Estate spare wheel/tyre size

[Forkie]

So to try to keep this short - what size tyre is available these days to mate to an 'S' alloy wheel that will actually fit into the estate spare wheel well.
Regards, Nige.

[Dave B]

Does a 175/80R14 not fit?
It should do, that's the correct size for the car.

[Forkie]

Well there's the thing !!!! Sooo...the spare i had in boot when brought the car was an ancient un- dated Michelin 175 XAs. Another 15 years on i thought best leave that one out!! As i have now fitted this new set of Minilites, i planned to put one of the old Nexen brand that i have just took off in the well instead. Forgetting the fact they are 195/ 70 - would not fit . Ok great , that means dig out the old ancient XAs tyre/ alloy and have to get a new one put on that instead. Only having 175 / 14 stamped on it threw me a bit, no profile size - so after some calls i found that it will be an '80 profile, ' but best check the rolling circumference to check if the same' - ideal, makes sense, getting somewhere.
So after more research of 'rolling circumference' - i find that Michelin still do the 175/ 14, with a r.c. of 75.86" or 1927 mm. at circa £200 a pop. Whereas a ' modern' 175/80/14 has a listed r.c. of 78.50" or 1997mm.... now i do recall my ancient being a real tight fit to the tank - and to me thats a considerable difference... so i was waiting to see if i got a reply to offer up this odd issue. As it is only going to be a spare i did not really want to throw £200 in the boot if i could help it, hence i was kind of after what ' modern' 175/80/14 that are known to fit. Unless im missing something again

[johnnydog]

I dont think you can go far wrong with either of these two for the price.
I have a set of Uniroyal Rain Experts on 3 cars, and they are excellent tyres and good value for money. The Firestone seem an OK price , especially as a spare....

[Forkie]

Yes thats what i have ended up fitting on my new wheels, Uniroyal Rain Experts. But my question is i require a replacement spare tyre fitted to an 'S' alloy that will fit into the unforgiving Estate wheel well , but, according to 'Google' the current 175/80/14 rolling circumference is bigger than the original Michelin 175/14 XAs, that is my queery,as my original is already a tight squeeze between the tank/ n/s inner arch/ rear panel.
So the way i see it the modern 175/80/14 just would not fit in the well, unless Google is wrong or i am missing something.
The only other way of testing is 'borrowing ' that size wheel/tyre and see if i can get it to drop in.

[Clifford Pope]

Is it the width or the diameter that jambs? As it's only a spare and simply has to be legal "just in case" then would a partly-worn tyre squeeze in?