort it out. I know this is silly but I would feel less of a man not being able to change a wheel in any place. If I see a woman with a flat I will stop and help change it, always hopeful but never had any reward 🤣 I have to go to building sites and off road frequently. The lads at the local independent tyre fitters all know me by name whatever car I arrive in. They even know the dogs’s names. Great guys and very good value. Normal puncture £10, sidewall sent away at £25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 1 hour ago, WalkedUp said: I know this is silly but I would feel less of a man not being able to change a wheel in any place. If I see a woman with a flat I will stop and help change it, always hopeful but never had any reward 🤣 I have to go to building sites and off road frequently. The lads at the local independent tyre fitters all know me by name whatever car I arrive in. They even know the dogs’s names. Great guys and very good value. Normal puncture £10, sidewall sent away at £25. The tesla doesn’t even have a Jack. I’ve changed plenty of tyres in my youth and it’s more a case of the dangers involved. The police don’t advise changing a tyre on a motorway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 16 minutes ago, AVB said: The tesla doesn’t even have a Jack. The Tesla doesn’t even have an engine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 13 hours ago, Farmboy91 said: Will a full size spare fit in the boot? I have a space saver for the golf and looked at getting a full size spare but a full size tyre is too big to sit in the boot with the actual boot floor shelf in. Mine was the same , I got over that problem by putting a length of tile batten underneath with a strip of underlay pinned on top , not something mentioned in the book that came with the motor but it do the job and the floor is only a inch higher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 25 minutes ago, marsh man said: Mine was the same , I got over that problem by putting a length of tile batten underneath with a strip of underlay pinned on top , not something mentioned in the book that came with the motor but it do the job and the floor is only a inch higher Mine has two positions for the boot floor, the bottom one gives you a full boot space, the top one isn't worth using. Even in the top position the floor wouldn't sit flat with a full size in. Last time I had a puncture I borrowed the wheel off my missus golf for the day lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 When they first came out I liked the Skoda Kodak so much I went to order a new one. A spare wheel was not available, just a can of sick. Deal killer, I walked away. Spare wheels are now an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 I share your concerns, but I have been driving a BMW (runflats) for 13 years now. No spare, no jack, nowhere to put a spare. At first it bothered me, but now, 13 years and never a puncture - it doesn't even cross my mind. Incidentally, I have a summer toy car (old Merc SLK) which has a space saver in a well in the (very small) boot. IF you get a punctured rear tyre (bigger wheels on the back) and change it for the space saver - the punctured wheel won't even fit in the boot! You have to put it on the passenger seat - or so I'm told, luckily I have never had a puncture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord O War Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 No spare tyre is a huge weight saver and makes the mpg look better when they go for testing. Plus it saves them a few quid per car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 On 15/10/2020 at 17:35, JDog said: Right chaps I have a little poser for you, particularly those with either knowledge of wheels and tyres or those with a geometrical bent. I am considering buying a car and ridiculously the thing doesn't come with a spare wheel either normal size nor space saver. I am not inclined to use the rather weedy cans of spray which comes with the car in case of a puncture and I would rather have a wheel of the correct size (and therefore a tyre to match the existing ones) or a space saver with an appropriate tyre on it. The existing wheels are 18'' in old money and the tyres are 225/45/R18. If I buy a 17'' space saver (they are all that appears to be available) what sized tyre will give me an identical radius/diameter/circumference as the exiting wheels and tyres? Out of interest what car is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 22 minutes ago, Lord O War said: No spare tyre is a huge weight saver and makes the mpg look better when they go for testing. Plus it saves them a few quid per car! I realise every little bit of weight saved helps, but I wouldn’t call a spare wheel a huge saver. Even with a Land Rover wheel weighing 80lbs it is only the difference between a fat passenger and a lighter weight one. 3 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: luckily I have never had a puncture. You should get into more farm yards! Three punctures in one month is my record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 29 minutes ago, London Best said: I realise every little bit of weight saved helps, but I wouldn’t call a spare wheel a huge saver. Even with a Land Rover wheel weighing 80lbs it is only the difference between a fat passenger and a lighter weight one. You should get into more farm yards! Three punctures in one month is my record. About 5 yerrs ago I had builders doing major work on the house - and fully expected to get several punctures - and I only got one - in the wheelbarrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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