Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Emergency Wheels, Using
Inform your customer as necessary of the notes listed in the following and also refer if necessary to the vehicle owner's manual.
The notes listed in the following also apply to spare wheels, e.g. 7 J x 16 with 205/55 R 16 tires, which are marked with the lettering "MAX 80 km/h" or "MAX 50 mph" on a yellow sticker.
Depending on vehicle equipment, e.g. Passats with light alloy wheels and 225 tires, have such a spare wheel with a sticker as described above in place of an emergency wheel.
Emergency wheel/spare wheel is designed only for sporadic and brief use. Therefore it is to be replaced with the normal wheel again as soon as possible.
After mounting the emergency wheel/spare wheel, tire inflation pressure must be checked as soon as possible. The correct tire inflation pressure can be found in the following tire inflation pressure table on the respective vehicle or the respective Maintenance Service Information.
Always pay attention to speed information on the wheel ("MAX 80 km/h" or "MAX 50 mph").
Wide Open Throttle (WOT) acceleration, strong braking and rapid driving around curves should be prevented.
Never drive with more than one emergency wheel/spare wheel.
It is not permissible to use snow chains on the emergency wheel for technical reasons.
If vehicle must be driven with snow chains, therefore the emergency wheel must be installed on the rear axle for a breakdown on the front axle. The rear wheel freed up must then be mounted in place of the faulty front wheel.
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.