Panda 4x4 - can someone who has a full-size wheel and tyre to hand - that's without having to take it off the car - try it in the spare wheel well, please? I realise that it will stick up a bit but, if it will go in, I'm inclined to get a steel wheel and matching tyre - I have the space saver but I'd prefer to have a real spare. Also, will it go in with the well of the wheel upwards, as that at least gives some useful storage space?

babbo_umbro said:

Panda 4x4 - can someone who has a full-size wheel and tyre to hand - that's without having to take it off the car - try it in the spare wheel well, please? I realise that it will stick up a bit but, if it will go in, I'm inclined to get a steel wheel and matching tyre - I have the space saver but I'd prefer to have a real spare. Also, will it go in with the well of the wheel upwards, as that at least gives some useful storage space?

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I've got a full size wheel to try. Off to work in a mo though so I'll do it later if no one else does it in the meantime.

deeyup said:

I've got a full size wheel to try. Off to work in a mo though so I'll do it later if no one else does it in the meantime.

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Thanks for that - need to find out before the next trip to Italy at the beginning of September. (Can't wait to try the 4x4 on some of the white roads in central Italy that I couldn't tackle in the 100HP.)

Just got home. Took my Vespa to work in the sun wearing shorts and t shirt, came home looking like I'd been swimming.

I'll have to take a look at the wheel in the morning sorry..it's pouring here, and I need to dry off.

Just had a look.

It won't work. The full size tyre/wheel combo is physically too big to fit.
I've just checked an on line tyre size calculator and the space saver 27mm smaller in diameter.

If you deflated the tyre may go in but then you'd need a pump on board and I'd not want to store a tyre in a deformed state.
The centre bore of the full size wheel is too small to go over the hump that sticks up from the wheel well so fitting inner wheel side up wouldn't work either.

I also checked the space saver wheel out. The face of the wheel stands proud of the rim in order to get the correct offset, so although this wheel will fit face down in the well (as the centre bore is much bigger) you'll have the face of the wheel in contact with the metal of the well. You could put some kind if rubber matting in there to stop the rubbing?
This makes me wonder about which spare wheel does the 4x4 owner with the jack stored inside has? I really think it must be from a 2wd model.

Here's the pics.

deeyup said:

Just had a look.

It won't work. The full size tyre/wheel combo is physically too big to fit.
I've just checked an on line tyre size calculator and the space saver 27mm smaller in diameter.

If you deflated the tyre may go in but then you'd need a pump on board and I'd not want to store a tyre in a deformed state.
The centre bore of the full size wheel is too small to go over the hump that sticks up from the wheel well so fitting inner wheel side up wouldn't work either.

I also checked the space saver wheel out. The face of the wheel stands proud of the rim in order to get the correct offset, so although this wheel will fit face down in the well (as the centre bore is much bigger) you'll have the face of the wheel in contact with the metal of the well. You could put some kind if rubber matting in there to stop the rubbing?
This makes me wonder about which spare wheel does the 4x4 owner with the jack stored inside has? I really think it must be from a 2wd model.

Click to expand...

Really useful, thanks. Shame, as a full-size wheel and tyre will go into the well of 2wd MJ, for instance. Means that the space saver really is just for brief use in an emergency.

I was just thinking - with the space saver in place on the rear end, doesn't that give the rear diff and all the sensors something to think about?