New tyres?

red_eye

AliceBanned wrote: »

Hi

Someone pointed out a flat tyre yesterday when I was driving my car (a Ford SportKA) - it wasn't completely flat otherwise I would have noticed it, but I had noticed a different sound very slightly when I had the window open, (had no idea this could be tyre related but on hindsight it probably was) and thought I should take it in for an interim service. I pumped it up and drove home (ten miles) and it still looked ok.

I bought the car two years ago, and have done 15,000 miles in it. It passed the MOT in Feb. Not sure when the tyres were last replaced (full mileage 78000).

It last had a full service nearly a year ago. I know it is probably due an interim service but I can't afford this for another couple of months. Should I get the tyre checked out? It pumped up no problem so there was no obvious leak. I wonder whether a slow puncture or even just my neglect and it had gone down. I only drive it about 4 miles a day during the week but the week after next I'll be doing about 40.

how flat? running a tyre completely flat will rapidly wear the inside of the tyre.
Not completely flat you would be on the sidewalls while cornering wearing the sidewalls and risk overheating.

AliceBanned

When I first noticed it, it had been parked for two days, and the bottom was completely flat. We weren't able to do anything with it- it didn't respond to pumping at all.

SteveJW

AliceBanned wrote: »

Mine isn't a slow puncture though. It is flat, and when i tried to pump it up on the day I needed to go on holiday, it wouldn't, which is why my friend put the spare on.

You stated it was to late to do anything about the puncture so you went off without a spare tyre, what would you have done if you had another puncture?
Most people when inflating / checking tyres lose a little air when either putting the infator on or removing it. Inflate a tyre to the correct pressure, remove the inflator, put it back on I bet you have lost a couple of psi

arcon5

Those cans of temporary fix things are usually pretty easy to come by

AliceBanned

SteveJW wrote: »

You stated it was to late to do anything about the puncture so you went off without a spare tyre, what would you have done if you had another puncture?
Most people when inflating / checking tyres lose a little air when either putting the infator on or removing it. Inflate a tyre to the correct pressure, remove the inflator, put it back on I bet you have lost a couple of psi

Err..that's what the spare is for - to use as a last resort. Otherwise we would all carry two spares.

It just didn't inflate - if it is completely flat it is unlikely surely?

SteveJW

AliceBanned wrote: »

Err..that's what the spare is for - to use as a last resort. Otherwise we would all carry two spares.

The way I read the OP, the poster loaded up to go on holiday, set of on holiday, travelled down the M25, covered over 200 miles and did not have a spare.
I don't think this was a last resort
Suppose its academic didn't have a jack either

Iceweasel

SteveJW wrote: »

The way I read the OP, the poster loaded up to go on holiday, set of on holiday, travelled down the M25, covered over 200 miles and did not have a spare.
I don't think this was a last resort
Suppose its academic didn't have a jack either

And by my reading it was narrow spacesaver spare tyre clearly marked 80kph which is 50mph maximum speed.

Despite what any police officer said it is not suitable for 70mph on a motorway.

AliceBanned

Iceweasel wrote: »

And by my reading it was narrow spacesaver spare tyre clearly marked 80kph which is 50mph maximum speed.

Despite what any police officer said it is not suitable for 70mph on a motorway.

For your info, I was doing 50mph on the m25. Because of this the traffic cops pulled me over. They saw that other motorists were endangering me and didn't give a toss. It wasn't ideal but I was going on a volunteering holiday and should have been there by 6pm. The cops checked the tyre and said that the 80kph sticker on the wheel did not apply, as a road tyre had been put on it, and encouraged me to drive up to 70mph and said there was no urgency about replacing it. Otherwise I would have borrowed some money and changed it when I got there if I had time. It is 100 miles each way.

I would have held off and got it replaced sooner, but I had no money for this, was down to my last £40 which I needed on holiday. I suppose I'll get sanctimonious responses about that fact as well, but I made sure the vehicle was roadworthy. I asked for info re the tyres on here, not for moral judgements on how I have to live my life.

AliceBanned

SteveJW wrote: »

The way I read the OP, the poster loaded up to go on holiday, set of on holiday, travelled down the M25, covered over 200 miles and did not have a spare.
I don't think this was a last resort
Suppose its academic didn't have a jack either

No, I covered 10 miles at 50mph before being stopped by the police, who had no problem at all with me driving another 90 miles to the coast and back, and informed me that the spare was a normal road tyre so I could drive up to 70mph. How am I to know this - the guy who sold me the car or whoever had it before had done this (including removing the jack) - I don't know the difference but the traffic cops clearly know more about it and have seen it so I am reassured it is fine.

It was a last resort because I was supposed to be there that evening and don't have money until Friday when I get paid - that's a separate issue which I am dealing with and beginning to sort out but takes time. I bought my car not knowing there was no jack. I have never had a puncture in a car in my life and I am sure plenty of other people are not prepared for one either. I will be getting a jack on Friday. Next time I will know what to do.

Iceweasel

AliceBanned wrote: »

For your info, I was doing 50mph on the m25. Because of this the traffic cops pulled me over. They saw that other motorists were endangering me and didn't give a toss. It wasn't ideal but I was going on a volunteering holiday and should have been there by 6pm. The cops checked the tyre and said that the 80kph sticker on the wheel did not apply, as a road tyre had been put on it, and encouraged me to drive up to 70mph and said there was no urgency about replacing it. Otherwise I would have borrowed some money and changed it when I got there if I had time. It is 100 miles each way.

I would have held off and got it replaced sooner, but I had no money for this, was down to my last £40 which I needed on holiday. I suppose I'll get sanctimonious responses about that fact as well, but I made sure the vehicle was roadworthy. I asked for info re the tyres on here, not for moral judgements on how I have to live my life.

Excuse me If I have offended you - but I have made no moral judgment of you at all - far from it. My apologies if you think I have.

I can totally empathise with you being short of cash at the time to get a repair or a new tyre fitted.

But please believe me a wheel marked 80kph is designed as a temporary spare and is not meant to be used at higher speeds than 80kph which is 50mph.

They are normally very narrow rims (only 3 to 4") and I didn't think that a normal speed limit tyre could be fitted.

The do normally have the max speed marked in both units.

That was why I was surprised that a motorway patrol would say it was safe for motorway speeds.

They are correct in saying it is a 'road-tyre' though.

This is very interesting for me - I would love to see a pic of the tyre and wheel combination - or even details of the tyre size from the sidewall - not to correct you or criticise you in any way - but for my benefit and information.

In the Continental Tyre Company data book they do not list any tyre that could be fitted to such a 80kph marked rim - other than a temporary spare with a speed restriction.