I was wondering if anybody knew about the legal side of carrying a spare? I expect Alan does for one. I have 16 inch alloys on the car and think the spare is the standard 15 inch and I am not sure if the bolts on the wheels even match up. My dad told me that some new cars come with just a can of Tyre Weld. This stuff doesn't seem to work but then the spare wheel is just a legal thing because due to the way the tyre places tighten the wheels, I can't take the wheels off anyway - certainly not at the roadside.

My question is - must I carry the spare in the boot? Also the central hole on the wheel doesn't quite fit on the mount in the boot. There is a small gap which doesn't seem right. Am I missing a bit of foam or something?

mot,s don,t cover spare wheels so you don,t have to carry a spare.

I may need one when I go to France but it seems crazy if it can't be used. Thanks Jimboy

Not obligatory, but make sure you have a can of tyre weld.

Especially if driving in France, as even your breakdown recovery are not allowed to rescue you if on French motorways. - the only people who can arrange for you to be removed from a Motorway in France are the Police!!

If you are going to be anywhere near the Dordogne, call in for a beer or three

Glynn

BIKER-BITZ said:

Not obligatory, but make sure you have a can of tyre weld.

Especially if driving in France, as even your breakdown recovery are not allowed to rescue you if on French motorways. - the only people who can arrange for you to be removed from a Motorway in France are the Police!!

If you are going to be anywhere near the Dordogne, call in for a beer or three

Glynn

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yes i thought of that aswell , but wondered you already had the idea of spare in a can.. best of luck by the way

If you have the original spare for a barchetta, it will fit your car. The 16" wheel thing doesnt matter. The overall diameter (and rolling circumference) of the wheel and tyre together will be the same whether you have 15, 16 or 17" wheels as with larger wheels the tyres just become lower profile to compensate. If it wasn't, the speedo reading would be completely inaccurate and the gearing would be different.

Also the barchetta has a spare that is for "emergency use only" ie. you're not supposed to exceed 50 mph (I think).

You might need to check the bolt length, the steelies and the alloys differ slightly. Depends on what your car came with originally and if you have put aftermarket alloys on.

The 'spacesaver' space has a max speed on it - 80kph [or as stated by silverbarchetta 50mph.]

The cans are ok for getting you to the next garage or home, just a shame they ruin the tyre so that any repair cannot be made. They are of course useless in the event of the tyre being shredded!

Having said that, you don't get many punctures these days, but I like to have the spare, just in case.

>>>>>>> then the spare wheel is just a legal thing because due to the way the tyre places tighten the wheels, I can't take the wheels off anyway <<<<<<

Errm! a major issue here is to slacken the incorrectly overtightened wheel nuts (way too common with a Rockape wielding a air wrench) and then torque correctly or at least with the Fiat supplied short wheel brace. It could save a lot of future grief.

Thanks guys.

Does anyone know what I mean about the central hole on the wheel not quite fitting on the mount in the boot snugly enough. There is a small gap which doesn't seem right. Does your tool kit which goes in the centre of the spare fit level with the top of the spare or stick out slightly?

the spare in the booth does not quite fit on mine also, the "toolkit" sticks out

RnRollie said:

the spare in the booth does not quite fit on mine also, the "toolkit" sticks out

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So it isn't just mine then - thanks RnRollie

I seem to remember that mine does this too.

The tool kit is supposed to sit slightly higher than the spare, but allows the rear mat to sit at the correct level.

The spare I had was a spacesaver? to be used only in an emergency and will pass an MOT with one and still be legal abroad. If you have a spare in the car during the MOT they may check it (they seldom do) if you have no spare in the boot during the MOT they cannot check it.

I have never known traffic to check a spare tyre and cannot ever think of a prosecution taking place for an illegal spare tyre. I also can't see the CPS or any prosecutions dept running such a case.

If you have 15,16 or 17" wheels the diameter should still be the same as the original tyre i.e 195/55/15 changed to 195/50/16 or 205/45/16 would still be a very close diammeter to the original with only 0.84% difference so the spacesaver should still suit if you catch my drift.

Just to add for those that think about using the wheel brace from the tool kit DON'T.
You'll end up with at minimum skint knuckles. Get something like this...http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TELESCOPIC-EX...ryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem it will remove any wheelnut no matter how tight the tyre place puts them on with ease and will without doubt save time effort and injury.

If I was only allowed one tool in the boot that would be it.

Alan.D said:

If I was only allowed one tool in the boot that would be it.

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This is my tool!

xS

>>>>for those that think about using the wheel brace from the tool kit DON'T.
it will remove any wheelnut no matter how tight the tyre place puts them on with ease and will without doubt save time effort and injury.<<<
I'll take issue with you on this point, I think you are half correct. The wheel brace supplied is a specific length so that an owner cannot overtighten the nuts. Agreed, they are likely to be overtightened with a misused air wrench and a oversized brace is necessary then.
When a nut tightens on a stud it can, if over tightened, stretch the stud. In itself not an issue, but the stretching of the stud weakens it. It is unlikely that it will weaken it below its breaking point, but repeated over tightening can do. The stud in the process work hardens and can shear. If one goes, so too might a second; that increases the likelihood of a third or fourth coming off. If you think that unlikely, then consider that trucks from time to time lose wheels from trailers when all the studs shear at the same time! Plus discs can be distorted with overtightening.
For those cars fitted with alloy wheels another difficulty arises. Alloy wheels are not quite as forgiving as steel wheels, and over tightening the wheel nuts can cause damage to the wheel centres. Lexus go so far as stating that grease should not be smeared on threads too but many will disagree that too.
Fiat don't issue a short brace just to make life awkward, air wrenches wrongly used do.

Shelxs said:

This is my tool!

xS

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what's his name and does he not complain in the boot

CasaPaulo yes I agree with you re the overtightening, my point was only when trying to take a wheel nut off if using the toolkit wheelbrace it's more than likely to cause injury. I always use a torque wrench for my car's when tightening the wheelnuts but in an emergency that wrench is brilliant and will take anything off with ease

I have the spacesaver spare wheel in mine..........

I am always a bit puzzled why people over tighten their wheel nuts! Manufacturers publish torque settings but they are not usually much more than hand tight, there is no need to stand on the wheel brace to tighten them up!!

I have changed at least 2 sets of wheel nuts in the past where they have been overtightened and also changed a wheel hub for the same reason! I always keep in mind the possible need to change the wheel is the pee-ing rain at midnight at the side of a motorway - if I cannot get them off with the wheel with the wheel brace then they are too tight!!

Wot CasaPaulo said.

If tyre people are tightening bolts on your alloys that hard then they may be overdoing them surely. ??risk of cracking wheels?

Zem said:

You might need to check the bolt length, the steelies and the alloys differ slightly. Depends on what your car came with originally and if you have put aftermarket alloys on.

The 'spacesaver' space has a max speed on it - 80kph

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Just so. Found tyre flat this am, trip to garage (100yds) away but as v fast puncture, out comes the spare- but wait! The bolts are too long and it doesn't, er, actually turn! Fun and games ensued.

Possibly worth checking in case you haven't already.