Removing The Spare Wheel

[feb 47]

The initially frustrating incident of my spare wheel carrier dropping on the floor just before arriving to work earlier this week proved a useful experience this morning when I drove the car enthusiastically after a looong time.

 

The car has become so much more agile, the inside rear wheel can be lifted a lot more easily now (great feeling!) and the rear end has become a lot more playful on lift-off, the car is just fantastic and so addictive to drive!

 

Ditto, I drive like a grandma on my short daily commute and it has been a while since I stretched the old girl's legs but there is a definate improvement on 90-degree bends which can be taken sideways now without any understeer while the oversteer is so predictable! All this while staying on your lane and at speeds much lower than the national speed limit

 

I used to run without a spare wheel in my old sorrento 8 years ago but when I bought it back as I didn't have a garage I had to keep it in the car and I had forgotten the difference it made.

 

If you haven't tried it give it a go, I am in love with the car again!

Edited August 24, 2012 by feb

[MiniGibbo 142]

Wouldn't of thought it would make that much difference..

 

Mine came without on or the cage so couldn't say from experience, Must be a good 10kg saving though.

[harryskid 193]

Spare wheel removed gives great acess under the back and doing single venue rallys i have even ditched carrying one in the car, great weight saving!

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Funnily enough I binned mine this week. Why?

Never had a puncture whilst on any of my road trips.

206 doesn't have one, just a can of mousse.

The e91 has run flats.

I belong to the AA.

The difference is noticeable.

 

Edited August 25, 2012 by Simes

[welshpug 1,657]

I compromise, run a c5 wheel

 

Bet mine is more aero with the space occupied

[feb 47]

Funnily enough I binned mine this week. Why?

Never had a puncture whilst on any of my road trips.

206 doesn't have one, just a can of mousse.

The e91 has run flats.

I belong to the AA.

The difference is noticeable.

 

Same here, never had a flat in 16 years of driving (touches wood), and I am also a member of ADAC.

 

In the sorrento I also had a mousse but if you have to use it the tyre becomes unusable.

Edited August 25, 2012 by feb

[welshpug 1,657]

I've had three occasions in the past few years where I would have been knackered without a spare wheel, mousse/slime whatever doesn't to jack if you have no sidewall left.

 

Being a member of breakdown isn't much help if you have no spare wheel either, I'd rather just be on my way in a few minutes than wait on the side of the road for hours.

[feb 47]

In longer journeys it makes sense to have it for the potential inconvenience as you say. Maybe a C5 one is a good compromise as you can still save 3-4kg.

[omega 82]

a spare is always the better option because if a sidewall gets damaged you are stuck.

tyre foam sometimes works but you will find that after a while it goes into one big lump as it settles

the next best option is a product called Puncture Safe you but it in the tyre before you get a puncture and it seals it,most times you dont even know you have had a puncture.its a permanate repair and its speed tested to over 100mph.

ps if you want some let me know as i sell/install it.

[d7ve_b 44 1 Cars]

This is weird, I removed mine only last week....not driven it since though.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

I'll keep mine thanks.

 

10 mins changing the wheel over at the side of the road. Vs Calling the breakdown people, waiting for them to come out, getting towed home and having to change the wheel anyway. Or using a can of flat mate, having to change the wheel later on and probably having to get the tyre replaced.

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

I removed the spare from under mine when i first got the car mainly because the cage was so rusty & the bolt loose, it was close to dropping off. However i still carry the full size spare in the boot incase i need it, all strapped down.

Edited August 25, 2012 by AlexRS2782

[Baz 421]

AFAIK, most breakdown companies don't actually cover you if you don't carry a spare when there's means to, so they'll charge you.

 

I agree it makes a difference, so carry a can of goo generally, but sometimes when going longer journeys i just whack the spare back under as it just makes sense/peace of mind, cans of tyreweld etc aren't always that great.

[harryskid 193]

If mine was a road car i would def carry one, on my old road rally car i had a spare wheel pillar in the back and found that a good way of carrying one! I have sold that one though to another guy with a road rally pug!

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

So the obvious question...... what space savers from other models will fit (obviously the cage will need packing / adapting)?

 

I also agree with Welshpug that undertraying that area will make a noticeable difference at speed (having done this on my Alfa 155 previously), so a smaller cage, lighter wheel and an aero skin would be the ticket.