Space saver spare wheel
Just got a Honda CRV (14 plate) Its got a space saver spare. I am assuming that if I had a puncture when towing (Heaven forbid) I would call Green Flag first but then they would get a replacement tyre as this space saver would be unsafe when towing. I have thought about putting a real tyre in the boot but apparently it would make the boot floor un level.
Any thoughts please
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I asked Honda Customer Service who were about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I spoke to a female with a heavily foreign accent who did not know to whom she should direct my query! So I spoke to two Honda dealers both of whom told me about a real tyre not fitting in the boot well and both said get roadside assistance.
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With some space saver wheels being clearly marked that they are good for 50 miles travelling at 50 mph I would half these values if one was required to use one while towing. Sufficient to get to a motorway services from the hard shoulder but nothing more.
Is it true most are manufactured by The Chocolate Fireguard Co.?
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Your spacesaver is safe to tow with but make sure you have the towing pressure for the vehicle in the spare. The spacesaver will have the load rating and max pressure on it and this should be good enough for all operation of the vehicle.
But, restrict your speed to the 80km/h (personally this would be 50km/h)
Also it is thought to be good practice to only have it on the front axle to improve stability when towing, this is a pain as most punctures are rear axle.
The dealer advice to get roadside assistance is tosh, so you wait on the hard shoulder for them to go and get a new tyre fitted!!! They dont carry spare wheels! or you wait for a transporter.
I would wait for them to fit the spare though and then get to safe area.
Personally I carried a full size tied town in the boot, loses luggage space but peace of mind.
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As my car is rear wheel drive I would only ever fit a space saver to the front axle. Even this is likely to upset the steering which is why this weight saving alternative to a 'proper spare' is restricted to 80 kph. I have fitted a full size steel wheel with a part worn tyre from my own car into the well of my Mercedes C class. A perfect fit. Of course it has never been needed, so far!
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The space saver is too narrow to transmit the torque onto the road which is why I would not use it on any drive axle. Front or rear. On a front wheel drive car I would only fit to rear axle.
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Course it is. The other tyres on your car are probably much wider than needed .... but they look good. My last car had a 195 spare despite the 235 on the car ... not quite a skinny spare, but a one size fits all. Anyway, with a skinny spare fitted, irrespective of towing, you wouldn't be doing any Traffic light Grand prix starts.
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Navigateur is confusing run flat tyres which do have a mileage limit although modern self supporting tyres have higher limits than the 50 miles like the old Denovo runflats did.
Space saver tyres don't usually have a specific mileage limit unless the transmission system specifies otherwise.
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The issue is that caravans apply huge lateral forces to the back axle. If you get a wobble then having one of the rear tyres with considerably less grip (laterally) than the standard tyre would increase the instability.
The driven wheels are not relevant as you should have more than enough grip to get rolling.
There is increased lateral forces on the front axle when towing but this has considerably less effect on thee outfit stability so the skinny should go on the front.
This raises the argument of the safety of changing two wheels instead of one at the roadside.
I suppose it come down to how far you have to go and at what speed.
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I always buy Tow cars which come equipped with a full size spare wheel. I have never and would never, rely on a space saver spare when I'm towing a caravan.
I do however have a space saver spare in the boot of our saloon car which I am happy with, but I don't tow anything with that particular car.
K
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I have a written Statement from the Technical department of Volvo UK in reply to my question about this. Volvo state that the space saver can be used on either axle of the car whilst towing at 50mph, subject to normal axle limits.
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