Spare wheel - should it be the same style?

pawlala

Hi all

Bought a nearly new car from main dealership this week but they forgot to put a spare wheel in it when I drove it away (they said they would when I bought it a few days earlier so I've no doubt about whether they will or not)

Question is, should it be a wheel of exactly the same style of alloy as the main wheels or just "any bog standard wheel", not even alloy?

mikey72

They're either the standard steel wheel, or the standard space saver.

System

If you have alloys then the spare wheel tends to be a normal steel one these days

pawlala

Like this?

mikey72

That's the one.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Depends what the car is, spare could be an identical alloy, a same size steel, a different size steel with normal speed rated tyre of same rolling radius, a spacesaver resembling a wheelbarrow wheel, a tub of goo and a toy pump, or nothing at all if its got runflats.

vikingaero

Agreed that it depends on the car. For instance, most Mercs and Skoda generally have an alloy spare if the car is fitted with alloys.

Then you have the rest who rarely give alloys as a spare and rely on runflats, identical sized steel spares, non-identical size spares or space savers.

For instance, Mrs V's Corsa has 185/55/15 steel wheels and the steel spare is a 185/65/14.

MX5huggy

vikingaero wrote: »

Agreed that it depends on the car. For instance, most Mercs and Skoda generally have an alloy spare if the car is fitted with alloys.

Not on my Octavia, the steel spare was a £55 optional extra, the sales man could not understand why I was not happy with the goo and pump untill I pointed out that a new premium tyre is in the region of £70.

Lum

Might be cheaper to find an Octavia in a scrap yard and buy a wheel, with tyre, from them. That way you get a fullsize spare and a matching alloy design.

forgotmyname

If the car has alloys, You may get the same alloy wheel, A standard steel wheel or a spacesaver.

Steel wheels, Standard wheel or spacesaver.

I wouldnt buy a car with no spare thrown in. And wouldnt touch one that doesnt have space for the spare.

andygb

vikingaero wrote: »

Agreed that it depends on the car. For instance, most Mercs and Skoda generally have an alloy spare if the car is fitted with alloys.

Then you have the rest who rarely give alloys as a spare and rely on runflats, identical sized steel spares, non-identical size spares or space savers.

For instance, Mrs V's Corsa has 185/55/15 steel wheels and the steel spare is a 185/65/14.

That does not sound very safe to me, as the rolling radius is 4cm different, and the golden rule is never to put different sized wheels on the same axle, which in this case would be unavoidable as the spare is different to all the others - not good.:(