[lateralus112358]

The MY 2024 Audi cars apparently dont come with spare wheels anymore. Audi is providing an analog tyre inflator and a puncture repair kit (one which comes in a spray can and had to be sprayed into the tyre using the inflator air pressure). This also means there is a jack included with the car and the boot wheel space has some minor modifications which needs to be removed to make space for the spare tyre.

This is a very unfortunate trend and eventually many other manufacturers will follow suit.

Wanted to ask members how they are dealing with this? What do you do for the anxiety on long trips? Has anyone bought a spare wheel for Audi A4 specifically? How should one go about it? How much would it cost?

[HillMan]

Is it even legal now to not give a spare tyre?

The safety of having a spare tyre is satisfying in long trips, but frankly I've not changed tyre on the road in the last one and a half decade. I've had my share of puncture and used the puncture kit. I have been keeping a tyre inflator, a cutting plyer and puncture kit to plug the leak. Infact in my Daewoo Matrix, i had converted it to LPG and replaced the spare wheel with LPG toroidal tank, it is the shape of wheel, saved space.

I just fill air and move on. I fix the puncture when I have the time. That is no mess and labour on the road.

The nail itself will keep the air from leaking fast so you have more than an hour at hand usually to the next fill up. In long journey just check the tyre at every stop and top up if required. Some time the leak can even take more than a day to deflate too.

Serious tyre cuts are very rare.

[TorquePull]

I was of the opinion, a tyre inflator was enough for punctures. But few days back I was proved wrong, my uncle's Crysta tyre got torn on a pothole and couldn't be fixed. His spare wheel condition was equally bad. Luckily, it was day time and he had a tyre shop nearby, so he bought new tyres and continued with his journey. So, a good quality spare would help a lot in our roads.

You can buy a spacesaver tyre and place them on the boot. It will affect boot space but you'll get peace of mind.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Today’s times require us to know how to use the supplier compressor and liquid to fix the puncture. As well as knowing how to replace the flat tire with the spare, as a part of essential driving skills. Both skills are required.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by lateralus112358

This is a very unfortunate trend and eventually many other manufacturers will follow suit.

I don’t know the situation in India, but in the west most manufacturers don’t provide a real spare anymore.

In many modern cars there is also no space for a spare anymore. So if you want to take a spare it ends up in the boot taking up precious cargo space.

On my Mini a spare was an option! The inflator kit comes as standard. How ridiculous can you get! Luckily the previous owner was like me and ticked the spare tire option box.

Most of those puncture fluids are terrible. It will work on small punctures, but it might still ruin the tire on the inside. Also, it is still an emergency repair. The puncture still needs to be repaired professionally. When you rock up at a tyre centre with a tyre full of puncture fluids they will tell you “scrap that tyre”. Too much hassle to clean it.

So far all of our six cars have spare tires. Another reason to buy and drive second hand, older, cars!

Jeroen

[lateralus112358]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Today’s times require us to know how to use the supplier compressor and liquid to fix the puncture. As well as knowing how to replace the flat tire with the spare, as a part of essential driving skills. Both skills are required.

Absolutely all for it. If I rationally think about it, in my last 5 years of car ownership haven’t had to change my tyres even once.

Can perfectly live with small punctures (supported by with tpms readings), but the fear is from big cuts which I have often read among BMW owners on this forum.

[FGP]

Originally Posted by lateralus112358

The MY 2024 Audi cars apparently dont come with spare wheels anymore.

Wanted to ask members how they are dealing with this? What do you do for the anxiety on long trips? Has anyone bought a spare wheel for Audi A4 specifically? How should one go about it? How much would it cost?

Unfortunately, since this year they've discontinued the space saver even though there is space in the boot well. All A4's prior to the 2024 model had it.

The size of the space saver is a peculiar 125/70/R19. Smaller rims won't fit in the wheel well in the boot due to the placement of the battery.

The Audi dealer quoted approximately Rs. 1.1L for the space saver, which is exorbitant. Apparently it's not readily available with them and isn't in stock with Audi India either at the moment. Couldn't source it locally despite several efforts.

Strangely couldn't find it on FCP Euro or Pelican Parts also. There are a couple of lesser known UK websites which don't have any shipping options for India, currently exploring options for shipping them to India.

Incase any one else has found them locally, please share details. Alternatively, if any A4 owner is looking to sell their space saver, please DM.

