Im getting ready to go on a road trip and when I checked the spare in preperation for the trip I noticed the spare was tiny. It is 135/70/16 (595.4 mm od) and the factory tires are 205/55/16 (631.9mm od) and that is a difference of 36.5 mm outside diamiter. I wonder why there is such a difference between the two. That cant be good with an AWD car so I went to get a spare that is closer to the OD of the wheels on my car. I got a 135/80/16 for free that has an od of 622.4 (-9.5mm). Im sure that this wouldnt cause that much wear on the AWD since it wouldnt be on long but it seems like they would have put a spare that was closer to the same od as the tires that come on the car. What do you guys think about this? Is Subaru trying to save a buck at our expense or am I makeing something out of nothing.

 

I think you are forgetting that it is for emerengcy use only. I hate compact spares, but I have used one on every car I have owned & I don't think that driving <50 miles @ <50mph will hurt your car. Now, driving 200+ miles @ 75mph is asking for trouble.

 

Thanks for the reply and I do realize it is for emergency use only but I thought 36.5mm (almost 1.5") was a BIG difference and could cause a problem. You could be in a situation that getting it fixed within 200 miles could be a problem (sunday on your way home from out of town).

 

I know. That actually happened in my sister's then new 95 Elantra - we had just left NYC and we were driving to VA. @ a little past 10:45pm on a Sunday night, just on the Jersey side of the Holland Tunnel I had a tire that went bad...

BUT - how often does that happen? And if you are really that worried, get a full size spare.

 

i always keep a full size spare in my car

 

would a stocker wrx wheel fit in the spare compartment?

 

The outer diamiter will most likely fit but not the width. The spare I got is around 9mm (od) smaller than stock tires and it fit.

 

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would a stocker wrx wheel fit in the spare compartment?

No. It will fit putting it into the hole where the spare sits. However, it is too tall. It buldges up nicely and the carpeting does not hide the fact it is up. The cardboard backing also has to be removed as it adds "height" in the trunk.

I keep a full sized spare in MY02 WRX. Unfortunately, bulges.