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Excellent article on the de-merits of buying a car with no spare wheel

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,488 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Shocking, how would anyone pay money for a new premium brand car without a jack or wheel brace...
    You have to bear in mind the car does not come with a jack or a wheel brace so you now have to see if you can get a mobile unit to come to replace the tyre and we were told it would take 17 days.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,378 ✭✭✭pred racer


    Ive got no spare wheel.
    last puncture I had was a blowout, luckily enough I was outside the garage when it happened!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,903 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    Their argunment is reactive rather than proactive. I'd bet that they didn't research or check if the car had a spare before they bought it, so it's all to easy to go on a rant and blame the manufacturer now. They didn't force them to buy the car. They could have negotiated a spare wheel into the deal or bought one second hand if they felt it was an issue or bought amother car that has a spare as standard.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,316 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Interesting that that were more worried about having matching tread on the front wheels. Aren't mercs usually RWD?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,491 ✭✭✭Seweryn


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Interesting that that were more worried about having matching tread on the front wheels. Aren't mercs usually RWD?
    Usually, yes. But front or rear axle, the good practice is to have the same tyres on both sides. I wouldn't like to have it any other way.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,316 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    So why the need to swap them around I wonder?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,015 ✭✭✭Paulzx


    Their argunment is reactive rather than proactive. I'd bet that they didn't research or check if the car had a spare before they bought it, so it's all to easy to go on a rant and blame the manufacturer now. They didn't force them to buy the car. They could have negotiated a spare wheel into the deal or bought one second hand if they felt it was an issue or bought amother car that has a spare as standard.


    There's still no place to put a spare wheel even if you manage to get one as part of the deal.

    Personally i think it's nuts not having a spare even if its only a spacesaver


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,487 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    Seweryn wrote: »
    Usually, yes. But front or rear axle, the good practice is to have the same tyres on both sides. I wouldn't like to have it any other way.

    Another good reason to have a spare.
    If you have a totaled tyre and have no spare you will end up buying whatever is in the tyre place if you need to get back on the road immediately. If you have a spare you at least have some breathing space to source the tyre you want.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,903 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    Paulzx wrote: »
    There's still no place to put a spare wheel even if you manage to get one as part of the deal.

    Personally i think it's nuts not having a spare even if its only a spacesaver

    Then if not having a spare wheel irked them enough to write an article for the Indo, they should have done more research on the success of the foam kits or bought another car imo.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,891 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    My car has no spare wheel and i'm thinking of buying one . I do have the can of puncture repair in boot ,paid nearly 15e in auto factors .
    If I do buy one ,don't know where to put it


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,903 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    My car has no spare wheel and i'm thinking of buying one . I do have the can of puncture repair in boot ,paid nearly 15e in auto factors .
    If I do buy one ,don't know where to put it

    In the boot would be the best place :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,793 ✭✭✭Red Kev


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Interesting that that were more worried about having matching tread on the front wheels. Aren't mercs usually RWD?

    When you hit the brakes most of the braking force is exerted on the front wheels due to weight shifting onto the front axle. That's why you have bigger dics on the front than the back and why you should have good tryes on the front to avoid the car moving to one side under braking.

    Different tyres and the same tyres with different thread depths will brake differently, which can be crucial in an emergency braking scenario.

    I always put new tyres on the front axle and move the front ones to the back if they're the same size.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,159 ✭✭✭pajo1981


    I use rfts. I have no spare wheel. Couldn't care less. Last time I got a puncture, I drove to the nearest tyre place, and they repaired it. Much easier than putting in a spare at the side of the road. The repaired tyre worked fine until I replaced them all several thousand miles later.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    pajo1981 wrote: »
    I use rfts. I have no spare wheel. Couldn't care less. Last time I got a puncture, I drove to the nearest tyre place, and they repaired it. Much easier than putting in a spare at the side of the road. The repaired tyre worked fine until I replaced them all several thousand miles later.

    Downside of run flats is a much harder ride and road noise. They are pretty unbearable on the E87 1-Series and everyone I know has taken them off, including myself. Open to correction but I've never seen a performance tyre in a run flat either e.g. Eagle F1s etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,159 ✭✭✭pajo1981


    ironclaw wrote: »
    Downside of run flats is a much harder ride and road noise. They are pretty unbearable on the E87 1-Series and everyone I know has taken them off, including myself. Open to correction but I've never seen a performance tyre in a run flat either e.g. Eagle F1s etc.

    Recently picked up new generation rtfs, and I have to say the gap is closing. They are almost as quiet as the previous non-rfts I used and the ride is pretty much as good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,015 ✭✭✭Paulzx


    Then if not having a spare wheel irked them enough to write an article for the Indo, they should have done more research on the success of the foam kits or bought another car imo.

