Car spare tyres - did you know?

[jacksparrow]

Today I took Zac (my car) for his tyres etc to be checked and was informed that I had a nail in one of my tyres. The garage said that they could repair it without having a new tyre, so I said that they could put the spare on and I would use the repaired one as the spare. However,

I was then informed that the spare wheel isnt one that you can use all the time but is called I believe a spacesaver (well something like that), well I never knew that when you now buy a new car you dont get a proper spare wheel/tyre. Needless to say that within the next couple of weeks I will be getting a proper replacement tyre...

Am I the only one that didnt know this

[wolfie]

Sadly it's very much the case these days Jack.

We took the garage to task over this when we bought our daughters cars and all they could say was, it's the norm these days.

Apparently these sorts of tyres will be sufficient to get you to the nearest garage, 50 miles maximum we were told and at no more than 50mph.

[jacksparrow]

Thanks Wolfie, I am driving on the repaired tyre for now but I am a bit wary of doing so.... It does make you wonder whether this spacesaver tyre conforms with regulations with the Police....

[Wobgoescruising]

Spacesavers have been around for many many years - I think my first car even had one !. They are fine and do what they are supposed to do, take up much less space and gets you to a garage. My last three cars (all Mini's) had run flats so didn't have a spare at all. Getting a new car soon and I has a full size spare but it wouldn't have bothered me if it was a spacesaver.

[jacksparrow]

I think I am probably more upset about being stuck with a bill for new tyres....

[Dancing Queen]

Thanks Wolfie, I am driving on the repaired tyre for now but I am a bit wary of doing so.... It does make you wonder whether this spacesaver tyre conforms with regulations with the Police....

Jack if the tyre was able to be repaired it will be fine, I'm a bit like you and always think is replacement better than repair, if it's any help one of our tyres was repaired just before we went to Southampton, we had 5 very heavy cases in it and it was fine so stop worrying.

As others have said the spacesaver tyre is the norm these days, it really annoys me that you spend a fortune on a new car and they can't even give you a proper "spare" but there you go

[Boris+]

Yes, maybe it's an indication of the way things are nowadays - we got a 'run flat' spare sort of thing when we changed the car late last year. However, we are looking at getting 'winter tyres' so that is a complete new spare set, and also a proper jobby to keep in the boot.

There's nothing like the satisfaction of jacking up the car and fitting a spare and then going merrily on your way knowing that you can be a bit independent if needs be.

Em

[JohnTheDog]

The space saver tyres are fine. The repaired one will be too. Better than our Zafira that only had a tyre inflation kit no spare at all! We bought a spare wheel. I asked at the garage why they do this & I was told they did a survey & the majority of customers said they had never used the spare wheel...I asked did you ask the customers if they had ever had a puncture?.....erm...

[Romig1]

My car came with neither run-flats nor a spare wheel OF ANY SORT, never mind a space-saver. It just has a glue of some description and a inflation device!

Jack, methinks you are being a bit over-cautious. Space-savers are fine for short journeys at speeds less than 50mph.

If I ever get a puncture which causes me to stop a journey, I'll calling out the break-down service!

Since I got this car with impossibly large-sized tyres, I've had nothing but problems with nails etc, causing slow punctures. One has been repairable, but others have needed new tyres...at well over £200 per tyre (on account terms too!)

[Romig1]

Jack. If you are at all worried about the space-saver, then go to your local scrap yard. You'll be able to get a correct sized wheel as a spare (steel-rim - not fancy alloys) with a decent tyre for a few quid. Don't even consider going to a main dealer.

[Debbie W]

My new car, like Romig's, doesn't have a spare of any description but a can of something or other instead Hopefully I won't need to use it but since having a tyre shred itself to pieces on the M6 I'm a little bit paranoid about my tyres!

[JohnTheDog]

Jack. If you are at all worried about the space-saver, then go to your local scrap yard. You'll be able to get a correct sized wheel as a spare (steel-rim - not fancy alloys) with a decent tyre for a few quid. Don't even consider going to a main dealer.

We couldn't for the Vauxhall, trouble is when they make cars with these inflation kits most want to buy a spare wheel so they are not as easy to find as you may think.

