Mix and match wheels?

[Deleted User]

I've got a Ford Focus (07 plate) with alloys, fitted with 205/55/16 tyres.

A few days ago, I had a puncture, and have been running around on the space saver spare.

FYI it's horrid.

Anyway, I'm thinking I should get a proper spare.

My question is, is it safe (and indeed legal) to use a steel wheel (with a same size, ie. 205/55/16 tyre), alongside the alloys?

If yes, will it be OK up to the usual speeds, ie. 70mph?

OnanTheBarbarian

yeah perfectly safe to use the same sized steel wheel as the alloy, just make sure the offset is the same, otherwise you will have slightly uneven track width which could lead to some strange handling characteristics, although only likely to be noticed if you were really giving it the beans around some bends and braking on turn-in

Limey

Steel wheel with the same size tyre as a spare will be fine and will be good for normal motorway speeds. :cool:

BeenThroughItAll

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've got a Ford Focus (07 plate) with alloys, fitted with 205/55/16 tyres.

A few days ago, I had a puncture, and have been running around on the space saver spare.

FYI it's horrid.

Anyway, I'm thinking I should get a proper spare.

My question is, is it safe (and indeed legal) to use a steel wheel (with a same size, ie. 205/55/16 tyre), alongside the alloys?

If yes, will it be OK up to the usual speeds, ie. 70mph?

No reason why not, plenty of cars with alloys used to come with a full size steel spare with the same tyre size on.

27col

You might well be able to get a matching alloy at a breakers yard. Assuming that there is room for a full sized wheel in the spare wheel well.

Iceweasel

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've got a Ford Focus (07 plate) with alloys, fitted with 205/55/16 tyres.

A few days ago, I had a puncture, and have been running around on the space saver spare.

FYI it's horrid.

Anyway, I'm thinking I should get a proper spare.

My question is, is it safe (and indeed legal) to use a steel wheel (with a same size, ie. 205/55/16 tyre), alongside the alloys?

If yes, will it be OK up to the usual speeds, ie. 70mph?

The spacesaver is a temporary spare - how long does it take to fix a puncture?

Have you actually got room for a full size spare?

I wouldn't bother spending anything at all on another wheel - just fix the puncture and stow the spacesaver away until next time.

gilbert_and_sullivan

No problem at all, just make sure the wheel bolts are suitable, some (PSA) cars have collars welded to the steel wheel bolt holes so one set of bolts does everything.

If the bolts are too long they could foul the mechanism inside the hub, eg brake shoes and fittings if you have drum rears.

force_ten

it will be fine but when you buy your steel wheel make sure it is the correct size for the tyre that you want and the offset and the stud pattern is correct for your car

you will probably need a 16X7 inch steel wheel

and you will be good for motorway speeds

[Deleted User]

27col wrote: »

You might well be able to get a matching alloy at a breakers yard.

I appreciate that but, in my experience, alloys in breakers yards are often in worse shape than their steel cousins.

Assuming that there is room for a full sized wheel in the spare wheel well.

Actually, there isn't room for a full sized wheel (alloy or steel) in the well.

What I had in mind was to keep the the full size spare at home, so I only needed to use the space saver to get me home from town, work etc.

For long distance journeys, I'd just put the full size spare in the boot.

BTW. another question if I may.

I'm thinking of getting a spare set of wheels, and having winter tyres fitted to them.

I've heard it's better to use steel, rather than alloy, wheels, for winter tyres?

So, what do you think? Alloy or steel for winter tyres?

Strider590

I'm running 3 alloys and 1 steel at the moment, tyres are all 215/55/R16.

I got a nail through the tyre and because i'm about 1 month away from getting all 4 replaced, I didn't see the point in repairing/replacing just the one tyre. That and i'm not convinced that it wasn't vandalism.

No problems though, except i'm concious of the lack of grip on that corner. Even though it's got 6mm of tread compared to the 2mm on the other side, the tyre is some cheap/nasty pile of poo and it'll slide out from under me if I load it up in a slippery corner.

Iceweasel

I have 2 sets of alloys and swap them over when the clocks change.

I wouldn't want my car to look 'odd/naff' with steel wheels for half the year.

If a jobs worth doing it's worth doing right.