spacesaver for spyder zetec elan

Post by: **Stratosboy** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:55 pm

can anyone tell me what car spacesaver wheel/tyre fits spyder zetec elan
on 14" minilites?

Post by: **elj221c** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:59 pm

Knock on?

Try something that fits the hub. Isn't it Ford?

Post by: **Stratosboy** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:07 pm

Thanks, Bolt on,
I assume ford, but smaller ford cars with 14" wheels don't seem to have space savers!

Post by: **elj221c** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:16 pm

Stratosboy wrote:I assume ford, but smaller ford cars with 14" wheels don't seem to have space savers!

You are right. When I bought a 2010 Fiesta the standard 'get you home' was a 'mousse' kit. Ridiculous set up, in my opinion. I specified (optional extra!) a proper spare wheel (and jack) which does come as a 14" rim although I can't remember the width, sorry. The car is currently with my daughter in York, so I can't go out and look..

I'm not quite sure why you would want a space saver anyway. They look ridiculous, restrict your speed and ultimately are only supposed to be used for a very short trip to the nearest tyre depot. I would have thought that you could accommodate a full size low profile spare.

BTW, I never could understand how a space saver fulfilled the construction and use in order to be legal. I suppose that it is an EU thing.......

Post by: **Stratosboy** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:33 pm

cheers Roy,
I'm just weighing up all options at the moment, I may go with a full size spare, but want to optimise space in boot.
my dad's got a 09 fiesta, so will measure this when I see him next.

Post by: **alexblack13** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:50 pm

I can't remember when I last had a puncture. So I just don't carry my spare wheel. I figured the risk is so small that if and when I suffer a flat I will use one of the puncture repairs in a can I carry around. If good enough for my Porsche? .. I have two of them in the Elan! :lol:

The only time I have (so far?) had to use one was on my new Caravan some years ago and I have to admit to being ready to call the AA, but I tried the instant repair and it worked perfectly, much to my amazement! So I carry the exact same items in the Elan. If one uses the 'can' you have to fit a new tyre, and I did on the Caravan anyway, but I am not worried about that. I just prefer not to be carrying the weight and love the extra space for 'stuff' in the spare wheel well.. Horses for courses I know, & this method will not suit everyone, so to each their own. I have heard all the horror stories about these products ruining tyres etc etc but I'm happy to risk it as I have great breakdown cover anyway. And yes they do know I don't carry a spare wheel. So four years & 8 k mls down the line and no punctures. Same with my other cars too. My Avensis, which I have had from new, has done 180,000 mls and no punctures. The Porsche is at 21k mls and no punctures. Both our Z4's went to nearly 30k mls (On those horrible run-flats) with none either... So I thought I would risk it. I do still carry the jack etc so I can whiz the wheel off when I get to the repair shop. I sure don't want any tire fitters having a go at jacking the car up by the A frames.

Bang!! Hissssssss.... (I am holding my breath now :roll:

)

I feel some more horror stories coming on now :roll:

Leave out the urban legends though chaps. I have heard most of them. Interested to hear any true stories as normal though.

AB.

Post by: **PeterK** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:36 am

I've run 'grunge' in my motorbike tyres for years. With riding between lanes, it is not unusual to pick up nails, etc. This type of gunge is pumped into the tyre and left there. Many is the time that I've seen a small nail poking out of the tire - just pull it out and let the grunge do its job.

Only once have I been let down. The rear of the bike 'felt funny', and by the time I had slowed and pulled off the road, the tyre was flat. It appears that 8mm holes are too big for the grunge to seal. Strewth, the grunge makes a huge mess of the underside of the bike then

The downside of the grunge is that it renders the tyre irreparable - the vulcanised patches won't stick. But hey, only been an issue once in almost 100,000 miles of motorway and city commuting, so can't grumble.

I've had my Range Rover converted to LPG, and the tank occupies the spare wheel well, so I carry 2 cylinders (big tyres on RR) of instant repair.

Post by: **Spyder fan** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:42 pm

You need a Ford Focus Mk1 4 bolt pattern space saver. There's plenty on EBAY and some here for under ?20 including carriage. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Focus-MK1-4-Stud-Space-Saver-Spare-Wheel-T125-80-R15-colours-may-vary-/281052973242?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item41701008ba

Here's the one fitted in the boot of the Supersprint.

I have one in each of my cars, yes they look ridiculous and should only be used in the direst emergency due to a damaged wheel or shredded tyre. I also carry the aerosol cans, as these will always seal a simple puncture.

Post by: **vernon.taylor** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:28 pm

Salut

I've had a nail in town and blow-out on a ringroad (ran over a brick that fell from a pick-up). The first I got repaired and the second I had to replace. I personally prefer a proper spare - if you can get your tyre repaired, it's cheaper than a new one (or two if the pattern has been changed) and in both cases you can continue your happy way in complete confidence.

As said though, you have to be unlucky to get a puncture these days. Statistically thinking it's probably more logical to fill your wheel well with tools, oil, water, dizzy caps and points, spark plugs, sandwiches and all the other spares a Lotus might need ;-)

@+

Vernon

Post by: **jimj** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:44 pm

I had a puncture last year and 2 or 3 years ago I had 2 in the space of an hour, on the same left rear. Luckily (?) there was a tyre place within a mile but it`s surprising how heavy a wheel is when you have to carry it. Now I carry a can of that "grunge" too.
Jim

Post by: **Stratosboy** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:27 pm

Thanks guys, especially Alan (Spyder Fan) for the info I needed and links.
I'm not a lover of using tyre weld type gunge products, never really worked for me, and tried them quite a few times.
I will also carry one of those tyre repair kits the AA use, have used these on exige and stratos with good results,
but I want a spare in the boot for emergency's.
thanks

Post by: **alexblack13** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:38 pm

Fill yer boot(s) ...... :roll:

Good option though.. :wink:

AB...

Post by: **elj221c** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:50 pm

Spyder fan wrote:You need a Ford Focus Mk1 4 bolt pattern space saver.

Alan, that looks just as large as a proper tyre.

I ask again, why a space saver and not a 'proper' one?

When my car was on the road I had a +2 wheel with a normal tyre as a spare.

Still under size to what I was running but at least no speed problems.

So, was I illegal? (different sizes on an axle) Or safer ? Mind you I suspect that in '89 there were no space savers, at least in the UK.

Post by: **Spyder fan** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:10 pm

Roy,
It's an awful lot narrower, about 100mm or so. It allows me to have a larger boot area than a standard +2 or S4. And the way it is fitted allows me to use the dish of the back of the wheel as a space to fit tools as well as a scissor jack.
There's more room in my finished boot than a standard S4 with the spacesaver fitted.

Post by: **elj221c** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:17 pm

Alan,

'Tis very neat I must say.

At least you don't use the 'gunge'!

I just have a horror of the space saver......

spacesaver for spyder zetec elan

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