Space saver wheels

[Sunny]

One for the car nerds...

I was hoping I could get away with using the space saver from my old car for the new one, which doesn't have one (with a new tyre to reduce the overall diameter).

However, although the wheel nut spacings are the same, the wheel width and ET are both different, which suggests to me that it's not going to be a go-er:

Old car = 2021 model Audi Q3 Quattro, space saver details: 145/85R18, 4J 18H2 ET28

New car = 2024 VW T-Roc 4motion, space saver details (according to a web search): 125/70R18, 3.5J 18HR ET25.5

The overall diameter is too big, so I'd need to change the tyre, but also the Audi wheel is both wider, and has a greater offset, so I reckon it'd likely rub against the inside of the wheel arches on the VW...

What do you reckon, wise internet folk? Suck it up and buy a whole new spare wheel/tyre combo, or can I get away with just changing the tyre?

[wull]

If it clears and doesn’t rub go for it but the different ET could cause the rim to foul something like the strut or something to the inside, not just the tyre rubbing the arch. Put it in place to see, you’ll have a good idea whether or not you’ll get away with just changing the tyre or not.

[Rockburner]

One for the car nerds...

I was hoping I could get away with using the space saver from my old car for the new one, which doesn't have one (with a new tyre to reduce the overall diameter).

However, although the wheel nut spacings are the same, the wheel width and ET are both different, which suggests to me that it's not going to be a go-er:

Old car = 2021 model Audi Q3 Quattro, space saver details: 145/85R18, 4J 18H2 ET28

New car = 2024 VW T-Roc 4motion, space saver details (according to a web search): 125/70R18, 3.5J 18HR ET25.5

The overall diameter is too big, so I'd need to change the tyre, but also the Audi wheel is both wider, and has a greater offset, so I reckon it'd likely rub against the inside of the wheel arches on the VW...

What do you reckon, wise internet folk? Suck it up and buy a whole new spare wheel/tyre combo, or can I get away with just changing the tyre?

err - why is the space-saver not going with the Q3? Is the car being scrapped?

Oh - and why is the VW not coming with a spare??

[KungFooBob]

Cos space savers are often a cost option on newer cars.

[Horse]

... Instead, you get a puncture repair kit.

[Mussels]

Before you go to all the effort working out if it will knacker the new car or not have you checked to see if it will fit in the new car's storage?
After having a close call with changing tyres on a Jeep a few years ago and being surprised how little room there is to play with I'd just buy a new wheel, probably not from VW.

I'd always want a spare, my punctures are usually not fixable with a spray can.

[Sunny]

err - why is the space-saver not going with the Q3? Is the car being scrapped?

Oh - and why is the VW not coming with a spare??

It's not going with the Q3 cos I'm taking it out

Cos space savers are often a cost option on newer cars.

Worse, it's no longer an option AT ALL anymore! Something to do with environmental regulations or similar.

Before you go to all the effort working out if it will knacker the new car or not have you checked to see if it will fit in the new car's storage?

I'd always want a spare, my punctures are usually not fixable with a spray can.

It will fit, once a new tyre has made the overall diameter smaller.

And yes, agreed - if I rip a tyre on a pothole I don't want to be waiting four hours for the RAC.

[Sadlonelygit]

A couple of points.
1) why don't you give it a test fit, on the back
2) the extra offset is for the wider tyre.
Pretty sure the std tyres are 225+
Space savers should ALWAYS be fitted to the rear axle. It's just to get you to a Kwik fit!
My old Rover 75 ztt thingy brake calipers precluded fitting a SS on the front anyway, then it slowly dawned on me!

[Mussels]

A couple of points.
1) why don't you give it a test fit, on the back
2) the extra offset is for the wider tyre.
Pretty sure the std tyres are 225+
Space savers should ALWAYS be fitted to the rear axle. It's just to get you to a Kwik fit!
My old Rover 75 ztt thingy brake calipers precluded fitting a SS on the front anyway, then it slowly dawned on me!

I've never heard that before. Punctures trend not to happen in convenient places, I can't see many people swapping the space saver with a rear wheel and then that one with a punctured front.

[Sadlonelygit]

A couple of points.
1) why don't you give it a test fit, on the back
2) the extra offset is for the wider tyre.
Pretty sure the std tyres are 225+
Space savers should ALWAYS be fitted to the rear axle. It's just to get you to a Kwik fit!
My old Rover 75 ztt thingy brake calipers precluded fitting a SS on the front anyway, then it slowly dawned on me!

