Space saver wheel

[biffobear]

Having read up on several posts on the item, I understand that the space saver will only fit on the rear due to the size of the front brake calliper. So if you needed to replace a front wheel you do so with a rear wheel and fit the space saver to the rear. I've discovered my S2 has PNM calipers on the back and the space saver no longer fits due to clearances, so is now redundant. Apart from carrying the foam injection kit which the car came with, is there a space saver that anyone knows that will fit the front and are all the M100 space savers 14"?

[Fredjohn]

Having read up on several posts on the item, I understand that the space saver will only fit on the rear due to the size of the front brake calliper. So if you needed to replace a front wheel you do so with a rear wheel and fit the space saver to the rear. I've discovered my S2 has PNM calipers on the back and the space saver no longer fits due to clearances, so is now redundant. Apart from carrying the foam injection kit which the car came with, is there a space saver that anyone knows that will fit the front and are all the M100 space savers 14"?

The space saver will fit the front, but only if you have std brakes. However, the fact that the rears are upgraded suggests you also have upgraded front brakes. And presumably you have the 16" upgrades not the 15".

There is a Honda 14" wheel that will fit the 15" upgrade....I have one, slightly machined to ensure fitment. However, I suspect it won't fit the 16" size brakes.

Hope this helps. Or probably not!

[lotusflasherman]

That surprises me ... what about a wheel spacer to use with the space saver?
When running on 17" wheels and I converted to HiSpec with 295mm front discs (15% increase), I engineered 264mm x 8mm thick rear discs (12% increase) for the HiSpec rear calipers to keep the front-rear balance close to OE proportion, avoiding the need to muck about with proportioning valves. Space saver fits over those big discs at rear but not front - not that I'd ever drive with a space saver on the front.

Must admit that I've done about 200k M100 miles and never used the space saver. I used to bung a spare 15" OZ wheel and tyre in the well when going to the south of France and tolerate the boot floor being a bit high. 680 miles from Calais to south takes a bit of time at full speed and to be speed restricted by the space saver until subjected to highway robbery for a repair or new tyre, if I could get one, was not something I fancied. Never needed that either !

rear sm.jpg

spare on 264.jpg

It might be worth reminding folks that the space saver shouldn't be used with bolts for alloy wheels but should have their own set of bolts...

wheelbolts.JPG

[Rambo]

Having read up on several posts on the item, I understand that the space saver will only fit on the rear due to the size of the front brake calliper. So if you needed to replace a front wheel you do so with a rear wheel and fit the space saver to the rear. I've discovered my S2 has PNM calipers on the back and the space saver no longer fits due to clearances, so is now redundant. Apart from carrying the foam injection kit which the car came with, is there a space saver that anyone knows that will fit the front and are all the M100 space savers 14"?

I would never ever fit a space saver to a front wheel car anyway. And likewise on the back for a RWD, whatever the car. I've even seen people on the motorways hammering about at 80 mph on a 50 mph max spacesaver Surely that must be illegal ? Over to you Dave

I believe JohnW found a spacesaver that fitted, albeit it was bright yellow I will try and find a link for you

[Rambo]

Here we go biffo viewtopic.php?f=45&t=6021&start=40#p349078

[Fredjohn]

The yellow space saver comes from a Honda Insight, pre 2005 I think. See this thread

Same thread also confirms using a spacer does not work (elanlover post).

It was the Insight wheel I bought. But I re-iterate I don't know if it will fit the 16" caliper conversions, front or rear.

[dapinky]

I would never ever fit a space saver to a front wheel car anyway. And likewise on the back for a RWD, whatever the car. I've even seen people on the motorways hammering about at 80 mph on a 50 mph max spacesaver Surely that must be illegal ? Over to you Dave

Personally, if I use a spacesaver wheel it would ALWAYS go on the back, regardless of the driven wheels..... as you will only ever be going at max 50mph, it will still give enough grip to drive the car, but you don't want to loose any grip on the steering and braking wheels (at the front).

I'm not sure if there is a specific law which covers the excess speed - but it certainly would come under the 'Dangerous Driving' provisions to exceed the manufacturers stated limits.

[Rambo]

Point taken. It's anazing how many spacesavers you see on the front wheels though

[dapinky]

Mark,

I'm not saying that I'm 100% right in my thoughts - but I always make sure my 'better' tyres are on the front of all my cars (so end up swapping them round quite regularly). If I only buy 2 new ones (and not a set), I always put them on the front.

Obviously, with some cars, there may be a restriction in where they will physically fit - they are only designed to get you to a safe place... not to continue on your 600 mile foreign journey regardless.

I suspect that most people who have never thought about the physics of it, will simply replace whichever wheel has the flat on it and give it no more thought.

[Rambo]

I'm not saying that I'm 100% right in my thoughts - but I always make sure my 'better' tyres are on the front of all my cars (so end up swapping them round quite regularly). If I only buy 2 new ones (and not a set), I always put them on the front

Me too. Always the new ones or the better ones on the front. And I also regularly take all wheels off, clean them back to shiny alloy, inspect all tyres (particularly the inner walls), rotate as necessary to get the best wear, tyre pressures checked at least monthly etc.........

