small spare wheel - what a nightmare

JonnyA · Mar 5th, 2013, 20:41

Not really wanting to start a big thread - just needed to vent...

damaged a rear tyre the other night - instant flat.
fortunately have a space saver spare and had that on in less than 10mins.

limited speed not an issue the roads round here, but what got me was that every time I accelerated, hit a bump or anything else the DSTC warning came on. to make it worse on every bend it came on and then cut the power till i'd got down to about 15mph and would only go again if i lifted off and then had it a fit when accelerating again.

what on earth are volvo (and the rest of them doing) supplying these half sized bits of rubbish? suppose i should be gratefull i've got one at all rather than the squirt can.
not sure where their 1 puncture in 20yrs comes from - i've had at least five in 3 yrs, 3 of those with sidewall damage....

rant over
thanks for listening

TimS · Mar 5th, 2013, 21:07

Yes, they're not good at all. I had to put my skinny spare on the LH front last year, just to go a couple of miles in traffic. Nasty, & going round a roundabout felt like the car was on the point of sliding. Really wouldn't want to do many miles on one, or with a lot of weight.

Better than a can of snot, though.

Tim.

tt82 · Mar 5th, 2013, 21:23

Sounds like a right nightmare.

I think given the option of a small spare wheel which will cause a multitude of problems or the can of snot, I'd take the can of snot, pout it in the verge and use my RAC membership to get towed to a tyre fitters.

JonnyA · Mar 6th, 2013, 13:07

Big draw back the the 'can of snot' is that with side wall damage you are immobilised.
Even if recovered the chances of the tyre place (assuming its open) having the right tyre in stock is pretty close to zero.

swedishandgerman · Mar 6th, 2013, 13:57

Does anyone have experience of storing a full size spare in the boot?

Not an owner of one of these cars yet - my new V70 is on order - and I have not ordered a spare wheel. The P11D value of the car is right on the brink of my company car allowance. I plan to get a tempa spare wheel on Ebay or something similar, but even better, if I can get a full size spare in there, I'll buy another wheel

tt82 · Mar 6th, 2013, 14:51

I have a load tray under my floor and it's possible if that was removed or modified then you might be able to fit a full size spare.

clivea · Mar 6th, 2013, 22:01

I couldn't believe that the space saver on my XC70 is about 2 inch less on diameter than the normal wheels. I fitted it the other week when a valve leaked but fortunately the car was on the drive. It looked absolutely bizarre with the front near side noticeably down in height. Can't fit a full size in the well given the diameter difference. Given a tread puncture ill use snot as it would give far more miles driving than the space saver. If a tyre dealer wasn't prepared to repair the tyre I would take away clean it and use it as a back up.

JonnyA · Mar 7th, 2013, 10:15

As clivea says the full size wheel tyre combo is too large a diameter to fit into the well under the floor, even when deflated its too rigid to push in.

Andy Northface · Mar 7th, 2013, 11:02

I've said this before,but Its a disgrace that manufacturers aren't supplying a full size spare now..I bought from a breaker a full size steel wheel for my 2001 S80 for £20. I'm lucky it fits in the wheel well. If it didn't,I would carry it in the boot. I will not drive my car without a spare. I see too many people at the side of the motorways with a shredded tyre .

I understand that some people are happy to call the RAC/AA to change their wheels for whatever reason,which is fine by me. It is quicker if their is a spare wheel for them to change however than to drag the car to a tyre depot. IMO.

keithjeb · Mar 7th, 2013, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Northface

I've said this before,but Its a disgrace that manufacturers aren't supplying a full size spare now..I bought from a breaker a full size steel wheel for my 2001 S80 for £20. I'm lucky it fits in the wheel well. If it didn't,I would carry it in the boot. I will not drive my car without a spare. I see too many people at the side of the motorways with a shredded tyre .

I understand that some people are happy to call the RAC/AA to change their wheels for whatever reason,which is fine by me. It is quicker if their is a spare wheel for them to change however than to drag the car to a tyre depot. IMO.

Just playing devils advocate, on an XC90 , the volume of each wheel is (give or take) 50 litres (21" diameter with tyres, 225 width). Parkers list the boot volume as 250l.

Would you rather a space saver or 20% less boot space - probably more as you'd need to raise the floor a lot. Not to mention the additional weight.
Running a space saver is a pain in the ass, but at least it works and in all likely hood you're only going to need it once every 5 or 6 years for 20 minutes or so.

