Space Saver Wheel - Is my paranoia justified?

[adhock]

Looked in the back of a Mk 7 wagon (which with some trepidation we bought 20 minutes later). Looks to be enough height to drop a full size spare in without lifting the load area floor. VW quoted nearly $1000 for an alloy rim and tire, or about $250 for steel rim and cheap tire.

[midlifecrisis]

Yeah it's pretty mad pricing.

[wai]

Oh man...you mean it's always been an 80mph limit?

I'm pretty sure the yellow writing on the tyre wall overrides the code.

I've used the spare in my Golf MkV twice, but being in Canberra, you don't need a full size spare. If I drove to Sydney more often, then I'd get worried.

I've driven between Sydney and Bendigo for the past 38 years (average of 3 times a year), and I have NEVER had a puncture during the trip. I have however had two punctures in Sydney after driving over debris. Once was when I drove over a small casting that had fallen off a truck, and the other time a nail. In both cases, I changed the tyre, went straight to a tyre service centre and had it fixed and swapped back with the spare.

Also, I think you meant an 80 km/h limit as with an 80 mph limit you would have absolutely no issue driving at legal speeds in Australia

[Mountainman]

Has anyone actually used a full size tyre as a spare in a mk7 Golf? If so, are there any consequences (like not being able to use the lower setting for the floor cover, or not being able to stow away the car-jack tools)?

I'm being lazy and haven't tried it myself so I'm just waiting for you or someone else with a mk7 Golf to take the time to try a swap with the spacesaver and one of your wheels to see if it does fit and assume that the cover will have to be in the raised position. I doubt whether even the narrower 205/55 16 wheel will fit under the lowered floor and there'd be even less chance of your wider 225/45 17 fitting.

[DV52]

I'm being lazy and haven't tried it myself so I'm just waiting for you or someone else with a mk7 Golf to take the time to try a swap with the spacesaver and one of your wheels to see if it does fit and assume that the cover will have to be in the raised position. I doubt whether even the narrower 205/55 16 wheel will fit under the lowered floor and there'd be even less chance of your wider 225/45 17 fitting.

Mountainman: I'm being equally lazy and waiting for someone else to try a full tire. I've done some rough calculations based on my existing wheels and I reckon that a full size tyre will snuggly fit. But only with the floor fitted in the upper position. Lots of replies here seem to support the use of the space saver (within the limitations stated by the manufacturer). Still not sure if it's worth the hassle of changing. Might go down to the local wrecker and investigaste further (assuming that they have a tyre that fits).

[ajay1940]

When I had my Mondeo, I bought a full size alloy spare from Bob Jane for around $250 with second hand tyre fitted. Never actually needed to use it, but it gave me piece of mind on long trips.

[brad]

I've read with some scepticism VW's claim (in the car manual) that they work as requied, when needed. That said, I'm not sure how the Golf will handle, or how safely the car would brake with the space saver fitted when travelling at 80kms/hr (I guess, fitted on the front of the car would be the most problematic).

^^^^
If you'd read the manual properly you'd know that the space saver should only be fitted to the rear. Apologies if this has already been pointed out.

I had a space saver on my Mk3.5 Cabrio & it felt horrid when fitted to the rear. You could feel the difference in handling at 80kmh & braking efficiency definately would have been reduced.

On the front it would have felt like a death trap & I often look in amazement at those noobs that drive around for weeks with the space saver on the front (eg: my neighbour)

[DV52]

^^^^
If you'd read the manual properly you'd know that the space saver should only be fitted to the rear. Apologies if this has already been pointed out.

I had a space saver on my Mk3.5 Cabrio & it felt horrid when fitted to the rear. You could feel the difference in handling at 80kmh & braking efficiency definately would have been reduced.

On the front it would have felt like a death trap & I often look in amazement at those noobs that drive around for weeks with the space saver on the front (eg: my neighbour)

Brad: I always enjoy reading posts on this forum (and on forums other than VWW). However, I reserve a particular delight reading retorts that are written with such obvious passion!

Leaving aside the veracity of your incisive observation regarding a possible deficiency in my literacy skills, you have identified perhaps the most compelling reason for not relying on a space saver spare. That is, the need to change multiple tyres when the front wheel is flat. Likely, this is not a big issue whilst the driver relies on road assist, but I suspect that it becomes more problematic for some folk after the warranty period lapses.

The other informative part of your post (for me at least) has been your introduction of the term "noob". I hadn't been aware of this word before but I have confirmed that it is a pejorative term meaning

"those who know little and have no will to learn any more (my underlining). They expect people to do the work for them and then expect to get praised about it, and make up a unique species of their own" - taken from Urban dictionary.com

You haven't included the first part of my post in your quote - the bit that says that "I've had little experience with space saver wheels". My current car is the first that has had a space saver spare so mercifully I've avoided (entirely through good fortune) the eternal abyss and the endless shame of falling into the "noob" category. Nevertheless, I will try to remember your words least I stray into "noob" territory in the future (i.e. if ever the front wheel on my Golf needs replacing)

Thanks again for your advice

[brad]

I didn't know you were my neighbour

You did say you'd read the manual, then you spoke of putting the SS on the front, therefore the only conclusion that can be drawn is that your comprehension wasn't 100%.

It's not that bad doing the multiple wheel swap thing as long as you are on flat , solid ground. If you go at it like a man possessed you can do the whole lot in about 15 minutes.

I think the best idea is to scan the forums, gumtree & ebay for a suitable set of wheels, buy 4, keep 1, sell the other three. There must be some way you guys can pre-coordinate the whole thing?

[DV52]

I didn't know you were my neighbour

You did say you'd read the manual, then you spoke of putting the SS on the front, therefore the only conclusion that can be drawn is that your comprehension wasn't 100%.

It's not that bad doing the multiple wheel swap thing as long as you are on flat , solid ground. If you go at it like a man possessed you can do the whole lot in about 15 minutes.

I think the best idea is to scan the forums, gumtree & ebay for a suitable set of wheels, buy 4, keep 1, sell the other three. There must be some way you guys can pre-coordinate the whole thing?

Brad: My secret is out -I have been peeking over the side fence for years now (you need to paint your guttering)! -Only joking