Bid To Dump Space-saver Wheels

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday July 2, 2004

Bob Jennings

Space-saver wheels and tyres could be outlawed if a move in Federal Parliament to alter the Australian Design Rules is successful.

A bill to amend the ADRs to "ensure new passenger motor vehicles are fitted with full-sized spare wheels and tyres" has been introduced by WA member, Kim Wilkie, who says many vehicle manufacturers are now using Temporary Use Spare Tyres (TUST), or space-saver tyres, in vehicles for both cost saving and to maximise boot capacity.

"One in four new cars in showrooms around Australia is fitted with some type of TUST," Wilkie says. "What's even more concerning is that the current regulations don't require manufacturers to provide a spare wheel or tyre at all - it's an optional extra for some new vehicles."

He says research by automobile clubs has found that in a small car without an anti-lock braking system, braking distance increases by 15 metres at 80kmh in dry conditions when a temporary use tyre is fitted.

"The space-saver is the worst. Its smaller radius and width, compared to the car's standard tyre, affect the motorist's emergency handling of their vehicle," he says. "There is a reduced ability for the tyre to handle extreme loads during emergency braking, swerving and cornering."

Vehicles sold in Australia that have "inferior" spare tyres included Mazda, all Saab models, all Volkswagen Golf models, the Subaru Liberty RS Turbo, the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Mercedes-Benz 4WD M-Class.

The Australian Design Rule Amendment Bill aims to ensure passenger vehicles are fitted with a spare wheel and tyre of similar design specifications to the standard wheels and tyres fitted to the vehicle. If manufacturers do not conform the vehicle will fail to comply with national standards.

Failure to comply with the proposed standard would mean the car would not meet our standards and could not be offered for sale.

"Standards need to be assessed so that the Australian motoring public is not put in unnecessarily dangerous situations due to money-saving initiatives by motor vehicle manufacturers," says Wilkie.

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

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