Full-size 17” spare wheel…

[T6 dork]

Hello peeps, I have just attempted to fit a steel 17" 135/55/17 spare into the carrier after having dropped the end of the carrier down to it's max setting. It's very tight and the original bolts are too short. I have had to abandon the job until businesses re-open and I can obtain a pair of longer bolts. Whilst I am busy with this task I intend to make the theft of my spare wheel as difficult as possible for the scrotes.

hi, you obvs mean 235 55 17 ?
i take it you dropped the carrier to the floor?
i have a 17" spare upgrade due to fitting bigger brakes and the wheel and tyre fitted perfect.
i wonder why it wont fit ?
they are a bit awkward and heavy to re-align and pop it on the first bolt again.
my bolts are original.

 

[Creamytash]

Thanks, yes I did mean 235 and not 135 - my chubby stumpy fingers. I tried several times to catch the hanger onto the bolt flange but it was about an inch out. I am going to use the opportunity to fit longer bolts which will allow me to accommodate an anti theft device. I am 66yrs next birthday and lying on my back on the road lifting a 17" steel spare wheel, chunky tyre and the carrier up to catch onto the hanger bolt isn't easy. A longer pair of bolts will make it less of a lift.

 

[Pete C]

Are you using the wheel nut brace to lift the carrier into place - you don't need to lie on your back.

Pete

 

[Creamytash]

No mate, not sure how you mean which is why it never occured to me. Clearly I am missing something in respect of method/technique.

 

[Pete C]

 

[Pete C]

To be fair, getting a 16" spare in there can be a challenge !

Pete

 

[Creamytash]

Thank you so much for this it will make lifting the carrier with a wheel on it a lot easier. I didn't have a clue.

 

[Samro]

I had to use my spare on Saturday and it was an absolute nightmare to remove the spare; not because of the lifting or lowering of the carrier, but simply because the van is lowered 70mm making the spare difficult to slide out once the carrier was fully lowered.

There was no way the (damaged), full size wheel would fit back under the van to fit in the carrier, unless I jacked the back of the vehicle to provide extra access.

Here is my 17" spare, sporting a 215/60r17:

I would say that this is the maximum size I would use unless I raise my van 30mm or so.

 

[Creamytash]

Sounds like you had a right 'ball ache'. I don't rely on the standard issue VW Jack as I carry a small trolley jack. I know I can get the van lifted as high as I need to so as to get the 17" wheel in and out of the carrier but for mine, the retaining and lowering bolts are way to short. Once I have sorted those out and along with a 'Spare Safe' shroud, I will have done as much as can be reasonable expected to protect my spare from theft. Don't know how tge guys with 20" Range Rover wheels go on for a spare but they must have sorted a way round the problem.

 

[Jonesy68]

Managed to fit the wheel carrier then get the wheel in and lift it to tighten the bolts.

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Managed to fit the wheel carrier then get the wheel in and lift it to tighten the bolts.

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Hi @LondonLad so I have the same issue, I have 18" 255/45, so 17" transporter wheel is OK with larger calipers and the 235/55 on the wheel fits under there OK or is it a squeeze? I'm driving through Spain later this month and don't want to do it with just the repair kit.
There is only 1 size bracket right? Veedub have one for £73

 

[LondonLad]

Hi @LondonLad so I have the same issue, I have 18" 255/45, so 17" transporter wheel is OK with larger calipers and the 235/55 on the wheel fits under there OK or is it a squeeze? I'm driving through Spain later this month and don't want to do it with just the repair kit.
There is only 1 size bracket right? Veedub have one for £73

As far as I know only one size bracket but two mounting points under the van…lower one for wider wheels. Bit of a squeeze to get wheel under and in with the 17” spare I have. If you have a four motion system some peeps say not to run different sized wheel on front as it upsets the 4wd system so put it on rear only even if it clears brake discs. All just what I have heard so not an experts advice.

 

[Creamytash]

17" wheel now on the carrier. I hade to drop the carrier down to it's lowest setting.

For additional security measures I’ve added, see this thread:

Securing my spare wheel

As I said in my post if somebody wants it that bad they’ll have it. I guess so

www.t6forum.com

 

[vegt]

17" wheel now on the carrier

Nice. What’s the tyre size?

 

[Creamytash]

Nice. What’s the tyre size?

235/55/17

 

[vegt]

235/55/17

Do you think there’s enough space for a 235/65/17? The overall diameter of wheel and tyre is about 50mm larger than your 235/55/17 if my calculations are correct.

 

[Creamytash]

Going off my recent experience with mine - and I struggled. I would have to say I don't think you will get away with it. I hope you prove me wrong mate.

 

[mmi]

Advice Please - Will It Rub?

Hi all, I convinced myself I could figure this out for myself however it is doing my nut looking through feeds. I’m looking to buy some Fox Racing MS007. 20” 9J ET38 The tyres I want to fit are 255 45 20 My T6 is going on to have Bilsteins fitted in June. Will I get any rubbing - for the...

www.t6forum.com

If it helps, I'm running 255/45/19 on B14s on lowest setting, and it's very close under the arches, but no rubbing.

By close, you wouldn't get a finger between the tyre and the inner arch liner.

 

[Creamytash]

Going off my recent experience with mine - and I struggled. I would have to say I don't think you will get away with it. I hope you prove me wrong mate

 

[Ranger13]

I just purchased a spare wheel for my 2016 T6. I’ve never had a spare in the holder so I thought it was about time I got one. I’m currently running 20” so thought as a get me home emergency wheel a 17” would be better. I saw a post on here showing that someone had managed to fit a 235/55/17 so I bought one from the wheel shop which said it was compatible.

2 issues. Firstly even with the front of the holding assembly lowered to its lowest setting the wheel just doesn’t seem to fit.
Secondly and most annoying it seems like the bolt has gone back in or came back.at an angle and possibly cross threaded and now won’t do up more than a cm, so for the moment I’ve put a bolt in the other thread to keep the holder closed.

Can anyone shed any light on whether this wheel should actually fit and I just need to keep persevering to get it in situ and finally what to do about the cross thread. I think it’s the nut part that’s cross threaded not the bolt to make it more annoying.
Link to wheel

17" Steel spare wheel & 235/55R17 tyre compatible with VW Transporter T5/T6 (2003-present day)

VW TRANSPORTER (2003-PRESENT DAY) STEEL SPARE WHEEL AND 235/55R17 TYRE

www.thewheelshop.co.uk

 

[Leemant6]

As far as I know only one size bracket but two mounting points under the van…lower one for wider wheels. Bit of a squeeze to get wheel under and in with the 17” spare I have. If you have a four motion system some peeps say not to run different sized wheel on front as it upsets the 4wd system so put it on rear only even if it clears brake discs. All just what I have heard so not an experts advice.

I was struggling too like most people to get the 17 inch under, glad I saw the tip about the mounting bracket had two points, didn’t see that… moved it down a notch and now it fits perfectly. Cheers.

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Thanks for taking the time to upload this image, this tip to use the the box spanner is really useful. Makes the job so much easier, cheers.