Is it safe to drive my Subaru XV on the space-saver spare tyre?
QUESTION
Hi John and team,
I purchased a Subaru XV 2.0i-S Sport 2021 model which was delivered in March.
My query concerns the spare wheel supplied with the XV. The Sport (and Hybrid) 2021 version comes with 18-inch wheels and 225/55R18 tyres as compared to the other models which are equipped with 17-inch wheels and 225/60R17 tyres. Overall diameter of these two tires varies by 0.1 of an inch. The spare in the wheel well is a 185/65R17.
I know that it is very important for AWD vehicles to have very similar tyre diameters otherwise extremely nasty, expensive drivetrain failures occur. Your online video clearly highlights the importance of matching tire diameters and AWDs. I am wandering what your thoughts are on this, apart from obvious disappointment with Subaru. I have searched the manual and cannot find any warning regarding mismatched tyre sizes for the spare and how far one can/should not drive before rectifying the puncture situation.
I will certainly be driving slowly and getting the tyre repaired or replaced without delay should I need to use the retched 17-inch spare. Should the spare be only run on the rear?
I have also verified the 17/18-inch original wheel does not fit in the spare wheel well as seems Subaru ‘cheaped’ out here also, (an airless flat tire needs to be carried inside the XV etc).
Regards and thanks,
Colin
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ANSWER
Colin,
The nature of these AWD stytem failures is typically prolonged operation at high speed, over several hundred to several thousand kilometres.
Running briefly on the spare isn’t going to break the AWD system.
I agree they’re impractical for a lot of Australian driving.
I’d defer to the manual on whether the spare can be used only on the rear. In the absence of a recommendation on this, you can approach Subaru directly for advice on 1300 550 994.
Hope this helps,
JC
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