17" alloy wheel for spare

[mentaliss]

I've got the rare american style 17" flat faced alloys, although they look great their not readily available, I would like to ditch the standard spare steel wheel 15" (tyre side wall badly cracked) and get a cheap alloy 17" wheel to replace it, anyone had this experience?

[Simon Jones]

I would have thought a 15" wheel might be easier / cheaper to come by as long as it as has the same rolling circuference.

[mentaliss]

I would have thought a 15" wheel might be easier / cheaper to come by as long as it as has the same rolling circuference.

Sorry Simon, are your talking about a 15" alloy? with a 70 profile tyre, trouble is with alloys the rim width can be wider that the standard 15" steel wheel which the rolling circumference may become an issue...have you done this?

[Simon Jones]

Not tried it myself as I've got 15" alloys on mine. I'm no expert on tyres so can't really comment on whether you can get a suitably 'high' profile tyre on a 15" rim to give the same circumference as a low profile tyre on a 17" rim.

I do seem to recall someone recently posted a link to a website that showed what aspect ratio tyres you can mix and match to get the same circumference.

Possibly something like these: http://www.ukzero.com/calculator1.htm

http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

http://www.csgnetwork.com/tireinfo4calc.html

[mikeonb4c]

I have a 2wd with rare 17" alloys, and I just keep a 15" wheel as spare (i've needed it a few times too - my Bongo has had more punctures than yer average car). Incidentally, do you have the right tools to remove yours. I had to buy a slim socket and extension bar as the standard wheel brace wouldn't fit. Luckily I sussed it before my first puncture.y

[mentaliss]

I have a 2wd with rare 17" alloys, and I just keep a 15" wheel as spare (i've needed it a few times too - my Bongo has had more punctures than yer average car). Incidentally, do you have the right tools to remove yours. I had to buy a slim socket and extension bar as the standard wheel brace wouldn't fit. Luckily I sussed it before my first puncture.y

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I presume then that the rolling circumference of the spare is roughly the same as your 17" alloy/tyres is the height of the spare wheel and your alloy the same when put back to back?....
regarding the wheel nuts of the alloys, after searching for a socket to fit I realised that there wasn't such a socket for my wheels so I just bought an impact deep socket and lathe'd it down to fit the nut tunnel. I think I'm going to keep the steel 15" spare and just replace the tyre, after all its only for emergencies
PS, mikeonb4c does your alloy wheel nuts fit the steel wheel?

[mikeonb4c]

I have a 2wd with rare 17" alloys, and I just keep a 15" wheel as spare (i've needed it a few times too - my Bongo has had more punctures than yer average car). Incidentally, do you have the right tools to remove yours. I had to buy a slim socket and extension bar as the standard wheel brace wouldn't fit. Luckily I sussed it before my first puncture.y

_______________________________________________________
I presume then that the rolling circumference of the spare is roughly the same as your 17" alloy/tyres is the height of the spare wheel and your alloy the same when put back to back?....
regarding the wheel nuts of the alloys, after searching for a socket to fit I realised that there wasn't such a socket for my wheels so I just bought an impact deep socket and lathe'd it down to fit the nut tunnel. I think I'm going to keep the steel 15" spare and just replace the tyre, after all its only for emergencies
PS, mikeonb4c does your alloy wheel nuts fit the steel wheel?

They seem to but except in emergencies (like a puncture) I don't mix them up.