Is the weight saving really worth having a space-saver spare tyre instead of full-size?

It’s true, there’s not a lot of weight saving with a smaller spare wheel and tyre, but these are called space savers, not weight savers. And that’s because they’re about saving space in the luggage compartment first and foremost. Many modern cars with huge wheels and tyres could not swallow a full sized spare; there just isn’t space inside the vehicle. So, the space saver was the industry solution.

They have obvious limitations, too, including the limits on distance and speed you can travel on them. And you would not be the first or last owner to replace the space saver with a full sized spare. In rural and remote areas, a full sized spare is great peace of mind.