Spare Wheel – Car

[Paul Lousick]

On Paul Lousick Said:

“the mix refers to cross ply and radials on the same axle”   Where can you buy cross ply tyres now days ? Cross-plies were largely replaced by radials in the 1960s and 1970s,

There are lots of information that states that you should avoid mixing different tyre brands and different tread patterns. There are rare exceptions for approved mixed-tyre fittings, but in general, manufacturers do not recommend tyre mixing at all.

I did comment on the rareity of cross ply tyres. I also said mixing makes / tread patterns is not recommended but is not directly illegal (in UK) and referenced the legislation. Did you read the whole post?

I understand that in Germany it is illegal to have even different amounts of wear on the same axle so a non repairable puncture on a part worn set can mean two tyres.
I don’t know the full details such as how much difference or if it only applies to high performance cars.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Same here in France Robert – technically you can’t buy a spare tyre!

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I believe that all wheels since 2012 have pressure sensing valves (except the spare wheel !).  I wonder what the puncture “gloop” does to the sensor?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

At this rate the whole vehicle will soon become one throwaway unit, like televisions and such.

Bringing Eco jobs for the dismantlers of course. 🙂

MichaelG.

[Speedy Builder5]

On Speedy Builder5 Said:

I believe that all wheels since 2012 have pressure sensing valves (except the spare wheel !).  I wonder what the puncture “gloop” does to the sensor?

Not quite. They have to have tyre pressure monitioring. While pressure sensors are the most accurate some cars use the difference in speed as sensed by the ABS system. Low pressure = smaller rolling diameter and higher RPM.
Goop messes up the pressure sensors.

Robert.

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

At this rate the whole vehicle will soon become one throwaway unit, like televisions and such.

Bringing Eco jobs for the dismantlers of course. 🙂

Just look at the cost of ordinary maintenance on common cars and you’ll realise they became throwaways some time ago. Jobs like wet timing belt replacements, new clutches, or the enormous cost of easily damaged LED lamp units.

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

If you use the gloop then getting the puncture fixed costs an arm and a leg as they have to clean it all off, and how do they find where it was leaking. Even getting a new tyre they have to clean it, at least that’s what they told my sister in law.

Yes, I’ve heard that tyre fitters aren’t fond of the stuff. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they charge more due to the extra time taken.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I had a VW passat AUTO and it had five matching alloy Mag wheels and they all had Continental ContiSeal tyres. These have a self seal coating against punctures .It also had pressure check on the wheels. There was also a space to hold the full wheel in the trunk.

David

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

It’s not just cars. In the late ’80s, when being a bit impecunious (new kids) and being between second hand cars, I tried riding a pushbike to work. After a couple of months I gave up due to the expense. I was getting a puncture a week due to swarf on the works roads…

[Nick Wheeler]

On Nick Wheeler Said:

On pgk pgk Said:

I wonder how many people got wiped off the side of their cars on motorways while changing tyres?

Motorways are very dangerous places to be when you’re stationary. You have to consider the risk of changing the wheel compared to waiting an unknown amount of time for a truck to move the car. Personally, I’d change the wheel on my car because I know the spare and the necessary tools are in good condition and I can be gone very quickly.

We shouldn’t have to mention just how stupid waiting in the car is, but there are lots of people who do just that.

Professionally, our policy was to load the car and look at it in a safe place.

Not just on motorways but on country roads too these days. My 14 year old car has a good full sized spare and I keep a bit of pipe in the boot to help undo wheel nuts that have been hammered up with a “windy gun”. But I have also bought a set of those triangle reflector stands to set up behind the  car while I am changing a tyre, if I ever need too.  Two for further back down the road and one for well outboard of the car so it gets hit long before I might. But over the years I have found the best guard against flat tyres — on two or four wheels — is dont run the tyres down to the last bit of tread depth. It seems in my experience, most flat tyres happen on old worn tyres. (But not always, had a tek screw go through a brand new $300 tyre on the motorbike one time, and of course ripped it beyond repairable!). n

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

How far away from the car do you place an emergency triangle? It’s all too common to spot them virtually touching the bumper, instead of the recommended 45metre minimum. Other things to consider are to park the car at an angle which makes it more obviously stationary, and to leave the front wheels turned so the car won’t get pushed out into the traffic if it is hit. That also applies when stopped to cross on coming traffic.

 

The basic 1/2″ windy gun favoured by fast-fit places get a bad rap, as they’re not actually that powerful. A good heave with a 600mm breaker bar is going to tighten a wheelnut much more. I consider a tight fitting alloy wheel that’s corroded onto the hub to be a much bigger problem.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I think folks are missing the point…

Steel ‘space saver’ wheels are cheaper to manufacture than alloy wheels and the tyres are usually skinnier and cheaper.

