If you are only using your vehicle for urban use and have assess to roadside services/garages/friends to help than the need for a spare is reduced, not removed but reduced.
If your travel plans include venturing out where an axe killer can easily hide out than having some physical spare wheel is a must, even if you have to limp into the next town at a reduced speed. This also includes having the tools capable to remove your wheel.

Cans of gunk have a shelf life which no one pays attention to, will ruin your tyre for repair and are limited to what they can seal. If your tyre is unsealable then the only fix is to replace that tyre with another.
The cans of gunk are hopeless in jacking up your vehicle (because they don't come with jacks or tools) so if you need to take your tyre off and hitch a ride with the axe killer into town, you can't.

In my region we still have space saver spares fitted to our T-Rocs and the 18" one I have fits nicely there.

 

My T-Roc R-Line came with a space saver spare. Personally I feel much happier having one rather than having to rely on the gunk repair stuff that gets supplied these days, as the success rate using that stuff in the event of a puncture is pretty low - about 35% last time I read.

However, I also carry a puncture repair kit as my absolute first line of defence. The Stop and Go puncture repair kit can be used on all types of tyres (car, lorry, motorcycle) and is a mushroom plugger set - it’s what many of the breakdown companies use (or similar). I’ve used this on my motorcycle and it works, the repair lasted over 2,000 miles of European touring travel before I could get the tyre replaced. Stop & Go

The kit comes in various forms with and without a tyre compressor. I bought the basic Pocket Tyre Plugger set on eBay for about £40 and a VW/Audi compact tyre compressor off eBay for a further £15. It all takes up minimal room in the boot and gives me 2 lines of defence in the event of a puncture, to get me to a tyre depot where I can either get a proper repair or replacement. But better than that gunk supplied as standard.

 

Will the wind deflector still fit under the boot cover when a wheel is in there ?

Your question above is really the only answer you need.
Otherwise having a space saver is a no brainer 🤔

 

OK it seems the overwhelming view is it is a good idea, guess thats why I had it , but as a price conscious buyer is the 19" v 18" situation as clear cut ? As tools ( jack etc) are often supplied in a set, is there a particular brand or style that should be looked at ?

 

Further complicating the issue, and adding another consideration to the mix, is that the foam insert in the boot is designed to carry the gunk and pump only. If I were to add the spare wheel I would
need to find one that has a housing that holds the tools securely . Also the ledge / recess that holds the convertible's wind deflector when carrying two in the back , would also be lost , or would a thin space saver fit into that recess ?

 

I edited my previous reply because after reading it again it was easily misinterpreted.

I see you have the plastic threaded part holding in the current foam insert, that is perfect for securing the space saver.
The foam toolkit holder in my T-roc isn't held in to securely anyway, it's mostly the way it's wedged between the car and spare wheel that holds it.

Your car didn't come with a jack then?
I'll try my jack inside the spare wheel tonight, if it fits that could be simply rapped in a cloth or similar and maybe cable tied to the rim?

 

The problem with stop/go is that the demos are with the wheel off the car. Totally different and much more difficult to do while wheel is on car!
Gunk is problematic but usable with wheel on car.
I agree best solution is to call AA etc and they will fit a temp spare. Changing wheels by the side of a road is extremely dangerous.

 

The problem with stop/go is that the demos are with the wheel off the car. Totally different and much more difficult to do while wheel is on car!
Gunk is problematic but usable with wheel on car.
I agree best solution is to call AA etc and they will fit a temp spare. Changing wheels by the side of a road is extremely dangerous.

I agree changing wheels by the side of the road is extremely dangerous, and whilst its difficult to repair a puncture with a mushroom whilst the wheel is still fitted (more so the rear than front wheels as you can turn the steering), it can be done, those mushroom kits are pretty quick to use. I can see it being more of an issue is you have mudflaps fitted.

What I hate about the gunk stuff is you have to drive so many yards to get it to flow around which just damages the tyre more that it may already be. And even then you don't know if its sealed or not - often not. The mushroom kit IMO, is for using more on quieter than busy roads or more remote places (or on a Sunday where nothing is open and you need to get home) where you can jack the wheel up (which its better to do anyway to inflate it), and if necessary remove to apply the mushroom. But it can be done in place, I've managed it on my Audi RSQ3, you just need to spin the wheel to get it in the most accessible place.

Oh - and another couple of essential pieces of kit I carry - Audi Red Triangle second hand off eBay for £12 which fits in the tailgate and a couple of hi-viz jackets. Both essential when fitting a puncture wherever you may be

 

Thanks Vernerbongo2 , I have located a company that will do the 19" to fit with jack and tools for £180 delivered. I also spoke to VW girl online re VW parts asking if they offer space savers to owners where they were not fitted. She took all my details and will get back to me with a price etc. Best bit was during the sales enquiry she asked if I just wanted the part or " did I want fitting with that " !
I suggested to her that fitting the "spare" was generally only done after a puncture ........

 

Thanks Vernerbongo2 , I have located a company that will do the 19" to fit with jack and tools for £180 delivered. I also spoke to VW girl online re VW parts asking if they offer space savers to owners where they were not fitted. She took all my details and will get back to me with a price etc. Best bit was during the sales enquiry she asked if I just wanted the part or " did I want fitting with that " !
I suggested to her that fitting the "spare" was generally only done after a puncture ........

Yes, but "fitting" it into your boot by a technician will accrue a labour charge after a full diagnostic

 

I just recently bought my first t-roc. Space saver fits perfectly fine. Even space for the beats sub woofer in the middle of it! I also have the 19 inch wheels

 

Thanks Alex , what about the jack and tools ?

 

Jack and tools to the left of the tyre. Can send a picture if you want

 

Can anyone confirm this would fit the T Roc with 19" rims
PCD 5x112 R19

Centre bore 66.5mm

 

Can anyone confirm this would fit the T Roc with 19" rims
PCD 5x112 R19

Centre bore 66.5mm

The centre bore of a T-Roc rim is 57.1mm so you're snookered there 🤔
It's a shame because that wheels circumference is closer to the full size wheel in comparison to the spare wheel that comes with the T-Roc when spec'd.

T125/70/19 (+.76%) yours

T125/70/18 (+4.68%) volkswagens

As I said previously, just go with the size volkswagen spec

Rim part number
1K0601027AP
Tyre size
T125/70R18

 

Thanks Vernerbongo2 As I above I have a second option for sale and it is sadly £180 but comes with jack and tools and is new. The other one I showed was on FB Market and was £65 pvt sale unused ! Such a pity I could not have saved the £115

 

My new spare wheel arrived today, next day delivery included in the price of £180 for the wheel and tools , to include jack and all wrenches required. I measured it and it is the same diameter across the tyre as the 19" original. From here

the disappointment started. As you can see the 19" is far too big to fit the foam insert that VW place in the boot. I guess thats why they compromise and use an 18" wheel in the spare they offer.... but it is smaller than my wheels for 50mph driving !

I have had to remove the foam and place the wheel in the recess with the tools in the middle. The "hold down" screw that secures the centre of the foam is not long enough to reach through the spare fitted either way up, so securing is not possible. I think I might add an old piece of blanket or something under the spare to line the recess and avoid friction issues, and cushion any movement. The cover fits down fine but of course the shaped recess for the wind deflector is gone. I bought this because of an impending road trip round the highlands, and in the knowledge that trying to get AA service on Mull or Skye might be a lengthy wait. Bought from The Wheel Shop on Ebay .
PS.... I did go onto VW website and click to request pricing and availability of a VW spare for my car . The woman I conversed with in net chat took all my details and said the local VW dealer in Maidstone would get parts to secure the info and E Mail it to me . It is over a week later and nothing has arrived. Bit like trying to buy a boot liner which VW list but none exist in the UK.... or when I wanted a wind deflector for my new T Roc R Line Convertible , and none existed in the UK ending with me ordering from a guy in Germany over the net ! Can't say I am at all impressed with the British handling of this once premium foreign product.

 

I bought a used 'hold down' screw of fl'ebay that came from an Audi A6 for about £8-fits perfectly!!

 

Were it not for your impending road trip, I would say to send it back for a refund. Was it advertised as suitable for the T-Roc ? I don't imagine the wheel well in the cabrio is any different to the other models and I think even the 4Motion is the same depth/diameter and it is the whole boot floor which is raised for the 4WD.

 

That thought did cross my mind, then I pondered for a moment..... I get a flat and pull off the deflated 19" and fit my spare. Proud of my ability to recover from this I begin to tidy up and prepare to leave the spot. I take my deflated tyre and go to place it in the cavity from where the spare came. Of course the 19" wheel on it lovely aluminium rim has a 26" diameter which is the same issue as the one I just bought ! So the deflated either has to go in the boot above the boot shelf and now where do the cases go ? I wait eagerly for the VW designer to throw his calculation into this discussion ... or himself out of the nearest window ! Oh and a late note.... if you can see in the photo above the warning triangle has SAAB written on it , from my much missed TTiD Cabrio . I would have thought that on a £33,000 car VW would have supplied one with the car .... or did the Dealer Heritage Bristol fail to supply this in the package ?

 

@Ken Cabrio on all other T-roc's the spare sits as yours does at the moment, no foam and then the toolkit is in a foam holder that wedges in at the side of the spare wheel.

Yours isn't that different at the moment 🤔

 

Vernerbongo2 it is the only solution I can see , but I am not that happy with the metal to metal of the rim against the base. The plastic screw used to hold down FOAM , will no reach long enough to secure the spare... only and inch or so out. All it is is a bit of plastic and if they add a piece of wire cut to help lift out the nut covers, I would have thought a spare plastic screw to hold down a weight thousands of times the weight of the FOAM is reasonable to ask for. Seriously think about it , a screw to hold down foam, but the pump that sits in its recess is just a press fit ! German engineering and design was always simple right and strong .....

 

Ok after teddy falling out the pram .... I started searching and found this , except mine cost £1.17 +vat to include free delivery as it was a first order in a while . This is shown as just over 12cm long and the one provided to hold down the Foam insert is just under 7cm ! So I have ordered and will confirm its fit in a week when it arrives. As for the wheel to bare recess siting, I have considered popping down to the DIY in search of a sheet of insulating polystyrene and cutting to fit the recess. Wont hold moisture and should cushion the seat. Bloody Chinese shopping and DIY to sort a new car ! LOL

 

You will see in the photo below showing my factory space saver wheel, the foam occupies very little of the spare wheel well and yet it houses the jack, wheel brace and associated bits & pieces.

It's too wet at the moment to work outside to take the wheel out to measure the central peg but you can see a lot of the threaded part extends above the wheel and I have to spin the securing 'nut' down a long way to hold the wheel in place.

I'll try to get a better photo tomorrow and measure the peg, but it looks like my foam insert and tools would fit in to your wheel well, so perhaps the foam insert you have been given may be the wrong part and wrong shape.

 

Impala thanks for that, my foam came with the car and held the pump and gunk. There was a recess in the middle for a much smaller wheel....but the 7cm screw in the middle was too short to centre any spare. Question is why not fit the longer one in the first place ...like your one , then it would cover any eventuality.

 

I think there are 3 sizes of plastic retaining bolt/screw with thumb wheel.
1) (8W0803899) Fitted to the Cabriolet, retains the foam tool storage.
2) 110mm long (3G0803899E), spare wheel mounting
3) 127mm long (5Q0803899), spare wheel mounting for vehicles with subwoofers.

 

Here are some more photos of my wheel/well, tool holder and centre peg.

The peg is 3G0803899E 11cm long as above, which is way more than is needed with my space saver wheel. The wheel + Tyre diameter ia approx 63cm. The tool holder consists of 2 layer of rigid foam with the wheel brace, security key and puller in the top layer and the jack between top and bottom layers. The entire thing seems to be glued on to the boot floor, so I haven't been able to take it out for photos - AFAIK the layers can be separated and the jack and tools removed after the space saver is removed.

 

Impala I went out ( in the rain ) as it was killing me to find out if I had a taped floor. It was too wet to take everything out , but as far as I can see I have 3 pieces of material, possibly tape, sprayed the same colour as the recess . they seem to be more triangular in shape than your large square pads. Per haps the new shape uses less material to save money ! lol

 

@Impala I notice your spare is installed front up, mine is back up, the screw thingy is too short to install mine like yours.
I'd need to double check.

@Ken Cabrio does your wheel well have the protective painted tape as in impala's photo?
You mentioned metal to metal (wheel rim to wheel well) , the tape is the only protection other T-roc's with a spare have.

 

@Impala I notice your spare is installed front up, mine is back up, the screw thingy is too short to install mine like yours.
I'd need to double check.

Depends what you mean by front and back.

What you see 'up' in my photo is what would be the 'inside' of the wheel when fitted, or the back to give it another name. The 'outside' or front when the wheel is fitted (ie the side with the yellow paint and speed limit) is down in my photo and can't be seen. What makes you think the front is up in my photo ?

I'm pretty sure I know my backside from my front (or is it elbow) ?

Turning it over would raise the centre, perhaps above the peg, but what you see is what I got when the car was delivered and I believe is the correct orientation. It also has the added advantage of providing a bit of storage within the wheel, where I keep 2 first aid kits and 2 hi-vis jackets as I've done in many previous cars.

 

Chrisb yes a 17" would most probably have fitted in the recess of my standard foam insert. The problem as I mentioned to Impala is if you have a smaller spare , besides the ride issues, when you change it and remove your 19" deflated wheel you need to have a recess to fit it for the journey home or to the tyre shop.

 

My delivery from China ( Ali Express) arrived today. For the total outlay of £1.17 , including postage because they gave me a discount voucher from the normal £5 ish , I now have a suitable fixing for
my spare wheel. The image of two screws shows the one supplied with the car and the longer is my one I bought. When you think they shipped it to me from China and made money I am sure on £1.17, it gives you an idea of the single item value when buying by the thousand . How silly for so little to not put the longer one in the car to cover all eventualities at sale, let alone the differentiation and stocking at factory.

 

That short fixing looks like it's made for a kiddie car 👶

Now all you have to do is secure the jack and tools.