I've never heard that before. Punctures trend not to happen in convenient places, I can't see many people swapping the space saver with a rear wheel and then that one with a punctured front.

90% of cars on the road are fwd, so if you put a SS on the front, you are loosing 25% (or thereabouts) of available steering and traction.
As I said, with my Rover, they physically made it impossible to fit. Iirc though, the jack lifted the entire side of the car up, simples

[MrLongbeard]

As I said, with my Rover, they physically made it impossible to fit. Iirc though, the jack lifted the entire side of the car up, simples

You do remember correctly, was a pain in the arse on my ZT only being able to use the SS on the rear, luckily I only needed it the once

[Mr. Dazzle]

I can think of compelling reasons why you'd like better tyres on both the front and rear axles

I'd be amazed if many people are doing a "doube swap" when they have a puncture on the front

Never come across it myself, I've had 2 punctures (1 bike and 1 car) in more than 20 years of driving. Both were in vehicles without spares.

50 Internet points to the first person who mentions the Citroën DS.

[Mussels]

I can think of compelling reasons why you'd like better tyres on both the front and rear axles

I'd be amazed if many people are doing a "doube swap" when they have a puncture on the front

Never come across it myself, I've had 2 punctures (1 bike and 1 car) in more than 20 years of driving. Both were in vehicles without spares.

50 Internet points to the first person who mentions the Citroën DS.

Punctures used to be a rarity for me until I got these 20" rims. I've had 3 blown tyres, 1 shattered wheel and more replacements due to bulging side walls. They were all premium heavy load tyres.
It coincided with many people complaining about potholes so probably isn't just due to the bigger rims.

[MyLittleStudPony]

FWIW I'd get a recommended space saver wheel for that vehicle, for my own peace of mind. You can probably sell it on eBay for most of what you paid when you come to change cars again.

[DefTrap]

The only time I've ever used a space saver was to swap out a punctured front. As I was struggling to change it, in a snooker club car park after dark ( the only available lit area after I found my car was punctured in our desolate work car park) a slightly pissed bloke came out for a fag, who claimed he normally worked as a tyre fitter, offering this advice -
- "it says it's rated for 80kph but you'll be fine going faster"
- "I normally don't bother putting ALL the lugnuts on"

Triffic.

[wull]

The only time I've ever used a space saver was to swap out a punctured front. As I was struggling to change it, in a snooker club car park after dark ( the only available lit area after I found my car was punctured in our desolate work car park) a slightly pissed bloke came out for a fag, who claimed he normally worked as a tyre fitter, offering this advice -
- "it says it's rated for 80kph but you'll be fine going faster"
- "I normally don't bother putting ALL the lugnuts on"

Triffic.

[Mr. Dazzle]

- "I normally don't bother putting ALL the lugnuts on"

In NASCAR they had to introduce a rule to say it's mandatory to do up all 5 lugnuts Teams would routinely only do up 3 or 4 properly to save time in pitstops.

They solved that particular issue by going to an F1 style single nut wheel.

[Mussels]

- "I normally don't bother putting ALL the lugnuts on"

In NASCAR they had to introduce a rule to say it's mandatory to do up all 5 lugnuts Teams would routinely only do up 3 or 4 properly to save time in pitstops.

They solved that particular issue by going to an F1 style single nut wheel.

Just like my MGB had but F1 might not use a hammer on it.

[Mr. Dazzle]

- "I normally don't bother putting ALL the lugnuts on"

In NASCAR they had to introduce a rule to say it's mandatory to do up all 5 lugnuts Teams would routinely only do up 3 or 4 properly to save time in pitstops.

They solved that particular issue by going to an F1 style single nut wheel.

Just like my MGB had but F1 might not use a hammer on it.

Indeed, the key difference though is that F1 style centre locks drive all the torque loads through pure friction, whereas spinner type wheels typically have teeth/splines/dogs etc to connect the wheel and hub.

Driving flat-to-flat faces requires you to do the nut up alot tighter!

[Rockburner]

FWIW I'd get a recommended space saver wheel for that vehicle, for my own peace of mind. You can probably sell it on eBay for most of what you paid when you come to change cars again.

Blimey, words of sense from the Pony!