Flat tyre - No spare

wiggers

This is the first time I've had a flat in a car that has no spare by design. Fortunately not too far from home and the get-you-home fluid managed to keep some pressure in until I got home. Contacted a mobile tyre fitter and they came out. They couldn't get an identical tyre so fitted a "budget" one. Still cost me £180 for the privilege!

So what are you supposed to do these days with no spare? You can get the car home but if you need to use it again quickly you have few options.

Car_54

if you have anything more than a small puncture then you won't even get home!

Some options for the future. 

1. Buy a spare wheel if there's space for it. Ebay is a good source. Don't forget you'll need a jack etc.

2. Fit run-flat tyres. 

3. Pray.

HumberFlyer

Buy a spare, put it in the boot. Bought my car 6 weeks ago... had one of those jel things you supposed to put in the tyre that seals a puncture.... dumped it and bought a spacesaver wheel /tyre  and a scissor jack  off ebay £70 .......Done.

JGB1955

Don't buy a car without a spare wheel!  I think it cost something like £100 to ensure I had one.  Money well spent.

On-the-coast

It frustrates me too... I have an EV that has different diameter tyres front and back, so I'd have to take two (at least I'll make sure that the my replacement will have same on all four corners next time - I didn't even think to check. 

wiggers

JGB1955 said:

Don't buy a car without a spare wheel!  I think it cost something like £100 to ensure I had one.  Money well spent.

I had to buy a replacement for my MoT failure in a hurry, didn't realise 'no spare' was even a thing.

FlorayG

Just stupid making cars with no spare. I only every buy old cars anyway so it's not a problem I have but actually, what are people supposed to do?

facade

On-the-coast said:

It frustrates me too... I have an EV that has different diameter tyres front and back, so I'd have to take two (at least I'll make sure that the my replacement will have same on all four corners next time - I didn't even think to check. 

My electrocar has huge wheels, and there is no space for a spare as the battery is in the way.

So any spare, even a spacesaver would just fill up the boot. I measured up and the spacesaver is wider than the space under the false floor. I thought of cutting a big hole in the false floor and then found out that a false floor from a scrapyard is a 3 figure price, never mind one from the manufacturer!

I've got a compressor, a bag of tyre string with the tools & the container of gloop. If I can't sort it with all of those, an AA membership card and a mobile 'phone. (Although there is a special Assistance Button in the car to press- I expect it summons expensive assistance from somewhere...)

born_again

I got a space save & jack from here

https://www.thewheelshop.co.uk/

Other option is breakdown cover. So long as it has that option.

daveyjp

Refuse to buy cars where it isn't an option. I've passed too many cars with flats to believe waiting hours for a rescue for a problem with a simple solution is the way forwards.

fatbelly

I also carry a footpump in each car. If it isn't a catastrophic failure (and I have had one of those) then you can normally get enough air in to drive home or to a garage.