    I agree with you.

    My comment was a more general one aimed at the ridiculousness of a car not having some form of spare wheel.

    Personally i wouldn't buy a car without one


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,066 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    Have rft's on my own yoke. Six months in I replaced them as they needed doing. Missus is driving it one day and gets a puncture. Was close to an Advance / Fast Fit and they told her they don't repair rft's and she would need a new tyre (which is technically correct). Was only a few k from home so told her to drive on.

    Called the garage I got them in (non franchised) and they said they would repair it if the damage wasn't near the sidewall. Got it sorted for a tenner. Subsequently discovered that I actually have a spacesaver which was an optional extra. If I'd known that in the first place I would have got regular tyres. :(

    I don't mind the rft's at all but the fact that you're supposed to replace after a puncture is nuts. Also if you did replace the car wouldn't brake straight due to different tread depths. On top of that if the garage didn't have a matching tyre you would have to get another then replace same. If you were to go by the book a puncture could set you back €400+!!! :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭TBi


    Red Kev wrote: »
    .

    I always put new tyres on the front axle and move the front ones to the back if they're the same size.

    I always put the new tyres on the back. Might take a little longer to slow down but in corners I'd rather understeer than oversteer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,891 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    In the boot would be the best place :)

    I sacrifice a small boot for a larger interior , so boot not suitable for spare wheel when there is no hollow area


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,234 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    My 2010 Mazda 6 hatchback came with sealant/electric pump kit however there is space for a full size 18" spare wheel and there is a jack in the boot.
    I have a 17" wheel in it as I would never rely on the kit especially on a longer journey.

    On the article, it's far from being excellent. It's basically one solitary ignorant persons experience and not reflective of most people's actions following a puncture. Anyone who has to spend 5 days without a car because of a puncture has no one to blame but themselves. Any sensible person would have gotten a tyre within a day or two and wouldn't have needed to call the dealership to sort it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,505 ✭✭✭✭Blazer


    pajo1981 wrote: »
    Recently picked up new generation rtfs, and I have to say the gap is closing. They are almost as quiet as the previous non-rfts I used and the ride is pretty much as good.

    definitely...as for winter tyres the runflats especially the dunlops i found fantastic..excellent grip and braking..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,256 ✭✭✭Andrewf20


    This crap annoys the hell out of me with new cars. The weight of a wheel is probably 15kg vs the cars weight of 1400kg (roughly 1% of cars weight) so I cant imagine it makes a huge difference in fuel consumption.

    Its the same crap with new cars not having dip sticks. How do you check the colour / condition of the oil.

    Ill stick with my 1996 run around, thank you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭Grolschevik


    In the boot would be the best place

    You could lash four of them to an old-fashioned frame roofrack!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,903 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    You could lash four of them to an old-fashioned frame roofrack!

    Or bolt it down onto the bonnet like a Land Cruiser kitted out for a Safari.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,793 ✭✭✭Red Kev


    Or on top of the boot like the Rover P6.

    Or under the bonnet like loads of French cars, which means on a cold winter day the spare is nice and warm if you need to change it. The French think of these little things (and neglect the big stuff).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭run_Forrest_run


    Andrewf20 wrote: »
    Its the same crap with new cars not having dip sticks. How do you check the colour / condition of the oil.

    what's this now? Seriously, no dip stick on newer cars? ah c'mon now, that's madness if it's true.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 892 ✭✭✭BlinkingLights


    It's just a way of cheating the emissions tests by reducing the weight ever so slightly.

    Spare wheel needs to be legislated for as essential equipment that's part of the car.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,487 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    I hope that was a poor attempt at humour, if not its a terrible trolling attempt.

    How so?

    The manufacturers get the car classified for emissions and measure the boot space without the spare wheel and then offer to sell you a wheel as an option which puts the weight back up and reduces the boot space.

    That's just a three card trick.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,567 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    You shouldn't repair a RFT, most manufacturers will state that, any compromise in the tyre and they are toast. Having said that I've had a RFT plugged and no issues, had the plug kit, mini compressor and a can of tyre foam as my emergency kit. Got a nail stuck in rear tyre when I was out and about, got the dash warning, spotted the culprit and pulled it out with the pliers in the car toolkit, plugged the hole, pumped up and minimal drama.

    3 out of my 4 cars didn't come with a spare wheel. One is currently on run flats, removed the run flats on another and bought a space saver which is sitting in the shed), this is the one i had the nail in the tyre. The final one didn't come with a spare and wasn't designed to run on run flats, you just got a can of goo and a compressor. I'd say the goo is out of date at this stage, if I get a flat in it I'll be calling breakdown truck and dropping it to my driveway until I can get the right 285/35/19 tyre to match up.


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