Lack of spare wheel

I have a two-year-old Astra 2.0 CDTI SRI automatic five-door hatchback. It has no spare wheel, just a repair kit and a tin of sealant. When ordering a new car, the Vauxhall brochure states there is an option to pay an extra £100 for a proper spare tyre/jack/toolkit – ‘one-size down steel spare wheel (in lieu of emergency tyre inflation kit)’. Not having opted for this, a good secondhand wheel/tyre/ toolkit seemed the best option. However, main dealers are cagey about giving info on sizes unless you order new items.

Our vehicle has 225/50/R17 94V tyres on alloy wheels, so what size spare should we get to avoid a bulge in the boot carpet – either full size (one size down) or a spacesaver type? Are all Vauxhall spacesavers the same size? Presumably the same wheel bolts fit both the standard alloy wheels and the steel spares because Vauxhall do not mention any difference. And are all Vauxhall toolkits the same or is there a specific jack/toolkit needed for this Astra? Stuart King

To avoid any bulge in the boot floor, the spacesaver is the best option. The Vauxhall spacesaver is a one-size-fits-all option and is made to cover vehicles with either 15-, 16- or 17-inch wheels. There are two variations depending on the brake set-up on the vehicle, either J60 or J67, with the J60 having a deeper rim. The part number for the Vauxhall spacesaver is 2160140. This has a tyre size of 115/70 R16 and will act as an emergency replacement for any five-stud Vauxhall Astra with 15-, 16- or 17-inch wheels. This is an emergency ‘get you home’ wheel and has a recommended speed limit of 50mph. Used in such situations, the variation in diameter is both legally acceptable and safe for use. Prolonged use of the spacesaver wheel is not recommended.

The toolkits are supplied according to the vehicle and specification. The Astra with a tyre repair kit is only supplied with a towing eye and screwdriver; the vehicles with a spare wheel have a jack and wheel-brace, as well as the towing eye.

After a search on ebay, I found both the spacesaver wheels and the full toolkit including the carrier which fits in the spare wheel recess. The wheels are selling for around £80 and the toolkit is £25.

We then received this reply:

You were correct in my car having a J60 braking system – the most important fact – otherwise, with an incorrect hub/ rim offset, serious damage to the vehicle is assured. This is a factor missed by traders who claim “all GM spacesavers fit all models.” They certainly don’t!

Armed with your additional information, I checked online and with some alternative GM main dealers. This time I got good responses with accurate information, positive confirmation of the J60 system and some correct part numbers. As for the ‘part number 2160140’ quoted to you, this is incorrect and is not a Gm/vauxhall part number. I also found other supposedly correct spacesaver wheels with numbers 2160140 and 2160162 – all the correct diameter but presumably different offset. Both GM dealers independently suggested they are a component manufacturer casting number or similar but not recognised by any GM system.

Here are the correct part numbers and dealer prices. New steel wheel = GM part no 13259231; £60. New foam tool tray = GM part no 13323032; £10. Continental tyre 115/70/ R16 = £65-£75 from local tyre shops. Scissor jack = £30 for similar OEM quality. Tyre lever = £10-£20 from accessory shops. This means a total cost of around £195, plus time spent collecting GM parts, getting a tyre fitted and buying other items. A crazy amount of time and effort for a simple spare wheel kit!

An online Vauxhall main dealer sold everything I wanted for £210 as a complete, brand-new Vauxhall kit, with free delivery in 2-3 working days. The parcel actually arrived less than 24 hours from placing the order. Stuart King