Car spare tyres - did you know?

[Romig1]

My spare-wheel bay is filled with a huge 16" o/d speaker (woofer?).

[Silver_Shiney]

Perhaps, when next we buy a new car, we all say "no proper spare, no sale" they'll start putting them back in? Difficult, though, if cars are starting to be made without a housing for a spare wheel.....

[jacksparrow]

Well I had a word with the garage this morning and they have said that the repaired tyre will be fine to run on to the degree that it comes with a one year guarantee so when its due for its service and MOT I will think about replacing it then. I think when I do eventually change the car that I will ask for a proper spare and see what they say just for devilment... I have been told that these space savers are yellow so next time I go out will have a looksie. Must admit that I have never seen a car on the road with a yellow tyre...

I am still a bit miffed that they didnt tell me when I bought the car....

[david63]

This business of not having a spare wheel/tyre was explained to us when we bought our last new car a few years back and, if I remember correctly, apart from cost savings it is to do with some law that came in in some European countries whereby you are not allowed to change a wheel at the side of the road.

[Romig1]

Well I had a word with the garage this morning and they have said that the repaired tyre will be fine to run on to the degree that it comes with a one year guarantee so when its due for its service and MOT I will think about replacing it then. I think when I do eventually change the car that I will ask for a proper spare and see what they say just for devilment... I have been told that these space savers are yellow so next time I go out will have a looksie. Must admit that I have never seen a car on the road with a yellow tyre...

I am still a bit miffed that they didnt tell me when I bought the car....

Jack, I don't think that it's good sales practice to point out what a product DOESN'T have... To be fair, a spacesaver isn't a problem for the majority of consumers as it's only for emergency purposes and it is perfectly adequate for it's intended use. I have more sympathy with those people who are given glue and an inflator.
Now that you are aware of space-savers I suspect you may notice the occasional one on the roads.

[Romig1]

A word of warning related to changing tyres...

if you have alloy wheels with a locking nut it is imperative that these are not used with the pneumatic tools that garages use to undo/tighten up the wheel nuts. What can happen with these locking nuts is that the teeth get stripped off them - rendering them virtually useless. It is thoroughly bad practice to use air-guns with these nuts - but some lazy operatives sometimes do so. I found out the hard way....got a puncture and tried to replace the wheel. no way could I remove the locking nut though! Fortunately there is a tyre retailer within a mile or so...I managed to inflate the tyre sufficiently to limp there.

I always now supervise the removal of my wheels.

[haveabeer]

Mine just has a canister of some description, i will just call the AA if i get a flat

[Silver_Shiney]

This business of not having a spare wheel/tyre was explained to us when we bought our last new car a few years back and, if I remember correctly, apart from cost savings it is to do with some law that came in in some European countries whereby you are not allowed to change a wheel at the side of the road.

Stop the world, I want to get off.

[ArtemisMiss]

Jack,

Don't necessarily worry too much about the repaired tyre. I had one in a similar situation to you last summer when I wasn't sure if I had a slow puncture but, when I took it into the tyre place they did a repair (at £20 a lot less expensive than a new tyre) which has been fine since - and I asked at my MOT about repaired tyres and they said if done properly then they can be just as safe as a new tyre.

AM

[Romig1]

Jack,

Don't necessarily worry too much about the repaired tyre. I had one in a similar situation to you last summer when I wasn't sure if I had a slow puncture but, when I took it into the tyre place they did a repair (at £20 a lot less expensive than a new tyre) which has been fine since - and I asked at my MOT about repaired tyres and they said if done properly then they can be just as safe as a new tyre.

AM

Absolutely. The only problem is when the damage is close to the side-wall. That can render the tyre unrepairable as if repaired, the tyre could fail under tight cornering apparently.

[Silver_Shiney]

Jack,

Don't necessarily worry too much about the repaired tyre. I had one in a similar situation to you last summer when I wasn't sure if I had a slow puncture but, when I took it into the tyre place they did a repair (at £20 a lot less expensive than a new tyre) which has been fine since - and I asked at my MOT about repaired tyres and they said if done properly then they can be just as safe as a new tyre.

