Hey Guys,

Can't find anything on it in the forum so I thought I'd start a thread to ask the ever pressing question, "How far can you drive on a space saver"? Safely of course... Potential for damage to the car (diffs, etc). Any tips for a 200km journey on a space saver?

All input would be helpful.

Cheers,

Joel

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Black 2006 MY07 WRX Wagon with doof...

well a space saver is rated to 80km an hour, and they are to be used to drive to get your tyre fixed (ie: the nearest repairer)

so, I wouldn't if i was you..

Altho, saying that, I have seen cars doing 100km an hour down the freeway with a space saver on, I saw one car for two straight weeks running around with the space saver on...

I recon you are an idiot if you try it tho, and if/when it go's ass up, I wouldn't expect anyone to help you...

Max 80 kph - and over long kilometers that is probably pushing it
space savers are reported to only last max 450 kilometers
dont forget its on there and be carefull cornering on it

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Put 4 on and do burnouts.

If you get a blowout on the rear, take off the blown one, take off a good one from the front, and use that on the back. You essentially always want to swap up so you're always running two good tyres/rims with a similair rolling diameter at the rear, and use the space saver/normal wheel combo at the front.

From memory most Subaru rear Diffs are VLSD, and you'll tend to consequently do more damage to the centre diff. The front diff is open (generally!), so there'll be less strain on the Centre Diff if you've got offset rolling diameters on the front. If the transmission gets clunky and starts banging during tight turns; that's generally an indication that your Centre diff is on the way out, which is generally the most sensitive to offset tyres.

Experts, please correct me if i'm wrong - but that's my basic understanding.

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03 STi @ 280hp/1.3bar

Thanks for that guys. Only question now is where do I get another 3 space savers

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Black 2006 MY07 WRX Wagon with doof...

You are crazy if you run a space saver on the front axel. Remember your fronts do all the steering and virtualy all of the braking in an emergency. Do you really want one side with significantly more grip if you really need to slap on the skids.

Your manual will state rear axel only. 80km @ 80 kp/h. If you want to be a test pilot go right ahead but can see your insurance company being interested if your running a space saver well past stated limits and you bin it!!!

^^ as above.

do NOT use a space saver on the front

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

I definately retract my comment now.

My above statement was biased due to me encountering a flat, and using my 15" stocker with a tyre that was just shy of the rolling diameter of my 16s.

I personally would rather be cautious about driving with a slightly smaller TYRE AND WHEEL on the front, than a cooked centre diff. I've never owned a space saver, and I honestly didn't think about driving safety, moreso mechanical sympathy.

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03 STi @ 280hp/1.3bar

Mechanical sympathy is a secondary concern when it comes to avoid turning yourself into a greasy spot. The best course of action is to drive the absolute minimum distance possible.

As far as rolling diameter your space saver SHOULD be fairly close the your main wheels unless you have put incorrectly sized tyres on.

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Stoner & Webber 2011 World Champions