Spare wheel

DavidT67

Fair enough, not MPG then but maybe cost and boot space.

alfie1950

When buying a new car the manufacturer usually gives the option of whether to have a spare or not.
However to keep the price of the sale as low as possible a lot of salesman don't even point this out to the customer.. therefore reducing the price by £300-£400.
You can usually get a brand new steel wheel from somewhere like Oponeo for £30-£40 and a budget tyre should cost no more than £45. As previously stated I would have thought that you would have a spare jack and tools .
As a side comment , the two times I have needed to use an inflation kit ( not my cars ) they didn't work and as far as I'm concerned they are useless especially considering that a replacement canister costs around £60 ...more than the price of a tyre.

sheramber

The spray might be okay for a nail in the tyre but is not much good when you rip the tyre.

We ripped two at once. The breakdown service guy told us he regularly gets called out for punctured tyres and when he arrives the person is watching the stuff runout of the tyre and flow down the road.

There is no loss of space in the boot as the original space for the spare under the boot floor is still there.

Carrot007

DavidT67 wrote: »

Hmm, well Mercedes felt it was worth reducing their 'standard' fuel tank size from 66 to 50 and then 40 litres to make their MPG figures look better. So circa 10 kilos for a spare wheel and associated packaging was no doubt factored in also.

The tests for MPG are done with everything that can be removed, removed. A fuel tank is sort of important. A spare tyre not so much. MPG figures are pretty much unachievable because of this. They could supply a spare if they wanted to and still clim the same MPG.
So yes, cost.

50Twuncle

alfie1950 wrote: »

When buying a new car the manufacturer usually gives the option of whether to have a spare or not.
However to keep the price of the sale as low as possible a lot of salesman don't even point this out to the customer.. therefore reducing the price by £300-£400.
You can usually get a brand new steel wheel from somewhere like Oponeo for £30-£40 and a budget tyre should cost no more than £45. As previously stated I would have thought that you would have a spare jack and tools .
As a side comment , the two times I have needed to use an inflation kit ( not my cars ) they didn't work and as far as I'm concerned they are useless especially considering that a replacement canister costs around £60 ...more than the price of a tyre.

Halfords sell inflation canisters for £10 - what's the difference ?

AdrianC

50Twuncle wrote: »

Halfords sell inflation canisters for £10 - what's the difference ?

The brand on the side of the can.

Perhaps also whether it fits neatly in the slot in the boot.

50Twuncle

AdrianC wrote: »

The brand on the side of the can.

Perhaps also whether it fits neatly in the slot in the boot.

In any case - I have never used a can to inflate a tyre and understand that most motoring organisations advise against using them ...
I wouldn't want to try driving on one - they destroy the tyre anyway

AdrianC

If it's a relative minor leak, then it'll get you mobile rather than waiting for recovery to get to you and lend you a one-size-fits-all spare or take you to a tyre place.


If it's a major leak, it might not fix it, and you're in the same position as if you didn't even try.

The one thing you can't do is then repair the tyre - but if it deflated completely while you're moving, it's almost certainly knackered anyway. The inside of the wheel may need cleaning up.

Iceweasel

50Twuncle wrote: »

In any case - I have never used a can to inflate a tyre and understand that most motoring organisations advise against using them ...
I wouldn't want to try driving on one - they destroy the tyre anyway

No - they do not destroy the tyre - if used correctly.

It's the tyre fitters who refuse to clean the tyre out afterwards - as per the instructions of the manufacturer of the inflation kit.

I've used the kit in Austria and the fitters never batted an eye - they put on neoprene gloves and washed all the liquid out. they had a big tank to work in and catch all the liquid.

Tyre was then repaired as normal.

The kits work fine if you follow the instructions carefully - position of tyre valve etc.

If the kit doesn't seal the hole then the tyre is beyond repair anyway.

I have runflat tyres, carry a spacesaver, and have an inflation kit.

The runflats are for Mrs Iceweasel's benefit as I would rather change the wheel if possible as running any distance on a runflat means you have to replace it.

Again in the UK we have a problem with tyre fitters and runflats - they wont even consider repairing a simple puncture.

They are no different to repair than conventional tyres - following an internal inspection of course.

I've had runflats successfully repaired twice - outside the UK.

50Twuncle

Iceweasel wrote: »

No - they do not destroy the tyre - if used correctly.

It's the tyre fitters who refuse to clean the tyre out afterwards - as per the instructions of the manufacturer of the inflation kit.

I've used the kit in Austria and the fitters never batted an eye - they put on neoprene gloves and washed all the liquid out. they had a big tank to work in and catch all the liquid.

Tyre was then repaired as normal.

The kits work fine if you follow the instructions carefully - position of tyre valve etc.

If the kit doesn't seal the hole then the tyre is beyond repair anyway.

I have runflat tyres, carry a spacesaver, and have an inflation kit.

The runflats are for Mrs Iceweasel's benefit as I would rather change the wheel if possible as running any distance on a runflat means you have to replace it.

Again in the UK we have a problem with tyre fitters and runflats - they wont even consider repairing a simple puncture.

They are no different to repair than conventional tyres - following an internal inspection of course.

I've had runflats successfully repaired twice - outside the UK.

https://www.national.co.uk/information/run-flat-tyres
says

"Can Run Flat tyres be repaired? In line with most leading tyre retailers, National Tyres will not repair a run flat tyre following a puncture. Most manufacturers advise against repairing run flat tyres. If the deflated tyre has been driven on, it could have compromised its strength, and it is impossible for a fitter to know if the tyre was driven on for longer/faster than recommended after a puncture. For a brand specific answer you can contact the manufacturers below, but generally it will be hard to find a retailer who will be willing to repair a run flat tyre."