A mate has o6-07 Platinum and it has 17 inch mags.The spare is a 16 inch steelie,is this normal?

I think every model had a 16 inch steel rim for a spare. Just be thankful the 380 didn't give out those horrid little go-kart wheels for a spare.

Haha,yeah thats what I told him. Thanks mate.

I think every model had a 16 inch steel rim for a spare.

Not entirely true - the 17s were optional for the middle class series (SX, Platn'm), If I'm not mistaken the absolute low end had 16s fitted anyway. The high end series (GT, maybe even VRX) had the spare 17s as standard. Makes sense as fitting 16s to a car with 18s on the other wheels kinda makes it feel unsafe. Fitting 16s when the other wheels are 17s are fine as long as you don't go past 60, from what the manual says.

Not entirely true - the 17s were optional for the middle class series (SX, Platn'm), If I'm not mistaken the absolute low end had 16s fitted anyway. The high end series (GT, maybe even VRX) had the spare 17s as standard. Makes sense as fitting 16s to a car with 18s on the other wheels kinda makes it feel unsafe. Fitting 16s when the other wheels are 17s are fine as long as you don't go past 60, from what the manual says.

Ok thanks, now I can shut him up crying he's been ripped off. lol

Not entirely true - the 17s were optional for the middle class series (SX, Platn'm), If I'm not mistaken the absolute low end had 16s fitted anyway. The high end series (GT, maybe even VRX) had the spare 17s as standard. Makes sense as fitting 16s to a car with 18s on the other wheels kinda makes it feel unsafe. Fitting 16s when the other wheels are 17s are fine as long as you don't go past 60, from what the manual says.
Not entirely accurate, 16" steel spare standard (http://www.mitsubishimotors.com.au/media/62332/mit2281_380_seriesiii_bro_v2_new.pdf) for all models, a matching spare on other models are available at cost but not standard, maybe the only exception was the supercharged model to fit around those brakes.

Makes sense as fitting 16s to a car with 18s on the other wheels kinda makes it feel unsafe. Fitting 16s when the other wheels are 17s are fine as long as you don't go past 60, from what the manual says.
Not necessarily. I run a 16" spare with 18" road wheels. You won't have issues as long as you put the spare on the rear axle and the OD of the 16" and 18" wheels are the same or very close to each other.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/mohit/Verada/puncture01.jpg

Righto - I stand corrected. Should have gone back to the brochure and checked it instead of going from memory. Anyway, point's been taken that the dude got a 16" spare tyre and wasn't ripped off.

Way things are going, it's not gonna matter anymore as Holden's getting rid of their spare tyres and calling it a "green" move - less weight, better fuel economy, yadda yadda. Sure hope those runflats work as advertised!

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleId=56210

The pioneer of the technology locally, BMW, staunchly defends run-flat tyres as being safer and more convenient if you do get a puncture. Opponents have criticised the higher costs (no longer an issue), compromises in ride quality and change in driving dynamics if you do get a puncture.

They can have them.
The BMW M division don't like them, and would rather run conventials on their drivers cars.
That article states the dynamics change after a puncture, it's before as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/mohit/Verada/puncture01.jpg


How many times did the cops pull you over with the car looking like that

How many times did the cops pull you over with the car looking like that
lol Surprisingly not even once

With mine, if i get a flat on the front, i need to put the rear rim onto the front and the spare on the back as they wont clear the brakes :cry:

Regarding different size rims, I'm running 19s now and still have the 16in steelie - though it hasn't been used with the 19s yet.
Are you guys saying a cop would defect such a car with big rims + smaller spare?

not really as 16" are ever so slightly smaller/ same size in overall diameter(so long as the spare doesnt have low profile tyre).

Regarding different size rims, I'm running 19s now and still have the 16in steelie - though it hasn't been used with the 19s yet.
Are you guys saying a cop would defect such a car with big rims + smaller spare?

