[M6 crawler]

I have just bought a new Fiesta. It no longer comes with a spare wheel but has an inflator and sealer kit to repair simple punctures.
I think this has far reaching consequences if the sealer doesn't work, even for an RAC turn out.
After 40 years on the road, I cannot feel secure without a spare, which I have since purchased, togeather with jack and brace. Does anyone else feel the same?

[Biffo]

Originally Posted by M6 crawler

I have just bought a new Fiesta. It no longer comes with a spare wheel but has an inflator and sealer kit to repair simple punctures.
I think this has far reaching consequences if the sealer doesn't work, even for an RAC turn out.
After 40 years on the road, I cannot feel secure without a spare, which I have since purchased, togeather with jack and brace. Does anyone else feel the same?

You've done the best thing. Sealer and inflater kit is only good with a puncture that either goes down slowly, or you come out to see the tyre flat. A puncture on a motorway for instance will distroy the tyre, and the sealer kit is a much use as a chocolate fireguard.

[Loony]

The best place for these useless pieces of kit are in the bin.

[ficklejade]

Spare wheel every time!

[Snowball]

I had my last car for 4 years; VW Touran. Best car I have ever had, but 7-seater and no spare wheel; just the inflator kit. By special order through the dealership, a 5-seater with full sized, properly stowed spare wheel is available, and that is what I have now. Only a full sized spare is acceptable to me; important because I tow a caravan, and space-savers are no good here.

[bobtelecom69]

I too have just had the same experience,felt horrified when they showed me the kit in the boot,and told them so ...I dont feel the car is complete without a spare wheel,and the doubts would be always in the mind when using the car so I too have bought a proper spare wheel,cost me £100 approx but worth it for the peace of mind ..black mark to the manufacturers over this :mad:

[M6 crawler]

Originally Posted by Snowball

I had my last car for 4 years; VW Touran. Best car I have ever had, but 7-seater and no spare wheel; just the inflator kit. By special order through the dealership, a 5-seater with full sized, properly stowed spare wheel is available, and that is what I have now. Only a full sized spare is acceptable to me; important because I tow a caravan, and space-savers are no good here.

Didn't realise inflator kits had been around so long. My last car, a Focus had the emergency, narrow spare but the one I have bought for the Fiesta is almost full size.

[Rolebama]

To my knowledge, inflator kits have been used for at least 10yrss, and space savers 20yrs.
With the re-introduction of the run-flat, I don't suppose it will be too long before you get nothing.

[Snowball]

Tyre inflator kits, run-flats, space-savers; these are all temporary get-you-by equipment, with limited speed/mileage until proper repair/replacement, and your legal maximum when using emergency kit could make you vulnerable to further hazardous situations.

I carried a full sized spare in the luggage compartment of my 7-seater VW Touran, but it caused more problems in using the remaining room than may be realised. Also, when we went to France, during arrangements through Red Pennant (CC foreign touring section), I was advised that, if I needed assistance for a puncture and did not have a serviceable spare, there is a surcharge of £100.

Much as we like the Touran, had the 5-seater with full sized spare not been available, it would have been "goodbye Touran".

Unless the EU have the sense to recognise the safety problems associated with not having conventional spare wheels, and introduce regulations to make them a legal requirement in the design and manufacture of new vehicles, I am sure that our choices will dwindle further until no such provision is available for any vehicle.

[Biffo]

It's also worth noticing that "certain" recovery companies will not turn out to a car that was *Sold from new* with a spare wheel, but no longer has one. ie. If the space has been used for LPG tank, and fizzy cans now carried.
They'll also charge you if they turn out and your spare is knackered/illegal and needs a new tyre.(Fee on top of tyre cost)
I don't think the RAC falls into this, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't come in sooner or later.

[Snowball]

Well, unless a driver was so unfortunate as to have another puncture further along the road during the same journey, then he/she deserves to be surcharged. At the end of a trip. the first priority is to get a punctured tyre fixed/replaced.

When a rescue truck is called out to deal with a flat tyre, why should that rescue operative be lumbered with resolving additional problems caused by the laziness of the person and vehicle being rescued?

There is also every chance that the resultant extra time on that job will delay some other driver in need of assistance; or doesn't that matter on the "blow you Jack" principle?

[Biffo]

Oh I agree entirely snowball.
you would be surprised at the number of calls we get from people that are their own demise, they have no recovery either, but expect someone to go to their aid for free, and be there within the next 5 minutes.
They certainly don't like it when they find out how much it'll cost them to get their car back if we have to remove it from the motorway!!

