The Peugeot 308 GTi is an excellent performance hatch, but like any car, it relies on its tyres to perform. The tyres on your car are the only point of contact with the road surface, and so they have to be kept in good condition. If there are signs of wear, the tyres need to be changed and wherever possible the new tyre should be the closest match to the Original Equipment (OE). However, life on the road can be unpredictable, and there may be occasions when you need to change your tyre to complete your journey. Many modern cars have a space saver spare tyre, so, in this article, we will examine what that means and how it should be used.
What is a Spacesaver Tyre?
In order to be properly prepared for a potential flat tyre it’s important to familiarise yourself with your equipment. Locate the space Saver Tyre; this is a smaller replacement tyre to use in lieu of a full size spare that would take up far more room in the boot. Essentially, a space saver tyre is designed as an emergency tyre to help you complete your journey and/or get you to a nearby tyre shop. They are not a permanent replacement, and there are some rules that you need to follow when you use a space saver tyre.
How Fast Can You Drive on a Spacesaver?
The first thing to understand is that stability, not speed is the real drawback to using a space saver tyre. A temporary replacement tyre will usually be rated for a maximum speed of 80km/hr, but this stated speed limit is more related to safety than a restriction on the skinny spare. When you replace a single regular tyre with a space saver, you have changed the handling characteristics of the car. There are now three regular tyres and one space saver, the handling, cornering, and braking will all be affected. The space saver tyre will have lower performance compared to the remaining regular tyres on your car and care needs to be exercised. Driving at less than 80km/hr will allow you to compensate for these differences and keep you safer until you can get the tyre changed.
Higher Speed Spacesaver Tyres
There are space saver tyres that are rated for speeds over 80km/hr, and some can be rated as high as 130 km/hr. This is usually on vehicles that have a suitable load rating, and they operate on a principle similar to a cycle tyre. Essentially, the smaller tyre runs at a higher pressure to handle the additional load and higher speeds.
If you’re considering a Peugeot 308 GTi, you should contact us. The Perth City Peugeot team would be delighted to discuss the latest Peugeot line up including the Peugeot 308 GTi for sale, finance offers and current deals. We would also be delighted to arrange your test drive, so you can experience the 308 GTi for yourself.
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