How to fit a spacesaver spare tyre

If you know how to fit a regular-sized spare tyre, you won’t have any trouble with a spacesaver spare tyre.

First, what’s a spacesaver? That’s the skinny tyre, usually on a disc-style steel wheel, that many manufacturers supply these days in the place of a full-size spare tyre. The best thing we can say about spacesavers is, they’re better than nothing!

Now, read on and you’ll be an expert and back on the road before you know it.

If you’re driving, make sure to pull over in a safe location with your hazard lights on. Preferably, you’ll want to be stopped on a flat, hard surface – making sure the car is switched off and the handbrake is on.

Locate the spare tyre – in most cases it’ll be inside the boot, hidden underneath a false floor. It could also be under the rear of the car or mounted to the tailgate. If you’re stuck, consult your trusty owner’s manual.

Next, locate the tools to do the job – a wheel brace or spanner and a jack – these will most likely be stored close to the spare tyre. You’ll also need to work out where the car’s recommended jacking points are. Again, consult your manual if you’re not sure.

Wheel nuts are usually really tight, so try loosening them off before jacking the car up, remembering you may need to use considerable force to do so (i.e. by standing on the wheel brace and using your body weight). You only need to crack them slightly, don’t loosen them too much. And remember, lefty-loose-y, righty-tight-y.

It’s a good idea to chock the wheel diagonally opposite to the flat before you start jacking, to ensure the car doesn’t move. Once you’ve cracked the nuts, begin jacking the car up at the same corner as your flat tyre until the tyre is off the ground. Remove the wheel nuts completely and set them aside in a safe place.

Take care to remove the flat tyre from the car – remember it’ll be heavy and dirty – and set it flat on the ground.

Now fit the spacesaver spare tyre and start doing up the wheel nuts with your fingers. Make sure the wheel is sitting flush and centre before tightening them with the wheel brace while the wheel is still in air.

Let the jack down until the wheel is just touching the ground again, and tighten the wheel nuts as much as you can, going in a sequence of tightening one, missing one, tightening one, missing one etc. Again, your owner’s manual will tell you the recommendation for your car.

Once you’re satisfied the spacesaver is done up tight, let the jack down completely and pack away the flat tyre and anything else you’ve used/removed from the car and give yourself a pat on the back.

Keep in mind, there are a few things to remember when driving on a spacesaver spare tyre. They are supposed to be a temporary fix, so don’t drive on it longer than you need to (some brands list a maximum distance). Get to a tyre shop ASAP to have your flat repaired or replaced.

Spacesavers are usually only rated to 80km/h as well. Go here for more information on spacesavers.