17" alloy spare wheel query

mutley74

Ordered a new car with 17" alloys and asked dealer to supply a full size steel rim spare.

queried the order today as awaiting for delivery confirmation and dealer said they will supply a 16" steel rim as spare.

can you use a 16" as a spare in a car with 17" alloys?

gilbert_and_sullivan

So long as its the correct equivalent size, many cars come with a full size spare fitted to a steel wheel of slightly different but equivalent rolling radius, far better than a wheelbarrow sized spacesaver.

Do check the wheelbolts are suitable or you have the correct other set for the steelie, some cars like PSA group had large collars welded in place in the wheelbolt holes so the alloy wheelbolts fitted correctly.

mutley74

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

So long as its the correct equivalent size, many cars come with a full size spare fitted to a steel wheel of slightly different but equivalent rolling radius, far better than a wheelbarrow sized spacesaver.

Do check the wheelbolts are suitable or you have the correct other set for the steelie, some cars like PSA group had large collars welded in place in the wheelbolt holes so the alloy wheelbolts fitted correctly.

I had the issue of different steel bolts on my current car so had to buy extra bolts for £16! (better safe than sorry).

but will having a different size spare limit its speed use? if so it worth having this size spare?

Iceweasel

It should make no difference if the diameter/rolling radius and the speed rating are the same.

What make and model of car is this anyway?

londonTiger

17" steelies will be a challenge. As lon as the wheel circumfernce is the correct one it should be fine.

This is because low sidewall tyre installation requires a lot more power to tuck in and the spoke area would be more prone to bending. if it's so big.

jbainbridge

Our Megane has 17" alloys and came with no spare. I've obtained a 16" steel wheel and fitted a tyre with a similar circumference.

anotherbaldrick

You will need a tyre supplied for the spare that will give you the same ext circumference as the alloys. As an example if your 17" alloys have 50 profile tyres you will need a 60 profile tyre on the 16" spare to bring it in line.

jbainbridge

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

You will need a tyre supplied for the spare that will give you the same ext circumference as the alloys. As an example if your 17" alloys have 50 profile tyres you will need a 60 profile tyre on the 16" spare to bring it in line.

Depends on the tyre width. I found this really helpful - http://www.alloywheels.com/Tyre_Calculator

e.g.
Alloys 205/50 R17 circ. 1998mm
Spare 205/55 R16 circ 1985mm
Difference is 0.65%

forgotmyname

Speed limit depends if its a standard wheel/tyre or some form of spacesaver.

mutley74

my car has 17" alloys. Dealer supplied me with a 16" spare rim fitted with a 205 R16 55 tyre...is this right? (as it was same size tyre and rim I had on my previous car which had 16" alloys then)
I thought tyre size had to be larger outer diameter for 17" wheels?

WTFH

mutley74 wrote: »

my car has 17" alloys. Dealer supplied me with a 16" spare rim fitted with a 205 R16 55 tyre...is this right? (as it was same size tyre and rim I had on my previous car which had 16" alloys then)
I thought tyre size had to be larger outer diameter for 17" wheels?

What size are the tyres on the 17" wheels? Without knowing that, we can't say whether the 16" one is ok or not.