Spare Wheel

[Espresso125]

in 57 years of motoring I've only had to change a wheel for a puncture 5 times i remember each of them because i was on particular journeys not run of the mill daily run rounds, so my question is seeing as I've got a holts rescue tyre inflator / sealant you know what i mean i'm going to remove the spare wheel at 15 kgs and rely on the holts product and a cheap electric tyre inflator as seem all new cars is all they have now ….on long journeys (holidays) i suppose i would carry just in case i have a "damaged" wheel
what's your opinion

[gingejbee]

I'd never buy a car without a spare wheel...I specified one on the last three new cars that i've bought...an extra £100 on the last one.
Not including them is simply a cost-cutting move by manufacturers.
I've never used an emergency tyre inflator/gunk and never will.

[vulcan42]

If you have a spare wheel, take it. I was caught out one night when the canister didn't work and on a second occasion it didn't seal the puncture as it was a gash in the side wall.

[elliemay1]

I agree with gingejbee

[ToraToraTora]

I would never go without a spare, asking for trouble.

[bhg481]

If there is any damage to the tyre wall or the puncture is large (eg, a cut) the inflator/sealant method will not work. Even if it does it makes your tyre non-repairable. I've' had my current car for 13 years/200,000 miles and had two incidents. One was a screw in the tyre, which was repairable. The other was a nick in the tyre wall in France which needed a new tyre; without a spare (space-saver) I would have been in a really sticky situation as it was a 40 mile trip to the nearest tyre dealer who would only sell me a pair of tyres and took 2 days to get them. Space-savers are not ideal but better than nothing but avoid sealant/inflator kits like the plague.

[bhg481]

Incidentally, I believe that many of the electric cars use the spare-wheel space for the battery so, if you are thinking of getting any sort of electric car check to see that it has a spare wheel.

[bednobs]

i had a smartie for a while - no spare whel there and i survived

[davebro]

I suppose if you have breakdown cover & the sealant kit doesn't work they would come out for you?

[barry1010]

I always insist on a full size spare wheel and wouldn't drive anywhere without one

[bhg481]

I used to be very anti space-savers but , at least, they get you about until you can get a repair even if you are restricted to 50mph.

[Hymie]

Of course, many cars now come fitted with run-flats fitted as standard. The problem with these is that they are only good for 50 miles or so and cost nearly twice the price of a standard tyre.

[Espresso125]

barry1010
you cant insist on having a spare, the new cars that dont have room for it ,unless your going to carry it loose in the boot ?
i suppose i'll stick with mine

[ToraToraTora]

I would not buy a car that does not have room for a spare.

[youngmafbog]

No room in my BMW, it does have run flats though. Wifes Jag has one of them thin things.

[ToraToraTora]

A lot of jam jars have a space saver, better than nowt I guess.

[youngmafbog]

//and cost nearly twice the price of a standard tyre.//

Not sure they are twice the price any more. Mine are from £175 ea for Bridgestone Potenza S001 (255/35 R19 96Y) which given the last ones have done nearly 25K miles actually isnt that bad.

[youngmafbog]

Part of the reason is many cars have a different size front tyre to the rear. Both our Jag and BMW are like that and so was the SLK we had.

[Hopkirk]

I like to have a spare. It gives me time to shop around if I need a replacement tyre, rather than paying the rip off price when desperate.

[ToraToraTora]

good point hoppy

[barry1010]

Espresso, I would not buy a car that cannot properly carry a full size spare wheel. Even my granddaughter's KA does that