How to stop your VW T5/T6 spare wheel being stolen

The Problem

Spare wheels on VW T5/T6 vans are routinely stolen because the standard carrier bolt can be removed in seconds with vise grips. A plain security bolt alone is insufficient — without a shroud around the head, vise grips can still grip and turn it.

Solution

1. Replace the standard carrier bolt with a Heyner security locking bolt.
   • The bolt head has a rotating collar designed to spin freely under vise grips.
2. Fit a hole-saw guard or purpose-made SpareSafe shroud over the bolt head to block all side access.
   • The SpareSafe is designed specifically for VW T5/T6/T6.1 and comes with the Heyner bolt included.
3. Store the locking key somewhere memorable — one owner reported that losing the key made removal extremely difficult even with professional tools and took significant time.
4. Tighten the two carrier bolts to 150 Nm.
   • If your spare tyre shows sidewall deformation after tightening, fit a 45 mm collar/spacer between the carrier frame and the wheel to limit clamping depth.

Safety Notes

• Overtightening the carrier bolts without a spacer can deform the spare tyre sidewall, leaving you with a damaged spare when you need it most.