Hi,
I have just purchased 4x16" Alloys which I have had fitted with 215/65/16 tyres.
My question is: Will it be OK to use one of my original 15" steel wheels fitted with 195/80/15 tyre as a spare until I can buy another 16" alloy?
If I have a puncture and have to use the 15" spare will it drastically affect the handling?
Will it be legal?
Cheers

mudinuri said:

Hi,
I have just purchased 4x16" Alloys which I have had fitted with 215/65/16 tyres.
My question is: Will it be OK to use one of my original 15" steel wheels fitted with 195/80/15 tyre as a spare until I can buy another 16" alloy?
If I have a puncture and have to use the 15" spare will it drastically affect the handling?
Will it be legal?
Cheers

Click to expand...

Here are my thoughts on this - but I'm sure that others may well have differing opinions.

AFAIK it would be legal.

I'm assuming that you have new 16" tyres and worn 15" tyres

The circumference of the 16" tyres should be around 209cm and the 15" should be 211cms when new according to the data books.

But get a measuring tape and check the actual circumference of the 16"tyres as compared to the 15" tyres.

What you need to do is choose whever one of the 15" has a circumference nearest in size to the 16" - hopefully that will be a difference of 2cm or less.

I reckon it would be OK to use a 15" as a spare but only if it was within 2cms of the other tyres - and it went on the back - and you keep the speed to under 50mph - and fix the puncture asap.

If you had a puncture on a front tyre that would mean swapping 2 wheels around of course.

Best to keep your fingers crossed and find another 16" wheel asap.

Singvogel,
Cheers mate, I had an inkling it would be OK as long as I kept the speed down but thanks for reassuring me.

I've got an extra spare 16" triple sport alloy, will fit all years of Freelander. Will be selling it shortly, no tyre on it though.

Considering the emergency wheels that replace the standart sizes wheel quite some time ago it would be an outrage if it was illegal