Flat tyre - No spare

FlorayG

I do carry a spare ( and yes @35har1old my vehicle is over 15 years old) but do I read this correctly that if you have a car with no spare and the 'fits 90%' that recovery carries doesn't fit your car then you are just left stranded?
I've not had a flat for years but at one point, due to tractors shedding bits of their equipment all over the road, I had 3 in a month. This was in the days when all cars had a spare but what would happen now?

subjecttocontract

I'm pretty sure that any new car that doesn't come with a spare wheel does come with a repair kit. If the car is 2nd hand it's up to the buyer to ensure the repair kit is available. If you carry a spare wheel and get a puncture there is a far better chance that you will be on your way in half an hour. A repair kit may not work and calling out recovery may mean a much longer wait. Fortunately most of us don't get punctures very often.

poppasmurf_bewdley

My Ford S-Max doesn't have a spare.  I've not had a puncture for more than 11 years. I carry an electric pump. Isn't this why I pay Green Flag for a get me home service? 

wiggers

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

My Ford S-Max doesn't have a spare.  I've not had a puncture for more than 11 years. I carry an electric pump. Isn't this why I pay Green Flag for a get me home service? 

OK, but once you're home what do you do if that's your only car? You can't drive to a tyre fitter to replace it as you would if you had a spare.

subjecttocontract

An electric pump might be as useful as a chocolate teapot if you have a hole in your tyre.
........and you may have to wait a couple of hours for recovery to arrive.

Car_54

wiggers said:

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

My Ford S-Max doesn't have a spare.  I've not had a puncture for more than 11 years. I carry an electric pump. Isn't this why I pay Green Flag for a get me home service? 

OK, but once you're home what do you do if that's your only car? You can't drive to a tyre fitter to replace it as you would if you had a spare.

A tyre company will come to you. For a price.

wiggers

Car_54 said:

wiggers said:

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

My Ford S-Max doesn't have a spare.  I've not had a puncture for more than 11 years. I carry an electric pump. Isn't this why I pay Green Flag for a get me home service? 

OK, but once you're home what do you do if that's your only car? You can't drive to a tyre fitter to replace it as you would if you had a spare.

A tyre company will come to you. For a price.

Exactly. It cost me £180 for one budget tyre when a few months ago I got a pair of upper-mid-range tyres for £190.

photome

wiggers said:

Car_54 said:

wiggers said:

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

My Ford S-Max doesn't have a spare.  I've not had a puncture for more than 11 years. I carry an electric pump. Isn't this why I pay Green Flag for a get me home service? 

OK, but once you're home what do you do if that's your only car? You can't drive to a tyre fitter to replace it as you would if you had a spare.

A tyre company will come to you. For a price.

Exactly. It cost me £180 for one budget tyre when a few months ago I got a pair of upper-mid-range tyres for £190.

Wish I could get a pair of mid range types for £190 , just put 2 uniroyals on (they are mid range) for close to £300

Ditzy_Mitzy

wiggers said:

I've changed wheels at the roadside but the issue is usually being unable to undo the nuts with the pathetic wrench they provide. Or breaking the weld the last tyre fitters used,,,

I used to have a 12-volt impact wrench* that plugged into the cigarette lighter.  It was a cheap thing, but worked perfectly well when needed.  I have changed wheels at the side of the road and once, memorably, under a chain store's entrance canopy 'cause it was raining!

My car does have a space-saver type spare wheel.  God knows what condition the tyre is in, however, as it's as old as the car. 

*anyone can do anything with the right tools!  In fairness, I usually have to employ a stronger helper when tackling mechanical work, but having small hands and wrists has enabled the accomplishment of intricate tasks beyond the ken of the average grease monkey.  Swings and roundabouts... 

Ectophile

fatbelly said:

I carry a spider type wheel wrench with me as you can get more leverage with it.

I have had wheel nuts that defeated me using only a spider type wheel wrench.  I ended up buying a telescopic L shaped one.