I think BJ31OS was referencing all the falcons and commodores with the steelies as burnout tyres on the back.

my rada has a set of 5 matching rims

mate has a VE 60th Lumina - and it was ment to come with only a steelie for a spare, but he scored and got a matching rim.
the way i see it, is to get you to spend more at the dealership - an extra 400or so to get the matching spare wheel that will hardly see the road anyhow...

all the cars iv ever owned, have come with a matching rim - even my ZL Fairlane('s) with 15in Snowflake mags!

the spare is meant to get u to a tyre shop its not a replacement wheel. the sticker on the wheel says maximum 80km/h.

even having a matching spare can be hazardous if the ones on the car are worn and the spare has never seen the road and its wet cause they grip diffrently.

How many times did the cops pull you over with the car looking like that

once for me, he reckons i was doing burnouts

Partly as a result of this thread I have purchased a replacement spare wheel the same as the Mitsubishi road wheels for my 380 SX Series III.

I know some people here will think this is a waste of money, my reasoning is:

1. Page 6-14 from the owners manual states “The vehicle must not be driven at speed in excess of 80 km/h while using the temporary spare wheel”. I do not wish to get stuck on a busy highway at 80 Km/h with trucks pushing from behind.

2. Due to the statement “The vehicle must not be driven at speed in excess of 80 km/h while using the temporary spare wheel”. I do not want an insurance company refusing to pay out on a claim ruling that I was doing 81 Km/h and thus my negligence caused any accident.

I do large country distance and simply do not want to potentially deal with the above issues.

When I first mentioned the idea of purchasing the wheel a friend said that it may not fit. I knew they were wrong as the outside diameter and tread width are the same however for anyone who wishes to see the fit pictures below.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/s311_bvm/wheel1.jpg http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/s311_bvm/wheel2.jpg

I'll be replacing my steel spare with a fifth mag mostly because of the weight!

The steelie weighs a ton. Just try getting it out one day and you'll see what I mean. Must be 25kgs or so.

I'm getting a mag so I can hide my gutter rashed wheel (2nd day I got them :headbange ) in the boot. At least a fifth mag will be useful as well as a lot lighter.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the 80km limit on the spare, as it is a good sized wheel/tyre that shouldn't pose any threats (unlike those go-kart spare rims of asian cars) - but then again, the last time used my spare I was running 16s all around (my 380 only had 16in LX rims standard), and now I have 19s. Obviously 3x lighter & bigger 19s + 1 heavier smaller 16in steelie = a combination not recommended for higher speeds and long use.
I'm not sure why your friend reckons a 380 rim wouldn't fit your 380? I think getting a spare alloy rim of your model is a good idea. I wouldn't mind doing that too, but can't be bothered with the expense at the moment (I'd rather get bigger rims in the future instead)
Likewise 1 of my 19s got gutter-rashed after just a few days old. Not too prominant but I wasn't very happy at the time.

Grubco, my friends concern was around the fit of the wheel in the boot not on the road, due to some cars now being restrictive in this regard. From memory Knotched is running 245s so his boot carpet may sit up a little over his spare when he goes to 5 alloys.

Personally the steelie as you have pointed out is a full size road wheel and I believe is definitely capable of greater than 80 Km/h. For me the issue is exists due to legal liability and that statement on Page 6-14 from the owners manual.

I simply was not willing to risk a non payout / escape clause from an insurer if I was to have an accident on a highway during its use.

Grubco, my friends concern was around the fit of the wheel in the boot not on the road, due to some cars now being restrictive in this regard. From memory Knotched is running 245s so his boot carpet may sit up a little over his spare when he goes to 5 alloys.
Okay. That makes more sense. Certainly the diameter of the wheel wouldn't be a problem (yours appears to fit in okay) but the width could be. I also have 245s now, so probably I'd be in the same boat (could try to fit one into the boot, but too lazy). I imagine, though, that the boot tray cover simply wouldn't lay flush with the boot floor, depending on how much space they gave you with the standard wheel.

Hmmm...

Good point. I might measure it all up.