[wagolynn]

I have never heard anyone, in a car showroom; ask if a particular car works what type of spare, MPG, maintenance or repair costs etc. Though the merits of four speakers over six is not unusual.:cool:

[M6 crawler]

Isn't it a condition of the MOT test that a vehicle must carry a servicable spare if provided with the car. So is it illegal not to; and how does this pan out with having an inflator kit instead. Does anyony know the exact wording of the law?

[M6 crawler]

Good point. If more poeople kicked up a fuss with the dealer regarding the lack of a spare maybe the manufacturers would listen.

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by M6 crawler

Good point. If more poeople kicked up a fuss with the dealer regarding the lack of a spare maybe the manufacturers would listen.

Or just don't buy the car!

[ficklejade]

VERY good point!

I'm delighted to say that some of our youthful drivers who are buying cars under a certain company's scheme (obviously profitable for them) to help younger drivers get vehicles in areas where there is precious little transport have asked - where's the spare?! No spare, don't buy.

Frankly with a combination of lousy road surfaces and with the long distances in the Highlands and Islands, you would have to insane not to have a spare. Only once (touch wood) have I had a double puncture; one was a slow, the other deflated fast. Swapped spare onto the disaster tyre and drove slowly, stopping to use tyre inflator every few miles on the slow, for 37 miles before I got a phone signal to get help and that with a child on board. Scary!

[Rolebama]

I have,of late, been toying with the idea of getting another spare and keeping it in the boot. With the way the roads are deteriorating I am certainly looking at a belt-and-braces attitude.

[M6 crawler]

Must admit that Ford do a spare on the Fiesta as an optional extra for £30, although I wasn't told this when I ordered the car even though I expressed concern about the inflator kit!

[DONFRAMAC]

Spare wheel vs inflator kit

In my 5 years driving a Yaris D4-D, with a spacesaver, I was always wary. I later found out that these tyres only last 1200 miles of use, and cost dear to renew.
I bought a new '58 reg Fiesta last September, before the Mk7 came out. My car uses a non-standard wheel/tyre combination and has to be restricted to 50 MPH. The Mk7 gets the same, if you are aware that the option exists (it was free at the start).
I believe that the dealer should be FORCED to disclose safety-related options, and not just this one. They don't even explain how to use the fuel top-up pipe.
Many owners of the Mk7 have resorted to breakers yards for spare-wheels/jack & brace.
Many dealers quote £150 for these, unless factory-ordered.

[Watcher]

Spare Wheel?

If you do a search you'll find that this subject has been done to death already!

Point is, if you use the can of gloop you are going to need a new tyre - use of the stuff makes repair IMPOSSIBLE.

Simple answer, don't buy the car. I didn't; mine has FULL-SIZED spare (alloy) wheel, so they are still available.

Frankly, I couln't give a rat's posterior about how many cup holders or speakers I get - they won't help on a dark, wet winter's night in the middle of no-where!:cool:

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

I have never heard anyone, in a car showroom; ask if a particular car works what type of spare, MPG, maintenance or repair costs etc. Though the merits of four speakers over six is not unusual.:cool:

I didn't give too much concern about my last car not having a spare. I wanted the vehicle, so I bought a full sized spare which I carried in the luggage compartment.

Have you noticed how reasonably sized a wheel appears to be when it's on the car, but "grows" to gigantic proportions in the confines of the boot?

I now have the same model vehicle, but it is a 5-seater with full sized spare.

Rolebama, perhaps they should get back to cars with running boards, and a spare wheel well located in the contours of each of the front mudguards; in addition to one in the boot!!!

[M6 crawler]

After 40 years on the road I assumed the car would have a spare not having come across the inflator before, full size or not as long as it got me home. A full size alloy spare is impressive. What make of car is that on?

[Watcher]

Spare Wheel

Originally Posted by M6 crawler

After 40 years on the road I assumed the car would have a spare not having come across the inflator before, full size or not as long as it got me home. A full size alloy spare is impressive. What make of car is that on?

Volkswagen Passat Highline. Mrs W's Polo also has a full-sized steel spare wheel. Volvo give you the option. Mazda will sell you one (For a few examples).

[Snowball]

My VW Touran (5-seater model) also has an alloy, full sized spare wheel. In fact, the whole Touran range now has alloys as standard.