Best Full Size Tyre for Spare Wheel

gangitano85

A2OC Donor
Belgium
I have a small issue on which I would like to pick the brains of my fellow A2 enthousiasts. I currently have 175/60R15 Michelin Cross Climates on steel rims on my A2. Since a few weeks I am the proud owner of a 15" alloy (thank you once again @slumdog :) ) which has the wrong size tyre on which I am looking to change over.

My first option would be to put a Cross Climate on, but these are directional tyres so in case I would need it, I have a 50% that the tyre will be roling in the wrong direction. Also, there is their rather high price. On the other hand, if the puncture cannot be repaired, I don't need to buy a new tire as I can just swap the spare one over to the steel rim of the punctured tyre.

I could also go for a cheaper all season tyre, but as far as I know in that particular size they are all directional.

A third option is to buy a decent radial summer tyre as a spare. It will never cause an issue in terms of the rotation direction, but it is of course not ideal to drive it along with three all season tyres. Then again, I would always try to limit the time I have to use this spare tire and have the original one fixed (or replaced) as quickly as possible.

All comments and feedback are welcome :)

Many thanks in advance
 
I would simply fit anything cheap and cheerful as it's only needed to get you home so anything the rolls would do for me (in the correct size mind)
 
Thanks, but I will be using the car for longer trips in the near future, where 'taking me home' will take several hundreds of miles.
 
The best size spare is the same as the other 4 tyres/rims so that when you do have to use the spare your ride and handling won't be compromised.

Best Standard Sizes
165/65R15 fitted to 5Jx15 ET28 rims
175/60R15 fitted to 5.5Jx15 ET34 rims

Best Non-Standard Sizes
165/70R14 or 175/65R14 or 185/65R14 fitted to 5Jx14 ET35 rims
 
I would fit a new budget (but not Chinese) summer 175/60/15.

It will do for emergencies until you can get the puncture repaired. Unlikely you’ll ever need it I think.
 
I have a set of summer tyres and a set of winter tyres. I just put one of the set I am not using into the car. You can often get an entirely functional set secondhand for very little.
 
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