Spare wheel

cardi11

I have a Ford Focus which came with no spare wheel and instead has a puncture repair kit.

I would like to buy an used spare wheel that matches my existing wheels and tyres but would like to know the answer to the following:

My existing four tyres are 215/55 R16 but I can buy a used wheel with a tyre on an auction site which has a 205/55 R16 tyre which needs replacing.

If I bought a new 215/55 R16 tyre would this fit on the new spare wheel or does the new tyre have to be a 215/55R16 tyre like my existing tyres.

jk0

It's the size of the wheel rather than tyre that's relevant, isn't it?

Also, has your car got a recess to keep the spare wheel in? If not, you'll need to anchor it down well in the boot, lest it fly about in an accident.

molerat

What year is the car ? A full size spare may not fit in the well without a floor spacer / lifter - a lump of polystyrene for around £100 !!. You will probably need a securing kit as well. And should it actually have 215/55/16s on - seems strange for a Focus - normally 205/50/16 or 205/55/16.

forgotmyname

What is the wheel off? Dont make the mistake my sister did of getting a 4 stud 16" wheel off a Mondeo to fit her newer Mondeo with 5 studs.

Or getting a 16" wheel of something else with a different stud pattern.

bigjl

molerat wrote: »

What year is the car ? A full size spare may not fit in the well without a floor spacer / lifter - a lump of polystyrene for around £100 !!. You will probably need a securing kit as well. And should it actually have 215/55/16s on - seems strange for a Focus - normally 205/50/16 or 205/55/16.

The size of tyre would depend on which model Focus the OP has. I suspect they may have the third generation model from 2010 onwards.

I had a mk1 Focus and that had a proper spare for example.

A lack of a spare is a fairly recent thing in many cars, and you can often select to have one when buying new.

Iceweasel

Have you considered a spacesaver?

cardi11

Thanks for your replies.

I actually do have a space saver but i was hoping to get a proper sized wheel instead. I travel regularly up and down the M5 and am a little concerned that, in the event of a flat tyre, I would be restricted to my speed and distance with the space saver whereas with a proper full-sized tyre that would not be a concern

The difficulty that I have is that my Focus is a 2014 Titanium model with 215/55 R16 wheels/ tyres and second hand tyres of this size are not very common. Most non-titanium Focuses have a 205 sized wheel (as one of the people in this thread has mentioned) and these are much easier to find. That is the reason why I am asking whether i could buy a 205 sized wheel and replace the tyre with a 215 size. I can get a 205 wheel and worn-out tyre for about £30 and I could then hopefully replace that tyre with a 215 one.

Any advice would be welcome.

interstellaflyer

cardi11 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I actually do have a space saver but i was hoping to get a proper sized wheel instead. I travel regularly up and down the M5 and am a little concerned that, in the event of a flat tyre, I would be restricted to my speed and distance with the space saver whereas with a proper full-sized tyre that would not be a concern

Technically you are not allowed to change a wheel on the motorway hard shoulder so you will be inconvenienced anyway as you will need to rely on your recovery/breakdown service with all the HiViz gear and flashing lights to either do it for you or tow you to a tyre fitter or possibly arrange for a mobile fitter.

BeenThroughItAll

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Technically you are not allowed to change a wheel on the motorway hard shoulder so you will be inconvenienced anyway as you will need to rely on your recovery/breakdown service with all the HiViz gear and flashing lights to either do it for you or tow you to a tyre fitter or possibly arrange for a mobile fitter.

What legislation prohibits one from changing a wheel on the hard shoulder? The HC may suggest it is not sensible, but I do not believe it is illegal unless you can show me the law which says otherwise?

I've done it before, and would again. I'd rather spend five minutes exposed to risk doing that than an hour exposed to risk waiting for a recovery driver.

interstellaflyer

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

What legislation prohibits one from changing a wheel on the hard shoulder? The HC may suggest it is not sensible, but I do not believe it is illegal unless you can show me the law which says otherwise?

I've done it before, and would again. I'd rather spend five minutes exposed to risk doing that than an hour exposed to risk waiting for a recovery driver.

The police officer that stopped me from doing it a few years ago on the M40. Plus it often comes up on those fly on the wall Police docs, I'd rather take notice of a traffic Police Officer thank you. Apart from all that, with out all the hi viz and flashing lights it's an incredibly stupid thing to do given that the advice if you break down is that you and everyone else in the car gets out and moves to a safe place ie way up the embankment.

interstellaflyer

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I'd rather spend five minutes exposed to risk doing that than an hour exposed to risk waiting for a recovery driver.

Exposed to what risk? You are supposed to get youself and passengers out of the car and as far away from the live carriageway as possible.