Mobile Tyre repair

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by rhyds

Sealant foam is the same stuff as those old cans of "Holt's tyreweld" you could buy. As Osem mentions its designed for sealing around small punctures, such as something like a nail or screw in a tyre and its only designed to get you to the nearest tyre change place at low speed (much lower than a spacesaver I believe). Any other damage such as a torn sidewall or buckled wheel (very common with potholes) leaves you stranded.

Personally, I've got a full size steel spare in my car (2004 Focus) which I picked up off a friend. The standard spacesaver then went in my mum's car (2013 Fiesta) which only had sealant, and then we put together a wheelbrace and jack to change it.

Basically it boils down to this: Do you mostly drive in populated areas or urban areas? If its urban areas sealant and something like basic "call out" RAC/AA (with its 8 mile towing limit) will probably do you OK. If on the other hand you spend a lot of time out in the sticks, especially in areas with no mobile phone reception, then a spare wheel of some description is vital.

---------- Post added at 09:05 ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 ----------



I don't think there's any legal requirements regarding spacesavers, just that manufacturers require lower speeds due to the relative size difference between the spare and a normal wheel.

What you might find though is that the spare wheel well in the boot either isn't there at all, or only deep enough for a space saver wheel. Some cars come with collapsible spare wheels to help get around this. I'd ask around the model specific forums for an answer.

Personally, a spacesaver is the minimum I'll accept in a car I'm driving. At least with that you can get the car down in to town and get the other tyre fixed.

On my space saver wheel there is a marking of 50 mph max, in the car hand book it says if sealant kit is used drive for max of 8 miles before getting the tire replaced and keep the speed very low.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

My point being is my wheels are 19in, not sure if i could get a space saver or they would have put 1 in the car, maybe it is to do with a cars power i really dont know.

I should have googled this along time ago but the car now needs changing with 94k on it and i do 18k a year.

I've seem them on sale via Ebay. I did read somewhere IIRC that if the car has super Brembo brakes (whatever they are lol) and the puncture is on a front tyre one of the rear wheels will need to be put on the front and the spacesaver spare used to replace it on the back of the car. No idea if that's true.

[Taf]

The only time I saw tyre sealant put to use, the can had lost pressure and so it wouldn't work at all. I was told that keeping the can in a car boot over ONE hot summer destroys it. So where else are you supposed to store it?

Air-filled tyres are old hat, where are the run-flat ones?

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by Taf

The only time I saw tyre sealant put to use, the can had lost pressure and so it wouldn't work at all. I was told that keeping the can in a car boot over ONE hot summer destroys it. So where else are you supposed to store it?

Air-filled tyres are old hat, where are the run-flat ones?

The run flat tires for my car were over £20 dearer.
.

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Taf

The only time I saw tyre sealant put to use, the can had lost pressure and so it wouldn't work at all. I was told that keeping the can in a car boot over ONE hot summer destroys it. So where else are you supposed to store it?

Air-filled tyres are old hat, where are the run-flat ones?

They do expire, i think i was told last year that it expires soon, i have no plans on replacing it as i will use the RAC or drive on a flat if i can, hopefully it wont fail the MOT because of it.

[Taf]

I made the mistake of putting an anti leak mix into my motorbike tyres many years ago. A green liquid full of fine fibres. Any puncture would be immediately clogged with the fibres.

In it went for a service and the mech checked the tyre pressures. The fibres blocked the valves as soon as he placed the pressure tester on them.

He had to drill out the valves to deflate the inner tubes to replace both valves and inner tubes.

[Buzzby]

Can we still now get the plug kit.

I bought a BMW bike in 1984 which came with a tubeless repair kit. It has no foam but will mark the hole, clean it out apply adhesive into it and then insert a plug in the hole, finally trimming it flush. It also came with sparklet bulbs and an adaptor for reinflation.

This item was TUV approved and fitted in a small wallet. I had only used it once but it worked well.

Perhaps someone out there can tell me if there is an equivelant for cars. My current car has a full size spare so I dont need one.

[tweetiepooh]

I have a full sized spare as it was standard on my car BUT

When I did get a puncture could I get the wheel off? The nice RAC man came and even with his longer arm tool had to put all his weight on the nuts to loosen them.

I'd still want a full size spare for my car though, even calling out the RAC to do the work if needed I can then continue journey and get tyre replaced where and when I want (within reason).

[heero_yuy]

Some tyre replacement dealers just go mad with the power wrenches. It's often a good idea, especially if you have alloy wheels, to just slacken the nuts/bolts and then retighten in diagonal order with a torque wrench. Then with luck they won't be so tight when the time comes, usually on a wet, dark evening.

Fortunately with the independant dealer that I go to, they do this correctly.

[Taf]

Is Copper Ease on wheel nuts a good idea?

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Taf

Is Copper Ease on wheel nuts a good idea?

I've tended to use some graphited grease but copperslip should also be good.

[rhyds]

I'd definitely put some copper grease between the nuts and the wheel face, and on the hub itself on alloys, to stop them corroding together (which is another cause of stuck wheels)

---------- Post added at 14:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:11 ----------

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

I have a full sized spare as it was standard on my car BUT

When I did get a puncture could I get the wheel off? The nice RAC man came and even with his longer arm tool had to put all his weight on the nuts to loosen them.

I'd still want a full size spare for my car though, even calling out the RAC to do the work if needed I can then continue journey and get tyre replaced where and when I want (within reason).

Yep, even if you can't change the wheel yourself you at least have something to get the car moving again once help arrives.

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

I have a full sized spare as it was standard on my car BUT

When I did get a puncture could I get the wheel off? The nice RAC man came and even with his longer arm tool had to put all his weight on the nuts to loosen them.

I'd still want a full size spare for my car though, even calling out the RAC to do the work if needed I can then continue journey and get tyre replaced where and when I want (within reason).

Happened to me the other week after a nail went through the rear offside. Couldn't shift any of the nuts even with the torque wrench I keep in the boot so had to get my mate to come out with a breaker bar. Fortunately it was only 10 minutes from home.

Ironically it was the place I bought a new set of wheels from who had gone mad with the windy gun (well known performance car parts "specialist" ...ahem)

[Osem]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

I have a full sized spare as it was standard on my car BUT

When I did get a puncture could I get the wheel off? The nice RAC man came and even with his longer arm tool had to put all his weight on the nuts to loosen them.

I'd still want a full size spare for my car though, even calling out the RAC to do the work if needed I can then continue journey and get tyre replaced where and when I want (within reason).

I've found one of those telescopic wheel braces worth it's weight in gold, loads more leverage.

[Hom3r]

Whenever I have had a tyre replaced I have asked them to torque wrench them on.