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As a motorsport enthusiast who hasn't managed to procure a suitable SE yet, one of my unanswered questions is this.

I'm talking full size wheels, and in my mind I'm thinking that a full size will fit in the boot and a small jack beside it, with another wrapped up and strapped into the passenger seat.

Can anyone confirm?

I also note that the SE models have a thin pressed metal blocking plate at the back of the boot, do all NBs have these and does that impede a full size wheel from fitting?

enthuzed wrote:I'm talking full size wheels, and in my mind I'm thinking that a full size will fit in the boot and a small jack beside it, with another wrapped up and strapped into the passenger seat.

Can anyone confirm?

I also note that the SE models have a thin pressed metal blocking plate at the back of the boot, do all NBs have these and does that impede a full size wheel from fitting?

I'm only running 205/50/15 on my NB and cant even fit one of them in the boot if I want the lid to close. It doesn't fit through the opening...

My 99 NB also has the thin pressed metal blocking plate, and cant vouch for this impeding a full size wheel, cos as mentioned I cant fit the wheel in the boot in the first place..

I couldn't fit the stock wheel in the boot when I had to use the space saver spare last year. It had to ride shotgun to the tyre shop. I think the thickness prevents it from slipping into the boot, if memory serves.

Maybe you could pull the passenger seat out on track days and stack them there?

all NB have the metal plate, but just behind it is the fuel filler neck, so you dont gain any extra space for a spare wheel.
You can quiet easily store smaller soft items in there, such as a bag, rags, etc.

as for how many wheels, it depends on the wheel size.

I have managed to fit 2 15x6.5 wheels into the boot, and close it. BUT that required me to deflate the tyres first.
ordinarily you'll only get one wheel in the boot (with it closing) and maybe 2 on the passenger seat.
and if you dont have a rollbar possibly another one on the parcel shelf.

The easiest option if you're ok with it is to buy a cheap secondhand bootlid, something dented etc.
Then just weld/bolt some kind of rack on there and use that to hold the wheels and fill the boot with tools.

Bear in mind that the rear suspension does have limits. My rear shocks are both blown out from carrying an NA6 engine in the boot.

I managed to fit 4 x 15x7 wheels with (fully inflated) 205/50s into my old NA6.

I used to drive to the track on street wheels/tyres then change over to the track wheels/tyres once I got there.

All 4 in the cabin, with passenger seat in place.

None in the boot.

From memory I think I had one kind of wedged behind the passenger seat/up onto the rear parcel shelf, one wedged in the footwell, and two stacked on top of the passenger seat itself.

It was pretty cozy but I could still (just) change gears, operate the handbrake, etc.

Here's 4 x 15s with 225/45 tyres inside a stock SE:



It can be done...

pepejesus wrote:Here's 4 x 15s with 225/45 tyres inside a stock SE:



It can be done...

just none in the boot....

You can fit 4 205/50R15s on 15x7s in an NA but the NB boot can't hold the 4th one unless you fully deflate it and squash it.

I have fit 4x 195/50/15 in the NB with a hardtop on, did this recently when I changed my tyres & wheels, would suggest a drop sheet over the seat or bag the wheels up.

I can't imagine driving a car with that many wheels in the cabin...perhaps on a very short drive but not for anything longer that a few minutes.

Your field of vision would be very limited and if involved in an accident...

manga_blue wrote:You can fit 4 205/50R15s on 15x7s in an NA but the NB boot can't hold the 4th one unless you fully deflate it and squash it.

In both an NA and an NB you can fit 4 fully inflated 225s inside the car without using the boot.

Pic for proof in an NB in my post above.

IMHO the NB has ONLY 3 flaws:
You can't fit a full-size inflated spare in the boot.
You need to be an Orangutan to get at the oil filter.
The 6 speed gearbox has a horrible change into 5th.
Other than that it is pretty well perfect.

I suppose it comes down to the lining etc, but I can fit a 205/50/15 in the boot of my NB. It's a tight fit, but the boot lid does close without anything rubbing against the wheel or tyre.

Lokiel wrote:

I have thought of doing this. Did it damage the rain rail at all?