What is a spare wheel?

Space-saving emergency wheels, commonly known as spare wheels or space savers, are designed for temporary use. A spare wheel can get you to a repair location when you have a flat tire. There is no maximum distance, but the speed restriction, limited tread depth (only 3 mm when new), and softer rubber compound mean that the distance traveled before repair should not be excessive.

Spare wheels don’t necessarily need to have the same diameter as the alloy wheels your car is equipped with. This is related to weight and limited trunk space. After all, a spare wheel is luggage that you want to keep as small as possible.

Car manufacturers make only a small number of spare wheels to fit as many different models as possible. Therefore, the offset (ET value) of a spare wheel may differ from that of your current wheels. What’s important is that the spare wheel is large enough to fit over the brake caliper. A spare wheel often has a sticker with information about the maximum speed (80km/h) which must be observed for safety reasons. That’s why spare wheels should only be considered as an emergency solution to get you home. The original tire must be repaired/replaced as soon as possible. For safety reasons, the use of a temporary spare wheel may only be advised for either the rear or front axle. This is to prevent contact with various brake parts and/or damage to the transfer case/transmission. If a spare wheel has a much smaller diameter/circumference than an original wheel, for safety reasons it should only be mounted on the rear of the car (rear brakes are smaller). Never mount more than one spare wheel on a vehicle.

For safety reasons, the use of a temporary spare wheel may only be advised for either the rear or front axle. This is to prevent contact with various brake parts and/or damage to the transfer case/transmission. If a spare wheel has a much smaller diameter/circumference than an original wheel, for safety reasons it should only be mounted on the rear of the car (rear brakes are smaller). Never mount more than one spare wheel on a vehicle.

Replace your wheel with a spare wheel at the rear whenever possible. Since you only have one jack at your disposal while on the road and therefore can’t jack up the front and rear of your car simultaneously, you’ll need to follow this procedure for changing a flat front tire:

Apply the parking brake and preferably block one of the wheels on the other side of the car to prevent it from moving. Loosen the wheel bolts of the rear wheel by one turn and then jack up the rear of the car. Remove the good wheel and replace it with the spare wheel. Lower the car and jack up the front. Remove the flat front tire and replace it with the rear tire. Hand-tighten the wheel nuts, lower the jack, and then tighten the wheel bolts/nuts with the provided wrench.

Your car’s handling will be completely different with a spare wheel mounted. You must seriously take this into account while driving. Try to have the original tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Remember that changing your flat tire can be dangerous if proper procedures aren’t followed. So ensure your safety and be completely familiar with installation. The instructions supplied with our products contain specific detailed information about their use and the complete safety procedures that must be observed. If you are unfamiliar with changing a spare wheel in any way, seek advice from a qualified person or other road user.

Before lifting a vehicle, make sure you are parked on a firm, level, and stable surface. The vehicle must be in gear (or in park position for automatic transmission) with the handbrake engaged. The two wheels that remain on the ground must be firmly secured on both sides to prevent movement.