Mk 8 GTI spare wheel

[alland]

I'm seriously thinking about buying a spare wheel for my Mk8 GTI. However, I'm not that keen to give VW the  ridiculous money they are asking for one, so I started looking elsewhere (eBay, aftermarket, etc.) and have come across various problems I hadn't considered before.
My car has 19" Adelaides, factory installed. What would be the correct size of space-saver I could get away with?
With that in mind, would the underfloor wheel well in the boot accommodate this? (I have read that a special "scalloped" trim at the rear of the wheel well may be required to allow the wheel to fit in the boot space)
Also, would that wheel size clear the front brake callipers OK? I have also read of people buying an aftermarket spare, only to find it will only fit the rear wheels, so in the case of a front puncture it has to be fitted on the rear and the original wheel fitted on the front.
As usual, all advice (which is invariably more knowledgeable than the dealers) greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Beebopper]

I’ve got 19” Adelaide’s and have recently obtained the parts to fit a spare wheel and jack / tools into the boot on my Clubsport. These are the bits you’ll need:

1. 18” Vag spare wheel found on many VW Audi group cars
2. Boot floor threaded post and fixing screw
3. Vag spare wheel jack and tool kit (mine was off a Leon).

I did not have to get a scalloped trim, I think you mean the trim against the bumper edge inside with a cut out? Mine seemed to have a curved part and the wheel fits.

The problem we will all have is getting a skinny space saver over the front calipers. The only way I think this can be dealt with is if you have a front puncture, you’ll need to swap a good full size rear wheel to the front and put the spare on the rear where you have a smaller caliper.

I got the spare off gumtree, Jack and tools off eBay plus the threaded post and screw. Just search around and you should find all the bits for under £100.

[fredgroves]

I've got a factory supplied spare in mine. It's an 18, nothing bigger fits in the hole!

I have adelaides too.

If you have a clubby it won't fit on the front as the calipers are too big but will on a gti.

[alland]

Thanks for the information. I'll get searching now.
Just as an aside, a neighbour of mine (not particularly car minded) got a puncture recently. He pulled over, got the user manual out and studiously followed the instructions on using the tyre repair kit. He was chuffed to bits it actually worked, and got him going again as far as the local Kwik Fit; where he was told the puncture was simply a screw right in the middle of the tread area - but the tyre was un-repairable because he had used the mousse supplied in the repair kit. New tyre required.
Not having any experience with these kits, is this true?

[Beebopper]

I believe so, combination of the chemicals in the sealant affecting the tyre long-term and also it hampers puncture repair methods also having already plugged the hole (this is what i understand anyway). Additionally, the tyre places probably don't fancy cleaning up all the mess the sealant makes to do the repair for £20 or whatever they charge, quicker to sell a new tyre.

[fredgroves]

Yes the tyre gunk means your tyre is not repairable under any circumstances.

[seanaodh]

There's a big thread about spare wheels on a Golf R forum. There are a bunch of images.

The worry though is as you've said, the larger brakes on the clubsport. I wonder if there's a space saver that would fit them.

You can apparently fit it without too much issue, even if the car was specced with the HK sound system which adds a subwoofer.

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/40576-spare-wheel/page/8/

[alland]

Thanks for clearing up the tyre repair kit mouse issue. Not so clever after all, if you use it you may get out of bind, but you're looking at a new tyre (even if the old one was repairable) plus a new can of the mousse stuff - if indeed you fancy using it again.

[alland]

AS per my original query, I'm still searching for a suitable space saver spare wheel, plus jack/tools, etc. Not easy if avoiding original VW bits!
I have come across a new wheel including the jack and tools from a company called The Wheel Shop at what seems a reasonable price. Has anybody come across them before, or had any experience in using them?

[bogwoppit]

Hi, yes I ordered a space saver wheel and tyre from them for our 128ti, came quickly, no problems at all.