Space saver = less weight
Better fuel economy
Easier for weaker drivers to install
Full size tire/rim: 46 lbs
Space saver tire/rim: 23 lbs
So we are talking about an additional 23 lbs. The difference in gas mileage would probably be insignificant. But my question would be: Why would they stamp the frame to accomodate a full size spare? Why not just stamp it out for the size of the space saver? Then they wouldnât need to create such a huge styro plug to fill the gap.
My guessâŚ
Stamp for a full size - in case anyone wants to put an actual full-size tire there. Maybe even a higher end trim level comes with the full size.
But ship most trim levels with the space saver. I assume the space saver is quite a bit cheaper than a full size tire. It looks like Nissan sold about 50K Versas a year until it was discontinued. Assuming the space saver is $20 less than a full size, that is $1m of cost savings per year.
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There is A TON of work to get a car approved for crash safety and for EPA.
The size of the stamping might be a way for them to get more strength and rigidity and the weight is a serious concern with any vehicle that has to meet emisions standards.
You will see âdummyâ speakers in vehicles because it is cheaper to have a dummy speaker in 10s of thousands of cars than to have the vehicle recertified for crash saftey. Even though the cost for a full size spare might not be that much more it is many millions when multiplied by millions of vehicles over years of production. And there isnt much marketing value in a full size spare.
Ken nailed it. 23 pounds doesnât seem like much, but lug that extra weight around for 200,000 miles. Especially if those are city miles.
Our old 2010 Subaru Outback (Legacy in the US) had a âtemporary spareâ which was bigger than a space saver, but smaller than a full size one. The wheel was steel, so it weighed almost the same as the alloy. Two punctures in rural Victoria made us a bit nervous.
A full size wheel and tyre would fit in the Outbackâs recess as long as it was deflated to 20psi. Given our history of punctures, we put in the full sized one and carried a portable pump. Naturally, we didnât get a puncture after thatâŚ
The next version of the Outback had a full sized spare, which is essential in Oz were there can be 100km or (much) more between service stations. 80km (about 50 miles) at 80km/h, which is all you can do with a space saver, can be useless although better than nothing. We had two punctures in the CX-30 (RIP) but luckily, both were within 5km of our tyre shop. Both were from buildersâ discarded screws or bolts.
True, the weight of a spare will affect fuel economy slightly and reduce boot space, but Iâd rather have the peace of mind and we only do about 8,000km a year anyway. Unfortunately, our new Lexus UX doesnât come with anything, just the run flats: theyâll be ditched when they wear out, which apparently will be much faster than standard tyres.
Once you replace a flat full sized tire and get rolling again with the space saver tire, where do you put the damaged full sized tire?
Hint - in the oversized tire well.
The insert and jack can sit atop that and not mess up your trunk interior with road and brake debris like the damaged full sized tire would . . . simple.
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Peugeot 203s and 403s from the 1950s had the spare in a separate compartment in the boot so you could remove and replace without disturbing the boot contents. Later 404s and 504s carried the spare externally under the fuel tank. I had two 403s and later a 504, and really appreciated those features.
Steve best me to it, that was my guess. Sucks when you have a full size wheel and it wonât fit in the well. Now you have to put it in the trunkâŚon the carpetâŚand of course it was rainingâŚand muddyâŚ
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Or, if you own a NA or NB MX-5 (Miata) it has to go in the passenger seat!
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Yup, if itâll even fit in there.
Alot of times if you get the OE tow package it adds a full size spare. That is why alot of vehicles have the space for it.
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Yes, it fitted - just, Iâve had to do it twice. The full sized thing wonât fit in the boot, itâs just too big. NC and ND Miata boots are also probably too small
Interesting thing: all our punctures have been the left rear tyres; we drive on the left and any crap tends to roll off the shoulder of the road.
Only problem is, what are you going to do with the gigantic styro filler plug? That thing is huge and will not fit in the well with a full sized flat tire. I solved this problem by removing the styro plug completely and putting it in storage. If I ever sell the car, Iâll put the space saver, styro plug, jack, etc., back in place. Then Iâll give the new owner the full size spare just in case he wants to use it as a back up.
That makes sense. So then this optional package would probably include a much thinner, smaller styro plug to accomodate the bigger full size spare.
Yes I would imagine there would be some sort of accomodation. Either a replacement piece, or possibly there is some modification done to the existing one.
From what Iâve heard it can go both ways on the same model. Sometimes there is a special piece the factory had for streamlining the factory installed package. But the kit supplied for a dealer installed package can be more sparse and requires them to modify the original part instead.
Just downloaded the ownersâ manuals for the UX300h: the basic one is about 480 pages, the âinfotainmentâ one is 350! How long was âWar and Peaceâ?!
There are over 150 pages about how to connect phones, USB sticks and play music, quite confusing really for someone raised on LPs, CDs and home stereos.
The CX-30 had a B*** sound system which, I have to admit, sounded good. The UX has a âMark Levinsonâ system with 13 (!) speakers which is supposed to sound very good, that is, as long as we can understand how to use it.
Hey Bill will the Versa still get up to highway speed with the extra 23lbs? 
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My SOrento has a jack but no spare whatsoever, not even a can of fix-a-flat. I keep meaning to throw a 12V inflater in there along with a can of the gunk just to cover my nut but so far over nearly 7 years of ownership I have been pretty lucky. The one serious flat (I ran over a small craftsman screwdriver) occurred as I was pulling into work.
coupon code: DIOWJ7GQ
$10, these things are great!!!
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