Spare wheel, space saver, inflator?

[raybarrow]

Hi Folks,

Looking to change my car which will no doubt produce the question does it (the 'new' one) have a spare. Or even is there space for a full sized spare?

My 2011 Fiesta came with a full size spare, Mrs B's 2013 Ka had the 'crazy foam' inflator kit. That was quickly swapped that for a space saver wheel.
I feel a bit exposed without a 'spare' although in truth, apart from discovering a puncutre on my drive or a quiet side road,I can't really see my self changing a wheel on the motorway, busy A road, winding country lane etc, etc. Far too dangerous with a lot of drivers trying to achieve a Person Best on their journey or concentrating on their phone call, and at 70+ years I am probalby overestimating my ability, head still thinks I am 21. At home with trolley jack, space and time - yes. Out there - probably not.

I'm not going to say 'I can't remember when I last had a puncture', that would be tempting fate, but you know what I mean.

I read somewhere that breakdown companies may carry 'universal' space savers. I would have thought that stud paterns/spacing made the 'universal' concept difficult.

I just wondered how other people view not having a spare.

Cheers,
Ray.

[pje16]

I think the chances of being stranded are fairy low but I know how you feel about tempting fate
In 40+ years of drving I have only had to use a spare once.
I have runflats on my car now and I hate them as they feel every pimple on the road
so when they need changing I am switching to normal tyres and may consider one of these
https://www.thewheelshop.co.uk/product- ... er-wheels/

[richlist]

I hate not having a spare wheel. But instead of paying the manufacturers inflated price I now buy the car without a spare and buy a new spare wheel, elsewhere. You can get them online, the last one I bought was from Ebay. Just make sure that you also have the correct jack & wheelbrace.

It's a bit of messing around but I was able to get a spare wheel with a new tyre for lmy wife's Ford Puma for less than half the price of the manufacturers option.

When she changes the car for something different I just sell the spare wheel on and get most of my money back.

[Dod101]

I had two punctures in quick succession some time ago, and no spare. I called the breakdown service (AA) and they arrived with a recovery truck and took me home. Ridiculous really but it worked and did not cost me anything apart from a waste of time.

I would not be changing the wheel myself anyway but if I think about it I do feel a bit exposed. All to do with emissions apparently.

Dod

[richlist]

I think you will be in for a surprise if you think you can buy a spare wheel from the manufacturer for £50.

If you get a puncture and use the spray foam fix don't you then have to get the tyre replaced ?

[pje16]

A lot more than £50 and you will also need a jack and brace
I can get a kit in case for my car but it's £245 ( and that's not from a dealer!)
PS I don't have a space saver wheel

[pje16]

A fire blanket - to change a wheel?
Tyreweld can be removed but a lot will try it on a say you need a new tyre

[raybarrow]

Hi,

Those Wheelshop prices look pretty good (Honda Jazz that is). If recovery can change the wheel and we can be on our way I feel it's worth the money. Plus that 'Peace of mind' feeling is a bonus to us 'old school' drivers who like to think they can fix things with a screwdriver and a couple of spanners, those were the days - not that I want to go back there. Now you open a bonnet and think computer diagnostics, AVO meter, insulated tools and 'what on earth is that bit for'.

Ray.

[pje16]

Surely everyone should know how to change a wheel
(or am i forgetting changing an electrcal plug is challenge these days !)
But I'm with you on opening the bonnet (apart from oil and water)
Years ago I changed an entire engine but today a degree in computing is required

[bungeejumper]

About £120 for the official slimline wheel kit on my Toyota, including the jack etc and - quite importantly! - the fitting foam cushions that will keep it in place and stop it from rattling around in your boot. Oh, and the tyre of course. Owners' clubs are always full of people who are changing cars and flogging off their unused (or lightly used) slimlines.

The last time I had a road puncture was in 1996, I think. (Famous last words.) But my wife's Golf is a perpetual magnet for nails, screws and bits of twin-and-earth flex, which will go through a tyre with startling ease. I must have fixed five punctures in fifteen years. What am I doing wrong?

BJ

[AF62]

Neither of my current cars has a spare wheel.

One doesn’t have space because it is a two seater convertible, and although the other has lots of space in the boot, it is a battery electric vehicle so the manufacturer doesn’t recommend jacking it up as it is damned heavy and if it fell off the jack could damage the battery pack under the floor.

[Dod101]

Neither of my current cars has a spare wheel.

One doesn’t have space because it is a two seater convertible, and although the other has lots of space in the boot, it is a battery electric vehicle so the manufacturer doesn’t recommend jacking it up as it is damned heavy and if it fell off the jack could damage the battery pack under the floor.

So what do you do with the electric one if it has a puncture, throw it away?

Dod

[swill453]

Last time I got a new tyre at a tyre depot, they had quite a job whacking off the wheel as the alloy had basically corroded itself to the hub. Needed a beefy club hammer. This is on a five year old car, possibly the first time that wheel had been off the car.

If it had been me trying to change the wheel at the side of the road, I'd have had zero chance of doing it with the tools available.

Scott.

[JohnB]

You need a 4-way tyre wrench to have much chance of getting the nuts off, so that's essential. I think I've changed tyres on the road twice in 30 years, so while I could use my space-saver myself, I think I'd be tempted to just call out the breakdown people, just in case of complications.

[88V8]

We have full-size spares, and a tyre pump and pressure gauge in each of our three cars.

When we had new cars, I mean new new cars, I always practiced changing the wheel and made the wife do the same.

And if we had new tyres, I went round afterwards and made sure I could get the nuts off; there was a period of a few years in the 80s when wheelnuts always seemed to be overtightened.
These extendable wrenches are very useful for that https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373627553220?hash=item56fdf005c4:g:5r0AAOSwIh1g1f3i as they give extra leverage.

And yes, I've had an alloy wheel weld itself to the drum, so they get, or rather got, greased with copperslip to prevent that happening although I recall a poster on here mentioning something better.

I wouldn't dream of buying a car with no spare. I think it an asinine idea.

Oh, and that tyre gunk has a use-by date which does actually mean something, and anyway it won't work if the sidewall is damaged.

V8

[pje16]

I wouldn't dream of buying a car with no spare. I think it an asinine idea.

Runflat tyres get you home if you have puncture, (wall damage no, but how often does that happen)
I had no option to get a spare, asinine or not
PS useful link though

[AF62]

Neither of my current cars has a spare wheel.

One doesn’t have space because it is a two seater convertible, and although the other has lots of space in the boot, it is a battery electric vehicle so the manufacturer doesn’t recommend jacking it up as it is damned heavy and if it fell off the jack could damage the battery pack under the floor.

So what do you do with the electric one if it has a puncture, throw it away?

Dod

Phone the breakdown service provided by the manufacturer, who then put it on the back of a truck - you cannot tow a battery EV - and take it somewhere which has a four post lift to get it off the ground so you can have the tyre fixed or replaced.

and made the wife do the same.

V8

Brave. Very brave.

[88V8]

- you cannot tow a battery EV -

I didn't know one can't tow them. I believe one can if they have a neutral gear, otherwise it can damage the transmission... rather like towing an automatic without raising the driving wheels or disconnecting the prop shaft.

and made the wife do the same.

Brave. Very brave.

She's quite practical, but has been known to drive a considerable distance on a flat rear tyre and then mention a 'funny noise'.

V8

[pje16]

bet she's not as bad as this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o36LnfW3hYk