Towing in Europe with a spacesaver wheel fitted to
Can anyone clarify, is it legal for you to tow a caravan in Europe if you have to fit a spacesaver tyre to the tow car?
Thanks for any guidance.
Doug Culross
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Why do you imagine that the rules will be the same in every country in Europe? Doesn’t every country have its own motoring laws and regulations?
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I know of no other restriction than that a space saver wheel is intended only for emergency use to get one to the nearest tyre dealer, but not to complete the journey.
Why should towing be an issue? One must exceed the axle and hence the tyre load limits whether towing or not.
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you can not mix tyre/wheel sizes on the same axle here in Blighty .... & chances are, a space saver will be different from those already fitted to the car.
As Lutz says, space savers are intended for emergency use only though at silly o'clock on a Saturday night, completing the journey with the space save is likely to be your only option. Also, you're unlikely to wait a couple of days outside a FeuVert while they order your odd ball/uncommon sized tyre.
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"As Lutz says, space savers are intended for emergency use only though at silly o'clock on a Saturday night, completing the journey with the space save is likely to be your only option. Also, you're unlikely to wait a couple of days outside a FeuVert while they order your odd ball/uncommon sized tyre."
Totally agree ED - which is why - although I accept it's completely 'over the top' - I carry a full size spare on a roof rack on my Touareg.
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It all depends where you are and when. Winter tyres marked for Mud and Snow are required until 31 March in the areas marked on this map of France. Other countries have their own rules too. I have no idea whether a space saver tyre is compliant.
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Of course a space saver is not compliant, but as it’s only intended for limited use in an emergency it doesn’t have to be.
The same applies to a breakdown vehicle towing a vehicle which has at least one axle in contact with the road. The towed vehicle would theoretically have to fulfil the requirements relating to trailers, but as it’s for emergency use only it is temporarily exempt.
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having driven on a space saver wheel i would never tow with one. madness. i drove our focus solo for about two miles it scared the life out of me. they are there just for an emergency not for towing . madness madness
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"they are there just for an emergency not for towing". But emergencies also happen when towing. Towing shouldn't make things worse than they already are. As it's only designed to be used in an emergency, one can be expected to have to take extra care when a space saver is fitted and if necessary, to limit one's speed even below what is permitted for space savers.
Besides, for those who are still dubious about the use of a space saver when towing one still has the option of fitting it on the front axle.
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Thanks for all those who have taken the time to respond to my query. In light of the various views, I think that when I next venture into Europe towing my caravan I will carry a full size spare, especially as we often have driven long trips on motorways. This would minimise any delays and diversions.
Thanks again
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that is a brilliant idea dougCulross. i will try and get a full sizes spare for my touareg. happy happy holidays
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As you know, because of the Adblue tank in the boot-space, you won't get a full size wheel in there. I have a Frontrunner roof rack and I bought the wheel from an on-line breaker - not cheap though. With mine being the off-road Escape version, it doesn't look out of place but it does affect fuel consumption ( but not as much as the van
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My 2015 Mondeo only has a space saver spare but I don't fancy towing 'over there' with a space saver fitted following a puncture. A trip to the local car scrappers got me an identical full size wheel alloy complete with an almost unworn (balanced) tyre for the princely sum of £35.00!
The wheel is too big for the space saver storage in the boot so it has to travel loose. I leave the space saver at home but found that I can get the caravan spare wheel in the storage area in the car. When going to France I always take the caravan spare out of the Alko rack as I don't fancy trying to get it out from the 'wrong' side of the road should the need arise.
In the UK I just carry the space saver and risk it. So far, and this is very much tempting fate, I haven't had cause to use any of the spare wheels whether here or 'over there'.
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I'm a bit surprised at all this concern regarding spare wheels. I have been motoring for over 50 years, covering well over 600,000 miles in total, and in all that time I can only recall three incidents of a flat tyre. My current car has neither a space saver nor a can of gunge, but tyres of the run flat variety. It suffered a flat tyre once, not due a puncture but a faulty valve so it only needed a new valve and to be reinflated.
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I threw the gunge which had exceeded the date expiry anyway, replaced the polystyrene molded thingy under the boot floor and purchased a skinny wheel and tyre. It has the the same overall diameter and used once while towing in France, the covered breakdown service attended and I went away happily to a site where next day I purchased a replacement tyre. At the lower speed it felt perfectly safe towing.
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The thing to be aware of with run flats is tyre bulge. The side walls are designed to 'give' and this happens even if you go over a pothole. I had a BMW with run flats, and when this happened was advised to replace the tyre as the bulge was now a weak point...and they ain't cheap!
They're fine for nice flat roads (although I found they give a very firm ride) but not for rough side roads.
I certainly wouldn't put my faith in them when towing without a plan B
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