Nothing to do with the driver’s convenience, everything to do with the makers saving a few bob…

Neil

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Slight digression, my car is now 11 years old and coming up for new front tyres (front wheel drive). The rear tyres are original. Should I put them on the front to wear them out and new ones on the back? I’m sure there must be some effect of age. In days of old we were advised to swap tyres around (including the spare) to even out wear, I never did because then you had to buy 5 in quick succession

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

If the rears are also 11 years old, then they are well past their best even if there’s plenty of tread left. Swapping them to the front after so long can cause all sorts of odd wear and balance issues. So fit a pair to the front and replace the rears when you notice any further degradation(which tends to be subtle and easy to adjust to), but it’s better to replace them all. Yes, I know it’s easy to spend somebody else’s money!

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

Slight digression, my car is now 11 years old and coming up for new front tyres (front wheel drive). The rear tyres are original. Should I put them on the front to wear them out and new ones on the back? I’m sure there must be some effect of age. In days of old we were advised to swap tyres around (including the spare) to even out wear, I never did because then you had to buy 5 in quick succession

That was exactly the advice I received from our local tyre emporium when I took Jane’s original Mk1 Ka in for a new pair of front tyres; those rears were well over 10 years old.
They were aware the car is only used for pottering round and the odd 30 mile trip, otherwise the advice may have been different.
We then wore the very old ones out and have now fitted a new pair to the front a few months later.

Bill

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Plenty of advice about tyres from the AA here:-

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/tyre-life-and-age

[SandgrounderParticipant @sandgrounder]

I don’t know how you can get 11 years out of a tyre, I only do about 5000 miles per year but find degradation of the side walls probably due to sun damage finishes them off , I have had Pirelli Cinturato’s  that failed an MOT because of this after 4 years.

I certainly wouldn’t dream of putting 11 year old  tyres on a car especially the front.

John

[Howi]

On Howi Said

 

there are certain makes and models of tyre that the (tyre)manufacturer says must be fitted in pairs.

 

because there is more profit in 2 tyres

years age when i fitted wide wheels to a triumph Vitesse i asked the police about using an original wheel as a spare they said no problem and added that the reason for the reduced speed on space savers was because they are cheep poor quality tyres.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Yes the spacesavers are very much a “get you home” proposition. Not designed for high speed or prolonged use. And as Neil says, used because they are cheap cheap.

Same with those rubber plug or rubber strand repair kits for tubeless tyres. They work very well at plugging the hole (but not a tear) and once reinflated with the included gas bottle or electric pump the tyre will get you home at a steady pace. But not designed for autobahn storming.

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

I did fail an MOT due to having a different size wheel and tyre on one corner (due to having the alloy off being repaired). I did ask the tester how skinny spares were legal then, he replied “Dunno really”.

Rob

[martin haysom]

On martin haysom Said:

On Howi Said:

there are certain makes and models of tyre that the (tyre)manufacturer says must be fitted in pairs.

 

because there is more profit in 2 tyres

[…]

A little cynical of you, I suspect, Martin

At some levels of performance the tyres are an integral part of vehicle design.

.

Yes, I know it’s ludicrous for a road-car … but as they used to say “racing improves the breed”

MichaelG.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, old or new, your best tyres should be fitted to the back, as this will help stopping you getting into a spin, should you find yourself in a skid situation. All your tyres must be in a legal state of condition though, regardless of how much wear they have.

Regards Nick.

[Grindstone Cowboy]

On Grindstone Cowboy Said:

I did fail an MOT due to having a different size wheel and tyre on one corner (due to having the alloy off being repaired). I did ask the tester how skinny spares were legal then, he replied “Dunno really”.

Rob

Different sized space saver wheels are legal because you are limited to 50MPH / 80 KPH when using them.
You would (should) not pass an MOT with even a marked space saver fitted.

Robert.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

 

A little cynical of you, I suspect, Martin

……..

 

MichaelG.

I’m often accused of being a cynic. I used to be an optimist, but I learned from experience.

Out of the darkness a voice said ‘smile, things could be worse’, so I smiled and lo, things got worse

 
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[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said

A little cynical of you, I suspect, Martin

At some levels of performance the tyres are an integral part of vehicle design.

.

Yes, I know it’s ludicrous for a road-car … but as they used to say “racing improves the breed”

MichaelG.

i can never understand getting advice from a business. its sole purpose is to make profit.

 

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