[Pippa Kernow]

Our previous car had a spacesaver wheel. When we bought the car it did concern us a little as we were used to having a 'proper' spare wheel, but we got used to it and we never had need to use it.

Then we traded the old car in for a Ford Fiesta. It doesn't have a spacesaver wheel....in fact..... it doesn't have a spare wheel AT ALL! Ford have a policy of putting just a tyre sealant & tyre inflator in their cars to be used in an emergency. Waaah! What's all this about??!!

[Romig1]

Debs. I found yet another scrap of metal in my tyre tonight.
Having removed it, I'm going to have to keep a check on the pressure to ensure there isn't a slow puncture.. And guess what...yet again it's close to the side-wall, so it will not be repairable!

[Romig1]

You're probably right John.

My experience was from a lady at work who last year got a cheap replacement for her fiesta.

I suppose that as the practice of not providing spares increases, so will the demand for second-hand ones.

[Debbie W]

Debs. I found yet another scrap of metal in my tyre tonight.
Having removed it, I'm going to have to keep a check on the pressure to ensure there isn't a slow puncture.. And guess what...yet again it's close to the side-wall, so it will not be repairable!

Oh no! I remember going to buy a new tyre at Costco a few years ago and after it was fitted, the tyre fitter was laughing himself daft because they'd counted over 30 nails in the old tyre! I've avoided using the Dock Road as a shortcut ever since!

[Romig1]

Debs. I found yet another scrap of metal in my tyre tonight.
Having removed it, I'm going to have to keep a check on the pressure to ensure there isn't a slow puncture.. And guess what...yet again it's close to the side-wall, so it will not be repairable!

Oh no! I remember going to buy a new tyre at Costco a few years ago and after it was fitted, the tyre fitter was laughing himself daft because they'd counted over 30 nails in the old tyre! I've avoided using the Dock Road as a shortcut ever since!

Oh dear Debs...I always said your weakness for sailors and dockers would be your undoing!

[Debbie W]

Doh! I walked right into that one didn't I? insert *palmface smilie*

[JohnTheDog]

How does a nail actually GET into a tyre anyway, our last "episode" was in the car park at the Hilton Metropole after Crufts last year...40 kg dog, grooming kit all my wifes stuff, luckily a friend took the dog home. We changed the wheel then set off to the local Kwickfit...where the bloke said "ave yow got an appointment".... I said ''no it's a puncture mate..they don't come by appointment''..."sorry no appointment can't help".

[wolfie]

Thanks Wolfie, I am driving on the repaired tyre for now but I am a bit wary of doing so.... It does make you wonder whether this spacesaver tyre conforms with regulations with the Police....

It must do, but, if you like, I shall ask our daughter who is a police officer and too boot, how you stand if something happens to that spacesaver tyre before you have gotten to a garage and therefore you may be illegal for not having a spare tyre of any sorts. Hmmm........interesting scenario methinks.

[JohnTheDog]

No different to having any other sort of spare wheel I suppose.

[Quizzical Bob]

Thanks Wolfie, I am driving on the repaired tyre for now but I am a bit wary of doing so.... It does make you wonder whether this spacesaver tyre conforms with regulations with the Police....

It must do, but, if you like, I shall ask our daughter who is a police officer and too boot, how you stand if something happens to that spacesaver tyre before you have gotten to a garage and therefore you may be illegal for not having a spare tyre of any sorts. Hmmm........interesting scenario methinks.

You don't have to have a spare wheel, but if you do it must be legal.

[Quizzical Bob]

I had two BMW 5-series estates and went into the garage to see about a replacement. All was fine, we agreed the price and I went through the specification. The last question was, 'does it come with a spare wheel or do I have to pay extra for it?' 'Oh no sir, you don't need one, it comes with run-flats'. 'Is there room in the boot for a proper spare?' 'No, that's now filled with a tool kit'. We tow a caravan around the continent and with run flats I might manage twenty miles on a puncture. That wouldn't even get me off the motorway. I bought a Mercedes instead.

[rita17]

We also have a Vauxhall with an inflation kit. It does have the housing for a full sized spare and the first thing we did was to buy a new spare. At £118 it's a good profit making exercise for Vauxhall. We have found the inflation kit useful however, for blowing our cycle tyres up.

[JohnTheDog]

The kit has a glue in it that ruins the tyre after use I was told...