Hi 308 owners, I have been searching for a space saver spare for my 308, but the original ones are hard to come by. It occured to me the other day that the 328 had a space saver. I e-mailed Malcolm at Ferrari UK and they have the large offset version (p/n 136861) in stock for about $200, with no tire. A good price! I checked the drawings and the "large offset" version of the spare that goes with the "ABS" convex wheels looks the same in the drawings as the one that came with the earlier "concave" 328 wheels. I'm not sure if they are the same or not. We *know* that the small offset early "concave" 328 wheels fit a 308, so we can assume that the spare that came on those cars will work on a 308 as well. So here's the question for the experts...will this spare that came with the later "Convex" wheels work on a 308? (Judging from the drawings on the owners site, it's the same wheel. Judging from the part numbers, it's not. Another of Enzo's mysteries!) Anybody know?? Pics of the available wheel below courtesy of Ferrari UK. The next question would be...where the heck does one get a 105/80-R18 tire to go on it!? Birdman Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great info -- if it will fit the 308's (and it probably will regardless of offset since it's so thin) and we can get a tire for it, then I'm going to order one!
I figure we can probably find quite a few people here who want one if we can confirm that it fits a 308. (Malcolm, can I have a kickback? ) Birdman
110/80-R18 is a common motorcycle tire size commonly for less than $100 for a basic tire. It's just 0.3 inch additional overall diameter, and 0.2 inch additional width. Since it's just a rare-use spare, that might work.
New question, how would you mount it in the front storage compartment? The factory hold-down bolt is going to be too long, isn't it?
Put that thing on a front wheel and hold on ! The change in scrub radius will be dramatic, it looks like it'll move it inboard 2" or something. As absurd as it sounds, cars really are engineered to handle reasonably well with the factory space saver installed. There was a test in C&D YEARS ago (10 or so?) where they compared a Taurus and a Vette with the spares and the results were surprising how well they worked. Remember that the early '90s T-birds had the same bolt pattern as a Ferrari, perhaps you could find a space saver from one of those that would have a more similar offset.
Just curious, what does a mint condition proper spare with rubber go for nowadays? Also, when using the spare Ferrari recommends keeping the car under 90mph(!). See attached pages from owners manual. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I had considered looking for a space saver from another manufacturer with the same bolt pattern, but call me a snob, I would prefer a Ferrari rim! (It will be less embarassing if I need to use it!) I actually think the 328 space saver is better looking than the Euro 308 space saver that we couldn't get in the U.S. Birdman
But would a motorcycle tire be strong enough? You would have around 800 pounds on this thing in the rear.
Yes, probably. But it will keep it from sliding. Worst case, you make a spacer that goes between the top of the wheel and the top of the bolt. Birdman
According to the 328 owners manual, the OEM spare tire is Goodyear. I have sent them an e-mail to inquire about availability. I also called a few tire places locally and they all told me they have no idea where to get it. Seems strange. I guess people never need to replace those.
If the offset of the wheel is correct, the centerline of the spare tire will still be in the same place as the centerline of the full width tire, and handling should not be terribly affected for non-extreme driving. Given that this spare has the proper offset for the larger offset hubs using the "convex" wheels, this spare would perform well on a late model 328, a Mondial or even a 348/355, which all have similar offsets. The issue I'm worried about has to do with the offset being too much for a 308. This tire WILL affect the scrub radius on a 308 because it has more offset than the 308 hubs require. But will it work as a temporary wheel to get you to a gas station without rubbing on anything? THAT is the question.
A couple of months ago, I had someone offer me a Campgnola style euro spare like Steven has as a straight trade for my 308QV 16x7 spare. I didn't take them up on it, since the Campy spare badly needed refinishing and the tire had been used; my spare was refinished with my other wheels (though it didn't really need it) and the tire has never been on the ground, *and* we'd have to cross-ship between the Netherlands and the US. Didn't seem worth it. I've wanted the older 328-style spare anyway, since it at least looks like it matches the other wheels. This thread got me motivated -- a few minutes ago I just bought an early non-ABS 328 compact spare with ununsed tire for $400 plus $25 shipping from Butch at Italian Auto in Phoenix (no, he doesn't have any more). It's a lot for something I don't really need, but I've seen them go for $500 or more. Just a few years ago they used to sell for $250-$300. Mike Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mike, Just took a close look at the spare here as i KNEW it looked different from the one in yours and Birdman's pics. The build date on the rear of the rim here is July 1984 and it says DINO and also Ferrari on it. See below pics. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks, for a moment there i felt it may have been wrong... Well, i never use the damn thing nor take it with me. (Sigh) More stuff in the basement...
Hey, we ended up with over 100 posts on the parking brake handle bulbs! A dozen and a half posts here ain't nothin'!!
Mike, That wheel was on eBay this morning and he cancelled the auction because of you! I knew I shoulda kept my mouth shut about this spare wheel thing for another day! How do you think I got started on this line of thought? Anyway, I wouldn't have paid $400. A little steep for my blood. Birdman
Sorry Jonathan! You're right, that's the one. But here's how I figured $400 to be "OK"... $200 for a not-quite-right wheel from Ferrari UK, at least $50 to get it here though because of distance and weight probably even more, then $100 for the tire (if we could find one which is questionable) plus mounting and you're getting near that $400 mark anyway. And I haven't seen one of these go for under $500 for almost a year. I tried to get Steven to sell me his when he TEASED us all on FChat that he was going to get rid of it since he never put it in the car anyway.
Mike, Your're probably right, but the time all is said and done, it will cost $400! I just wish we could find a tire. Without the tire, the whole thing is moot. Birdman
The Ferrari ones are VERY hard to locate and very expensive too---I machined my own space sacer wheel tires are available fron goodyear in 60,70,80 & 90 series. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have a Ferrari space-saver spare that I bought on Ebay a couple of years back. Mike, and all the others with Brembo brake kits up front, you may want to measure things before you invest in one. Mine isn't deep enough to clear those calipers. This is something that you may want to consider before spending a lot on one.
