Aluminum wheels, but spare wheel is steel

You would only use the spare for a short time and low speed until you get your tire repaired/replaced. I don't see an issue

I don't think the question should be about whether the spare is steel or alloy,

the question should be how would the AWD deal with 3 studded tires and 1 regular tire during winter if the spare has to be used even for a short distance.

No issue at all in summer as all four wheels will have same size all season tires, and again, rim composition is immaterial.

Ideally, you would have two spare wheels - a winter studded one, and a summer regular one.

This might be more important in vehicles other than a Subaru. Such as those with an overly sensitive transfer case or touchy power transfer electronics.

xxxray wrote: ↑ You would only use the spare for a short time and low speed until you get your tire repaired/replaced. I don't see an issue

Well, I live in an area where the closest repair place may be several hundred km away. Which is why I don't want one of those emergency doughnuts but a full emergency wheel.

macnut wrote: ↑ I don't think the question should be about whether the spare is steel or alloy,

the question should be how would the AWD deal with 3 studded tires and 1 regular tire during winter if the spare has to be used even for a short distance.

That too. Who can tell me how a Subaru would handle that?

The Subaru AWD will handle different tires just fine. This is what the clutches are for. Would I be driving thousands of kms with 3 studded and 1 bald tire? Probably not. Would I even worry about driving 200kms to the nearest tire centre to get a proper tire put on? No.

You should be fine. Biggest factor is keeping the tire sizes the same. Overall rolling diameter is where you can create a problem.

Example. car is using 205/55R16 tire and the spare is a 215/55R16.

Different compounds are less ideal for inclement weather conditions potentially over working the AWD system but as an emergency solution it works.

sokolov wrote: ↑ Hello,

In Winter my wheels are steel, tires with studs; in Summer the wheels are aluminum, all season tires. My spare wheel is full size, steel, all season tire. I drive a 2012 Subaru Outback, so always 4WD.

Is it a problem if my spare wheel is steel, especially during the Summer?

Spare Tires are ALWAYS ON STEEL RIMS! NOT ONE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIES A SPARE TIRE ON AN ALLOY!

You can go buy an alloy rim yourself and swap it.

jdmfishingonly wrote: ↑ Spare Tires are ALWAYS ON STEEL RIMS! NOT ONE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIES A SPARE TIRE ON AN ALLOY!

You can go buy an alloy rim yourself and swap it.

Wrong.

OP its fine.

jdmfishingonly wrote: ↑ Spare Tires are ALWAYS ON STEEL RIMS! NOT ONE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIES A SPARE TIRE ON AN ALLOY!

You can go buy an alloy rim yourself and swap it.

Off the top of my head jeeps and hummers and pretty much any car with a full size spare on the back has it on an alloy.. Also I don't know why you're yelling.

Ecsta wrote: ↑ OP its fine.



Off the top of my head jeeps and hummers and pretty much any car with a full size spare on the back has it on an alloy.. Also I don't know why you're yelling.

Yup: H3, Bronco, Wrangler, G Wagen and I think the FJ Cruiser, Vehicross, and some first gen Rav4's and CRV's.