The spare wheel, or "space-saver": how to use it

When we realise that one of the car’s wheels has blown out, a knot forms in our throat. If we are travelling at high speed, the best thing is to ease off the speed gently and stop on the hard shoulder of the road we are driving on. The next step is to put on the high-visibility vest and place the warning triangles.

We must remember that on one-way roads, such as motorways and dual carriageways, you only need to place one triangle behind the car, about 50 metres away and where it can be seen from at least 100 metres away. If it is a two-way road, you must place one behind and also one in front. And once this is done, you can then start changing the wheel and using the space-saver.

The space-saver is the other name for the spare wheel, which is usually stored in the boot. It is not a normal wheel: it is not designed to withstand as much as the one used in everyday driving. It is made to handle an emergency and allow the car to reach a garage, where the burst tyre will be replaced with a new one.
Its construction uses far fewer layers than everyday tyres and it has much less strength. You must not drive faster than 80 km/h with it, and it is also advisable not to cover too many kilometres on it.

As we have said, the strength of the space-saver is not very high. This means it wears out much faster than a normal wheel. Moreover, it is not suitable for driving on wet or snowy roads. Potholes are also a problem for these wheels, since if they are hit too fast they can cause a failure.

Space-saver wheels must also be checked, just like the ones fitted to the car. Its pressure must be monitored regularly to detect whether it has lost air, and it must be kept in perfect condition in case it has to be used after a puncture. Some cars do not have one, but are fitted with a puncture repair kit, which we will discuss in a future article.

To change the punctured wheel for the spare, you must stop the car on as level a surface as possible. With the right tool, you must loosen the wheel nuts without removing them completely. If they are very tight, which they usually are, you need to use your own body weight. This way you apply more force and it is easier to loosen them.

Doing it this way is simpler than when the car is raised with the jack. The jack must be placed under the car, securely and so there is no risk of it moving. The car must be lifted, but not too high. As long as the wheel is off the ground and you can manoeuvre properly, that is enough. Once the punctured wheel is removed, the new one must be fitted and the nuts must be secured again.

First they should be tightened a little, to make sure they will not come off, and once the car has been lowered they should be tightened properly. As before, it is simpler to do it this way, and using your own body weight makes it possible to leave them properly tightened. And remember: once the wheel has been changed, you must not drive at high speed or for long distances. You must head to a garage and have it replaced with a new one.