[lateralus112358]

Originally Posted by FGP

Unfortunately, since this year they've discontinued the space saver even though there is space in the boot well. All A4's prior to the 2024 model had it.

The size of the space saver is a peculiar 125/70/R19. Smaller rims won't fit in the wheel well in the boot due to the placement of the battery.

The Audi dealer quoted approximately Rs. 1.1L for the space saver, which is exorbitant. Apparently it's not readily available with them and isn't in stock with Audi India either at the moment. Couldn't source it locally despite several efforts.

Strangely couldn't find it on FCP Euro or Pelican Parts also. There are a couple of lesser known UK websites which don't have any shipping options for India, currently exploring options for shipping them to India.

Incase any one else has found them locally, please share details. Alternatively, if any A4 owner is looking to sell their space saver, please DM.

1.1L for a space saver is just ridiculous! Do share if you find a solution on sourcing the tyre. The boot also would need modification to fit the tyre.

[lateralus112358]

Originally Posted by FGP

Unfortunately, since this year they've discontinued the space saver even though there is space in the boot well. All A4's prior to the 2024 model had it.

The size of the space saver is a peculiar 125/70/R19. Smaller rims won't fit in the wheel well in the boot due to the placement of the battery.

The Audi dealer quoted approximately Rs. 1.1L for the space saver, which is exorbitant. Apparently it's not readily available with them and isn't in stock with Audi India either at the moment. Couldn't source it locally despite several efforts.

Strangely couldn't find it on FCP Euro or Pelican Parts also. There are a couple of lesser known UK websites which don't have any shipping options for India, currently exploring options for shipping them to India.

Incase any one else has found them locally, please share details. Alternatively, if any A4 owner is looking to sell their space saver, please DM.

The spare parts manager at the dealer service Center quoted 22k for the rim and 36k for the tyre. Additionally no labor cost. He said some minor modification will be required to fit the tyre in the boot.

[FGP]

Originally Posted by lateralus112358

The spare parts manager at the dealer service Center quoted 22k for the rim and 36k for the tyre. Additionally no labor cost. He said some minor modification will be required to fit the tyre in the boot.

58k is also steep, but much better than 1.1L that was quoted to me. Did he indicate whether they have the tyre in stock and what modification is required?

[lateralus112358]

Originally Posted by FGP

58k is also steep, but much better than 1.1L that was quoted to me. Did he indicate whether they have the tyre in stock and what modification is required?

Yeah, still quite expensive. Let me ask him about the availability and get back. On the modification bit, he mentioned that the subwoofer might be there which needs to be relocated. However when I checked the boot myself, didn’t see anything except for the battery.

He was even okay to buy the rim from him and get the tyre from the market. But a prelim search in google yielded no result of anyone selling the R19 space saver tyre.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by lateralus112358

On the modification bit, he mentioned that the subwoofer might be there which needs to be relocated. However when I checked the boot myself, didn’t see anything except for the battery.

Call up a multiple big tyre shops and check if they have the 135/80/17 Continental SST in stock along with the light alloy rim. IF it fits in the A4 without fouling with the brake callipers and the battery/sub, it could well be a solid option.

If I understand correctly, it is between 25-30K, and hence much cheaper than the 125/70/19 one from Audi.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-...highlight=sst& (Pros and cons of space saver spare tyres)
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ml#post5322203

[FGP]

Tried a BMW SST with a continental tyre of 135/80/R17, but it did not fit in the wheel well due to the battery placement.

@lateralus112358 - Could you please share the contact details of the Service Advisor you've been speaking to?

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by FGP

Tried a BMW SST with a continental tyre of 135/80/R17, but it did not fit in the wheel well due to the battery placement.

If everything else is technically perfect, I'll still buy the Continental combo above for ~28K (if that is the current rate?), source a neat tyre storage bag (unless the kit already has it), and strap it down on the A4 boot floor. You can always use the released donut space to store knickknacks.

It's better than buying some ultra rare tyre size which will be used once in a blue moon, and possibly impossible to replace at a reasonable price later.

[FGP]

Originally Posted by lateralus112358

Yeah, still quite expensive. Let me ask him about the availability and get back. On the modification bit, he mentioned that the subwoofer might be there which needs to be relocated. However when I checked the boot myself, didn’t see anything except for the battery.

@lateralus - were you able to source the Rim from the Audi Service Centre finally?