AM

Absolutely. The only problem is when the damage is close to the side-wall. That can render the tyre unrepairable as if repaired, the tyre could fail under tight cornering apparently.

My last puncture was in the centre of the tread and I brought the car to a stop as quickly as safe to do so. The tyre supplier said that they couldn't repair the puncture because I'd destroyed the side wall by driving even that short distance. Was I ripped off?

[Romig1]

I don't know for sure, SS. But a proper puncture leading to deflation of the tyre is different to driving on a tyre which has a nail embedded in it (which is only very slowly deflating). I suspect that you were correctly advised. An embedded nail in the centre of the tyre can usually be removed and the hole plugged safely.

[Dark Knight]

tyres are very complicated bits of kit and it is always best to replace them if poss rather than repair
however if the side wall is not affected, then any tyre should be able to be repaired as it is a simple trick to repair a hole in a tyre

[Quizzical Bob]

I never take a chance with brakes, tyres or steering.

[melsea]

Jacksparrow

Yes I knew this and they are really only intended to be used for a short while until you get a new one and you must not exceed 50 or 55 mph when using one either.
I do hope you rang around for a good price for your tyres.

[Capt Black]

The last 3 cars we've had have not had a spare wheel. 2 were run flats - and we did get a puncture, just drove around for the couple of days it for the garage to order a replacement. The latest car just has an inflating gizmo with some gunk, but apparently that is enough to limp to a garage. They don't build them like they used to: my 40+ MG has got a proper spare wheel, and inner tubes!

I used to spend more time riding bikes than driving cars. Dealing with a puncture on a bike - now there's fun - not.

[jacksparrow]

I have decided to replace them next month.... what with roof repairs and new glasses and a forthcoming cruise I am overstretching myself a tad..... 2 tyres £165..... I shall just be careful not to go knocking around too fast.... Are you listening tinny

I know he doesnt like drivers who drive too slowly

[lioness]

It's not always the case. Our skoda Octavia has a proper spare. In fact we have just put it on and put a new one in the boot, as if you keep them in the boot for too many years, they degrade.

One small car we had did have a spacesaver, Honda civic i think.

[Ginaberlosconi]

When buying a brand new car, you can always insist that there is a "proper" spare tyre/wheel provided. You don't have to accept anything you think is inferior.

[Kendhni]

When buying a brand new car, you can always insist that there is a "proper" spare tyre/wheel provided. You don't have to accept anything you think is inferior.

Unfortunately that is not always the case... some cars designed these days do not have space for a space saver not to worry a full size spare wheel.

You could try insisting but you may find that you have to carry the wheel on the passenger seat.

[david63]

It is more likely to be an optional extra that will cost several hundred pounds and not something that you can "insist" on any more than you can "insist" on having, say, metallic paint

[Manoverboard]

If you buy a proper car like a Toyota then ' one ' gets a full spec spare tyre on an alloy wheel to match the other four

[Keechy]

My wife's Fiesta Style has what looks like a full-size spare but the wheel has a 80 KpH (50MpH) max sticker on it.

[jacksparrow]

I looked at my spare today in my car, which is a 'proper car', and mine has an 80 mile sticker too bit the hub was black instead of silver...

[Wobgoescruising]

Don't forget, nothing is free so if your new car comes with a full size spare then you've paid for it !. There's also the extra weight in the car being dragged around for years and years to consider, makes the car less fuel efficient, and in smaller cars you lose space. The space savers are fine so if anybody has one then don't panic, they've been around for ages. Run flats are fine too. I can't see the problem - if you have a puncture you put on the spare and buy a new one anyway !. I've had two punctures in 28 years - one I managed to change myself (was a space saver so was easier and lighter to lift) and the other was a runflat so I drove quite happily to the nearest garage.