Vredestein has been using the existing fitting machine for Space Master spare tyres since 2002. The company expects that the next milestone, namely 2,000,000 Space Master spare tyres, will be reached considerably more quickly, given the huge demand from the auto industry.

Thanks to the rise in the large number of SUV and 4×4 models in particular, the popularity of Vredestein’s Space Master spare tyres has grown enormously over the past few years, with many manufacturers opting for the Space Master and the high quality and level of service offered by Vredestein.

The Audi Q7 is the most recent model to be delivered with Vredestein’s Space Master. The Q7 has proven to be an exceptional success and the percentage of Space Master spare tyres fitted in Audi’s SUV is so high that Vredestein has to pull out all the stops in its production and installation processes in order to meet the huge demand.

Drivers have many reservations about spare tyres. Mini spares do not offer the performance of a normal tyre and a full sized spare takes up a lot of space in the boot. Vredestein has listened to these concerns and has produced the Space Master. The Space Master is a space- and weight-saving spare tyre for use in all emergency situations, providing a volume saving up to 60 per cent and a weight saving up to 35 per cent in comparison to conventional spare tyres. This is why the Space Master was first used by Porsche, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz in several of their sports cars.

For these types of cars, the optimum performance of the braking and driving systems is equally as important as saving space. Top-of-the-range cars in particular are fitted with low-profile tyres that are not easy to store; choosing the right tyres is especially important for those cars. And this fact increasingly applies to more types of cars, such as SUVs. Audi’s choice to equip the new Q7 with the Space Master shows that a ‘smart’ spare tyre such as the Space Master meets the requirements that were previously considered contradictory: saving space/weight and dynamic safety.

In view of the high performance level of modern passenger cars, a spare tyre must also meet the most stringent demands. When the time comes to use it, the spare tyre should not have a negative effect on the car’s driving performance. The exact sizes are equally as important: due to innovative electronic control systems with sensors adjusted to the wheels, the diameter of the spare tyre can only differ by a fraction from the standard tyre. Should the difference be any greater than a couple of millimetres, the car’s control systems receives incorrect information about the turning speed of the wheel concerned. This will have a negative effect on braking and driving systems such as ABS (antilock braking system) with EBV (electronic braking power distribution), ESP (electronic stability programme) and other related systems. The Space Master meets all these requirements.

Of course, no driver wants to have a flat tyre. But when it happens the Space Master makes a ‘pit-stop’ problem-free. The driver can take off again quickly because the Space Master is easy to fit. With the help of the compressor provided the tyre is inflated within five minutes.

At the moment, various sizes from 165/80 R15 to 175/50 R19 are produced and delivered to the car industry. This means that a replacement can be found for sizes ranging from 175/60R15 to 295/30ZR22. But, Vredestein says it can supply every conceivable size upon request.