Call me an anorak, pedant, OCD, whatever... I never compromise on tyre rubber and/or brakes. I even change my brake fluid on a yearly basis. My life, and others, depend on it

[Simon_P]

I used to think the same but - New tyres on the rear for 2 reasons
- Best grip - losing grip on the rear is usually worse that the front where a. you can feel it b. it is likely to result in earlier understeer c. you can do something about it.
- You rotate your part worn nearly new tyres to the front where you wear them out so your average tyre age is lower and you get best use of your money because you are replacing worn out tyres.

That said like dapinky I'd put the space saver on the rear purely for braking and no I wouldn't exceed 50 MPH or drive any distance on a Motorway.

[lotusflasherman]

Years ago my local Tyre Co told me DoT recommend best /new tyres should go on the back - reason was people don't know how to handle oversteer. I consider that bollocks because the fronts do steering and majority of braking and I know about oversteer. Imagine on a rainy day a kid ran out in front and your best tyres weren't in the right place ...

[dapinky]

.... I even change my brake fluid on a yearly basis.....

That beats me - I make mine last for 2 years before changing it.

a 5L container of DOT 4 for under a score makes good sense to me and a pot does all my cars with some left over.

[Simon_P]

Phil,
Nothing beats some old tyres on the rearof a rear wheel drive for a bit of fun in the dry.

steer in to while you accelerate... where do you want the kid to be?

https://www.uniroyal-tyres.com/car/tyre ... %20vehicle

https://kumhotyre.co.uk/kumho-news/shou ... t-or-rear/
https://www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/better-ty ... st-results

[Dave Eds]

Years ago my local Tyre Co told me DoT recommend best /new tyres should go on the back - reason was people don't know how to handle oversteer. I consider that bollocks because the fronts do steering and majority of braking and I know about oversteer. Imagine on a rainy day a kid ran out in front and your best tyres weren't in the right place ...

What you gonna do on the Evora Phil? Drive uphill with heavy steering if you get it wrong

[Rambo]

Years ago my local Tyre Co told me DoT recommend best /new tyres should go on the back - reason was people don't know how to handle oversteer. I consider that bollocks because the fronts do steering and majority of braking and I know about oversteer. Imagine on a rainy day a kid ran out in front and your best tyres weren't in the right place ...

What you gonna do on the Evora Phil? Drive uphill with heavy steering if you get it wrong

His backs won't go on the front on the Ebola. Or the fronts on the back. And he doesn't have a spacesaver so it's all a load of boLECks anyway

[biffobear]

I tried the s/saver wheel on the rear and it didn't come close to fitting. All I can tell you at present is the rear callipers have what look like small cooling fins in the casting and factory yellow paint. The disc is not vented and the set up looks as though it's been in place for some time. However, the fronts are newish being about a couple of years old and both vented discs and callipers are in as new condition. ( The car has done less than 300 miles in three years. The callipers have a gold anti corrosion factory finish and the discs are in an un marked condition. I can get the s/saver on the front hub and get all 4 bolts in but as you tighten the wheel the disc part of the wheel close to the welds foul the calliper. I'll try spacers just to get me out of the crap for now but that won't work on the rear. Also, I am lucky to have a scrap yard close by so will have a look for a Honda or similar. I hope to get to Castle Coombe (via Brands Hatch) in a couple of weeks so perhaps someone could take a look to see what on earth I have bought . Being an S2 it has standard BBS 16" alloy wheels.

[biffobear]

Here we go biffo viewtopic.php?f=45&t=6021&start=40#p349078

Thanks for the link. I'll check the centres and nip down the scrap yard if it's not to wet.

[lotusflasherman]

Years ago my local Tyre Co told me DoT recommend best /new tyres should go on the back - reason was people don't know how to handle oversteer. I consider that bollocks because the fronts do steering and majority of braking and I know about oversteer. Imagine on a rainy day a kid ran out in front and your best tyres weren't in the right place ...

What you gonna do on the Evora Phil? Drive uphill with heavy steering if you get it wrong

His backs won't go on the front on the Ebola. Or the fronts on the back. And he doesn't have a spacesaver so it's all a load of boLECks anyway

Spud had an Evora so he knows that ... I just took it as a joke that didn't really work ...

[biffobear]

That surprises me ... what about a wheel spacer to use with the space saver?
Space saver fits over those big discs at rear but not front - not that I'd ever drive with a space saver on the front.


It might be worth reminding folks that the space saver shouldn't be used with bolts for alloy wheels but should have their own set of bolts...

wheelbolts.JPG

Thanks for your thoughts and pictures which confirm I have the standard space saver 14” wheel. Just checked some pictures and detail on the rear callipers and the are PNM replacement for an S2 and the 14” s/saver is no good for that set up on the back. Like you I do not like the idea of running a s/saver on the front.... but if it gets me to a nearby garage or tyre outlet then that has to be better than being lifted by a a chap who does not understand the delicacies of doing so with a Lotus. So I’ll see if I can find a 14” or 15” s/saver to fit when my local breakers yard re opens but the owner is not sure when that might be. So from what everyone has said I have nonstandard breaks on the front as well as the S/saver just catches the calliper. Maybe someone will tell me what they are on the 29th.