Recently had a puncture on my MY2009 RRS (with 15 spoke 20” wheels with 275/40/R20 Conti’s) and now want to replace the 19” space saver spare with a full sized one, as I do a lot of towing and don’t fancy dragging 2.5 tons on the space saver tyre........

Can anyone please confirm that I can stow a 20” full sized spare in the usual space under the boot compartment, and still fit the removable towbar without problem?

Many thanks
Stuart RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Bourneville - Tow Pack

Yes, you'll be fine.
It will stick down more from the car, so you will notice it from the rear  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

I have a full size 20" wheel with a 275/40/R20 Conti as spare and fits my 09 reg RRS without any problems. Don't have a tow bar but seeing the gap there I can't imagine any issues. Perhaps someone else with a towbar can confirm.

It's just a bit more visible under the boot so don't put a brand new tyre on it to incentivise thieves. And buy the RLD protector if you don't already have it

What a brilliant forum! Instant and most helpful responses, thanks very much, guys, much appreciated!

I'm off to find a cheap 20" wheel and tyre - and security plate.

Stuart RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Bourneville - Tow Pack

stuart j wrote:

I'm off to find a cheap 20" wheel and tyre - and security plate.

The detachable tow bar won't be hindered by the larger wheel, so you'll be fine  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Have now bought a good used 20” spare and tyre at sensible money, but jeepers it’s heavy! Presumably the spare wheel winch and cable supports that weight plus one of Ray’s wheel protectors without problem, gents? RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Bourneville - Tow Pack

Been 5 months and it's coping fine with the weight of wheel + protector.

You can spec a 20" alloy as a spare direct from the factory, so I assume that the winch is built to cope.

If it did fail, I'd remove the RLD protector, as I'm sure this wouly give them (LR) cause to say you'd placed additional weight/stress on the winch causing its demise  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Beancounter_74 wrote:

If it did fail, I'd remove the RLD protector, as I'm sure this wouly give them (LR) cause to say you'd placed additional weight/stress on the winch causing its demise

My RLD protector was fitted by LR dealer. I supplied it of course, but while they replaced the winch following spare wheel theft I just requested them to fit the protector too. Wouldn't hurt to follow Beancounter's advice though

Thats said, I've just realised the irony of what I've proposed
How do you remove a proctector when the winch has failed  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

. '08 RRS TDV8
I converted my diesel RRS to run on an environmentally friendly mixture of caribou fat and baby seals oil

....that'd do it  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

RLD protector now arrived (a lovely and good value piece of engineering, thanks Ray) and 20” spare all fitted and thief-proof – and to answer my own original question, removable tow bar fits without problem. Many thanks to all for sound and prompt advice – I’m off to put another 30K miles on this year.......

Stuart RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Bourneville - Tow Pack

Good you got it all sorted  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass