The speed restriction is more to do with the potential instability of the car than the fragility of the space saver wheel and its tyre. The age is immaterial as modern tyres do not decompose much as the years roll by, especially in cool dark dry compartments. Our Focus spacesaver is over eighteen years old, has been used about twice, holds its highish pressure well and looks like new. Your life will be more at risk trying to use it by the side of a busy road!
Not many people and myself included usuely do this but I'm going to agree with John F on this one.
Do you buy a new spare wheel when you buy a second hand car?
It depends upon:
a) how easy it is to send it back and get a refund (from Ebay & Co) if the 'used' product isn't the one or in the condition as advertised. I wouldn't be surprised if some were offered 'as new' but had been used quite a bit (you'd have to thoroughly check for wear and damage), including for more than the 50 miles at 50mph max limit per use;
b) the make of car - some come with a space for just a space-saver spare and no 'special polystyrene cutout, as the latest generation of Mazdas do - that's why Mazda charges £395 for a 'kit', consisting of a spare wheel (painted steel) and space saver tyre (costs £100 - £150 from other makes), a basic tool (jack and brace?) or two plus the polystyrene cutout to hold them all below the main boot area.
The second is, IMHO a right wheeze by Mazda (and any other car manufacturer who does this). I've seen MANY adverts on Ebay for mk3 Mazda3 spare tyre kits when all they are is a compatible wheel and tyre and NO cutout - the wheel/tyre would then move around below the boot (dangerous in a crash and noisy in general) and you'd have to buy the jack and brace separately to be able to fit the spare yourself.
Some of those ads look decidedly dodgy - they may be just from written off cars where the rear of the car was fine, but funny how they never say where the kit or tyres are sourced from and why they're being sold. I'd be wary. On the other hand, I'd have no problem if a reputable firm were to sell and aftermarket decent replica kit for what it actually cost to make plus a reasonable mark-up (say £150 or so). I'm surprise none has done this thus far, given the number of makes doing as Mazda seems to be rising.
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