Mar 5th, 2013, 20:41	#1
JonnyA Member Last Online: Apr 26th, 2024 17:20 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wedmore	small spare wheel - what a nightmare Not really wanting to start a big thread - just needed to vent... damaged a rear tyre the other night - instant flat. fortunately have a space saver spare and had that on in less than 10mins. limited speed not an issue the roads round here, but what got me was that every time I accelerated, hit a bump or anything else the DSTC warning came on. to make it worse on every bend it came on and then cut the power till i'd got down to about 15mph and would only go again if i lifted off and then had it a fit when accelerating again. what on earth are volvo (and the rest of them doing) supplying these half sized bits of rubbish? suppose i should be gratefull i've got one at all rather than the squirt can. not sure where their 1 puncture in 20yrs comes from - i've had at least five in 3 yrs, 3 of those with sidewall damage.... rant over thanks for listening

Mar 5th, 2013, 21:23	#3
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Nov 28th, 2022 17:33 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	Sounds like a right nightmare. I think given the option of a small spare wheel which will cause a multitude of problems or the can of snot, I'd take the can of snot, pout it in the verge and use my RAC membership to get towed to a tyre fitters. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Mar 6th, 2013, 13:57	#5
swedishandgerman Premier Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 21:39 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: EXETER	Does anyone have experience of storing a full size spare in the boot? Not an owner of one of these cars yet - my new V70 is on order - and I have not ordered a spare wheel. The P11D value of the car is right on the brink of my company car allowance. I plan to get a tempa spare wheel on Ebay or something similar, but even better, if I can get a full size spare in there, I'll buy another wheel __________________ 2006 XC70 D5 Manual 1968 Amazon Estate, B18A + Overdrive 2019 V60 D3 Momentum Pro Manual 1970 Amazon 2-Door 1970 142DL

Mar 6th, 2013, 14:51	#6
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Nov 28th, 2022 17:33 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	I have a load tray under my floor and it's possible if that was removed or modified then you might be able to fit a full size spare. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Mar 6th, 2013, 22:01	#7
clivea clivea Last Online: Dec 10th, 2014 12:38 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: West Country	I couldn't believe that the space saver on my XC70 is about 2 inch less on diameter than the normal wheels. I fitted it the other week when a valve leaked but fortunately the car was on the drive. It looked absolutely bizarre with the front near side noticeably down in height. Can't fit a full size in the well given the diameter difference. Given a tread puncture ill use snot as it would give far more miles driving than the space saver. If a tyre dealer wasn't prepared to repair the tyre I would take away clean it and use it as a back up. __________________ Cheers Clivea April 2014 Subaru Forester XE Lineatronic. 2010-April 2014 XC70 SE Premium 205ps D5 Geartronic AWD 2010MY Oyster Grey

Mar 5th, 2013, 21:07	#2
TimS Senior Member Last Online: Apr 18th, 2024 21:24 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Suffolk	Yes, they're not good at all. I had to put my skinny spare on the LH front last year, just to go a couple of miles in traffic. Nasty, & going round a roundabout felt like the car was on the point of sliding. Really wouldn't want to do many miles on one, or with a lot of weight. Better than a can of snot, though. Tim.

Mar 6th, 2013, 13:07	#4
JonnyA Member Last Online: Apr 26th, 2024 17:20 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wedmore	Big draw back the the 'can of snot' is that with side wall damage you are immobilised. Even if recovered the chances of the tyre place (assuming its open) having the right tyre in stock is pretty close to zero.

Mar 7th, 2013, 10:15	#8
JonnyA Member Last Online: Apr 26th, 2024 17:20 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wedmore	As clivea says the full size wheel tyre combo is too large a diameter to fit into the well under the floor, even when deflated its too rigid to push in.

Mar 7th, 2013, 11:02	#9
Andy Northface Where's that 18mm socket? Last Online: Apr 25th, 2016 23:01 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Normally in the dog house, Chester-Le-Street	I've said this before,but Its a disgrace that manufacturers aren't supplying a full size spare now..I bought from a breaker a full size steel wheel for my 2001 S80 for £20. I'm lucky it fits in the wheel well. If it didn't,I would carry it in the boot. I will not drive my car without a spare. I see too many people at the side of the motorways with a shredded tyre . I understand that some people are happy to call the RAC/AA to change their wheels for whatever reason,which is fine by me. It is quicker if their is a spare wheel for them to change however than to drag the car to a tyre depot. IMO.

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