I have a flat front tire. The manual says NOT to put the spare on the front of the vehicle. Luckily I got the flat at home. What would happen if I got a front flat tire on the road. Switching back tires to the front requires a block and a lot of hassle. Does the spare on the front really cause steering problems?

 

The spare does affect handling, although it will do that anywhere you put it. It's much smaller and often is marked "DO NOT EXCEED 60 MPH" or similar on the side. I've seen cars with multiple temporary spares going down the road. The reason to put it on the rear is your final drive on the transaxle. The final drive is basically your differential. Since it's up front, it's designed a bit different but functions the same.

This allows the outside wheel to go faster when you go around a corner. When you have a different size tire, especially when it's smaller, that tire will constantly spi faster. The final drive gets warmed up in normal operation and constant compensation for a smaller tire will really heat it up. Doing it for a short distance won't hurt it. I've seen people leave them on for a long time. THAT can damage it.