Some new cars have no spare wheel

[Dave54]

That's the snag isn't it? If there's nowhere to put a spare, it makes it awkward to carry one. I imagine they've always been a pain to car makers though, apart from the added weight, they are an extra cost that has to be bought in, it means they have to provide a toolkit, and there has to be storage for it all that doesn't use up useful space. They've tried just about everywhere. In the boot, under the boot, on the boot lid, on the running board when cars had them, in the engine bay. I'm sure there must be other places. The old Fordson E83W had the spare on the passenger door, which apparently used to nack the hinges. My dad had one and I can remember the spare loose in the back (with me)
I can't see the makers going back to having spares unless a legal requirement forces them to. Can't see that happening.

 

[Avocet]

We're our own worst enemies though. We want the "big boots" look. Even quite modest saloon cars have 17 or 18" wheels nowadays and the days when a 225 section tyre was something you only saw on supercars are long gone! I know some Bristols used to carry them in the front wing, behind the front wheel and ahead of the A pillar. Possibly some Jensens too? Just not an option with today's packaging though. My old Scimitar used to have it above the radiator on top of the front of the engine. Again, it dictates a long nose and inefficient packaging.

 

[JohnD]

I believe a wheel in the front complicates the crash behaviour of the car.

My 206 has it under the boot floor, which is not especially convenient, but surely there aren't many vehicles (including people carriers) that couldn't do it that way

 

[Burnerman]

It can largely depend on the type of rear axle....with typical French vehicles using a torsion bar axle / trailing link suspension there is loads of room so the wheel can go there. With other types, maybe having a beam axle, it's nigh on impossible.
My Audi A1 has it's battery in the boot so there's no chance of a spare there either!
I get many a Citroen / Peugeot in with a totally seized spare wheel cradle clamp, so it's a good move to keep these well greased.....another problem is a heavily corroded rim, particularly on the wheel bolt tapers and the centre boss.
John

 

[Avocet]

I believe a wheel in the front complicates the crash behaviour of the car.

My 206 has it under the boot floor, which is not especially convenient, but surely there aren't many vehicles (including people carriers) that couldn't do it that way

I'm sure it would have an effect on the crash test results. Probably even more of an effect on the "pedestrian Protection" impact tests that cars now have to go through. Putting the spare under the back of the car can have a similar effect on rear impact crashworthiness, but that's not part of type approval in the EU. The current vogue is for MPVs to have seats that fold into the floor, rather than the previous generation where you have to lift them out, so they take up the space that would have been filled by a spare wheel.

 

[Dave54]

One plus thing about putting the spare under the back floor, accessible from underneath, is that it means you don't have to unload to get at it. A lot of the older type cars, with the spare basically in the same place but accessible under a board inside the boot were a PIA if you had a boot full.
Can't see the car makers wanting them at all though. Think of all the lovely lolly saved on those tyres!

 

[SandyLyon]

Can't see any benefit for the driver except they may gain a little more space.

Benefits for the car manufacturer are cost savings on wheel, tyre, Jack, wheel brace etc

Benefits for tyre manufacturers are although losing the initial cost of the spare tyre they are likely to be better off after sales of replacement tyres due to sidewall damage or tyres not being able to be repaired due to puncture repair kits having been used.

Benefits to recovery companies due to increased number of situations were Joe Public can't just swop a wheel / tyre over himself and has to call recovery company out.

Surely if manufacturers go down the route of no spare they should at least fit "Run Flats" as standard.

 

[Avocet]

That's an interesting one. Yes, the car manufacturers save on the cost of a jack, spare wheel and wheelbrace, but they have to fork out for a small compressor and can of sealant or they have to pay extra for run-flats. The biggest "win" for the manufacturer is, I think better CO2 emissions figures due to the reduced weight. I had a SEAT Alhambra before I had my current VW Sharan. Identical vehicles in all respects but the Sharan feels a trifle more refined and I think it's because it has conventional tyres and a can of sealant whereas the Alhambra had run-flats.

 

[mattylad]

First thing I did when buying my car was to buy a spare wheel & jack kit from ebay.
The latex is in the cellar, the air pump is handy though.

Once latex is used the wheel itself is also csrap because the tyre replacement co's dont like cleaning it off.

 

[empip]

A car I owned circa 1980, and rebuilt the engine of :- Renault16 - This had a front, underbonnet mounted spare wheel.

Note the sensible position of the alternator !!

She was / they were, front wheel drive, pretty much a mid engine car, (engine somewhere between axles, in fact behind the final drive unit) gearbox and final drive at the front. had they realised the 'handbag effect' they'd have increased the price !! But then not many gave a flying f'k for the TopGear type bullsh#t - First of the true hatchbacks I think.
Very comfy car, could lean a bit in the corners - But if you tweaked her to lean before the apex, she would hold her attitude throughout the curve... One of the best in ownership.
That spare wheel was a delight to handle - there was a large amount of volumetric space above the gearbox / final drive !

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[Dave54]

A car I owned circa 1980, and rebuilt the engine of :- Renault16 - This had a front, underbonnet mounted spare wheel.

Note the sensible position of the alternator !!

She was / they were, front wheel drive, pretty much a mid engine car, (engine somewhere between axles, in fact behind the final drive unit) gearbox and final drive at the front. had they realised the 'handbag effect' they'd have increased the price !! But then not many gave a flying f'k for the TopGear type bullsh#t - First of the true hatchbacks I think.
Very comfy car, could lean a bit in the corners - But if you tweaked her to lean before the apex, she would hold her attitude throughout the curve... One of the best in ownership.
That spare wheel was a delight to handle - there was a large amount of volumetric space above the gearbox / final drive !

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Don't see many of those around now. Saw one a few weeks back. It was in Norfolk I think.

 

[empip]

Buy a Peugeot, 3008 for example - Spec', 'Grip Control' + alloys and M&S tyres with a 'get you to tyre fitters' spare - Why ?
Grip control + 16" Isara alloy wheels with mud/snow tyres + space saver spare wheel £470.
Well, I don't know, but this impresses me, a little.

Slope 1 in 3, on the snow - front wheel drive only - Gotta be good for us countryside - medium mileage semi affluent nutters - innit ?

Yep! Still not decided, but getting there sloooowly !!

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[Burnerman]

It looks to be the modern day technological equivalent of FWD plus a limited slip diff.....with M&S tyres, all we need.
John

 

[rds60h]

First move away from a traditional spare wheel was the "Space Saver" skinny wheel, it didn't save space because they had to have a polystyrene base to fill the spare wheel well, but for the Car Manufacturers the "Space Saver" was cheaper and it reduced the vehicle weight and so slightly increased mpg which is a sales point for the Car Manufacturers.
Doing away with the spare wheel all together was again cheaper for the Car Manufacturers; although the cost saving was not passed on to the buyer, and again a weight reduction and so another slight increase in mpg giving another boost to the sales point of better mpg.
Despite there being no spare wheel this has not affected the Tyre Industry, because the "Get you Home Repair Kit" renders the punctured tyre un-repairable and so a new tyre is required irrespective of the tread left.
The only person who pays for all this is the motorist.
As for Avocet's concern of where the 7 seat MPVs could carry a spare...........4x4's have had the solution for years, a spare wheel carrier on the rear door.

 

[empip]

Most cars I have been researching recently offer at least a 'skinny' emergency spare as a paid for option on new purchase.
Personally prefer - if it would fit - a full size spare to carry on board.
BTW.
http://www.faurecia.com/en/about-us/interior-systems
57% owned by Peugeot - They do some quality car, interiors !

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