Steel spare wheel - Has anyone actually used one?

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:32 pm

With a road trip looming, I thought I’d see if the deflated spare that Porsche provided on my SC backdate would actually fit. On mounting it on the hub, I discovered that the std Fuchs wheel nuts could not go far enough down the wheel stud to clamp the wheel. Do I need to carry a spacer? Or just grind the covered end off some old nuts?

Secondly, will an electric pump inflate it ?

Was contemplating putting a full size tyre on it and live with less space under the bonnet

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Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:36 pm

.

You need to carry 5 open-ended steel nuts for the spacesaver ...

.

Darren C · Post by **Darren C** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:10 pm

Yes a Porsche electric pump will inflate it Mike (I've used them in action a few times)
Beware folks anyone using one in a 997 (I did a 996 turbo sparewheel mod instead of the goo) the cigarette lighter socket isn't fused for a Porsche compressor in a 997 (it'll pop the fuse), fit crocodile clips & go straight on battery

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:34 pm

Lightweight_911 wrote:.

You need to carry 5 open-ended steel nuts for the spacesaver ...

.

in all the years I’ve had my car, I never knew that !

23e Heure · Post by **23e Heure** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:13 pm

Steel wheel after puncture.

Yes with normal nuts. But it’s not a space saver.

But a photo worth posting for the thread, I thought, since at least doing so gives me more enjoyment than fitting the spare did that morning! (5 years ago)

A set of the open ended nuts can be had pretty cheap, I wouldn’t bother grinding the ends off a set of standard ones.

jwhillracer · Post by **jwhillracer** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:12 am

It’s worth buying a full set of steel nuts Mike, they are a standard requirement for motorsport.

JW

Chris_911 · Post by **Chris_911** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:55 am

Lightweight_911 wrote:.

You need to carry 5 open-ended steel nuts for the spacesaver ...

.

Me neither!
Is that true for all years of 911? (Mine is an 88 G series)

KS · Post by KS » Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:04 am

Chris_911 wrote:
Lightweight_911 wrote:.

You need to carry 5 open-ended steel nuts for the spacesaver ...

.
Me neither!
Is that true for all years of 911? (Mine is an 88 G series)

If you have a steel spacesaver, then yes.

70sThrowback · Post by **70sThrowback** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:06 am

KS wrote:
Chris_911 wrote:
Lightweight_911 wrote:.

You need to carry 5 open-ended steel nuts for the spacesaver ...

.
Me neither!
Is that true for all years of 911? (Mine is an 88 G series)
If you have a steel spacesaver, then yes.

well you learn something new every day. I need to check if I have the nuts in the tool roll or under the spare wheel. Thanks for the info!

KS · Post by KS » Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:07 am

Here you go...

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/ ... l-m14.html

Nine One One · Post by **Nine One One** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:12 am

Are you also not better off just buying a ‘cheapie’ normal tyre to fit on the steel wheel. That spare must be years old and, not sure how long the creased up side walls last on them?

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:31 am

if you have a plastic 80 ltr tank like mine you cant fit a full sized tyre on teh spare.

I've just ordered some of those nuts ... although I'v probabally got some old ones in the garage from teh old T6 vw van I had

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:54 am

If you have the std steel tank, assuming you secure it with a three hook strap, will a steel wheel with a normal, say 175/70, tyre resting on the tank, fit under the bonnet ?

Nuts ordered BTW, thanks for the link, Keith, and all the other advice from the rest of the DDK ensemble

Winston Teague · Post by **Winston Teague** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:13 pm

Not Porsche experience, but similar I believe, my 1999 Audi A6 all road had one of these as the spare, and the supplied Audi compressor, whilst excellent (I'd used it on other jobs) would not rush enough air to get the tyre to push against the rim, and then hold air.......utterley useless as a roadside emergency kit. I made the tyre work with a proper compressor with a reservoir and some applied weight and wrestling, but as soon as I deflated it again it fell away from the rim.....
W

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:44 pm

MikeB wrote:If you have the std steel tank, assuming you secure it with a three hook strap, will a steel wheel with a normal, say 175/70, tyre resting on the tank, fit under the bonnet ?

This is a standard tank with a 195/60 tyre.

I have 5 of the steel wheel nuts in the toolbag as the nuts for my Torq Thrusts are completely different with sleeves and 22mm heads.

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