- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
- Messages
- 48,765
- Location
- London
- Car
- 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 RWD / 2016 Suzuki Vitara AWD
I don't see why not, given that quite a few new cars (including some Mercs) no longer have any spare wheel at all - spacesaver or otherwise.
Whether it's a clever thing to do is another question. The tyre sealant spray cans rarely work (I tried it once and failed), and will certainly not help if the tyre is badly damaged or blown off the rim. Plus, my local ATS guys say that the gooey stuff is difficult to remove and can actually damage the tyre making it irreparable.
And, given that I had a puncture just before New Year and had to leave the car in front of the house until yesterday - the spacesaver is good for getting you to the tyre shop but not for generally driving around - I am seriously considering getting a full size steel rim and normal tyre for the spare.
So unless you need the space for LPG conversion I wouldn't remove the spare wheel... my view.
Whether it's a clever thing to do is another question. The tyre sealant spray cans rarely work (I tried it once and failed), and will certainly not help if the tyre is badly damaged or blown off the rim. Plus, my local ATS guys say that the gooey stuff is difficult to remove and can actually damage the tyre making it irreparable.
And, given that I had a puncture just before New Year and had to leave the car in front of the house until yesterday - the spacesaver is good for getting you to the tyre shop but not for generally driving around - I am seriously considering getting a full size steel rim and normal tyre for the spare.
So unless you need the space for LPG conversion I wouldn't remove the spare wheel... my view.
Last edited:
misfire84
Active Member
I did not have a spare in the c32as standard , but now I keep a 'spare wheel' as the tyre seal is ok for small punctures but if its a large hole then you are stuck . and the extra weight helps with traction !!
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2010
- Messages
- 3,205
- Location
- Sussex and Tuscany
- Car
- 2003 W209 CLK, 2005 R171 SLK, Volvo XC40 P8 Twin Motor Pro EV
Depends a bit on the car. I carry sealant in the SLK because even if you do put the spacesaver on the car the original alloy will not go in the boot even if its completely empty. Not sure what MB think you are supposed to do with the wheel you have taken off.
The problem of where to put the punctured wheel is the biggest one .
I have been thinking about this since I bought an LPG kit for my 126 ( to be fitted when the better weather comes ) .
I was thinking of getting a space saver from a breakers yard since I don't fancy relying on the cans . Even if not designed for the car , as long as it fits on and goes round , a space saver would allow me to limp slowly to safety . I can still put a full size wheel in my boot ( had a set of four there during the holidays ) but would not want one constantly there .
I have been thinking about this since I bought an LPG kit for my 126 ( to be fitted when the better weather comes ) .
I was thinking of getting a space saver from a breakers yard since I don't fancy relying on the cans . Even if not designed for the car , as long as it fits on and goes round , a space saver would allow me to limp slowly to safety . I can still put a full size wheel in my boot ( had a set of four there during the holidays ) but would not want one constantly there .
Hi there, I have a C32 AMG estate, where do you put your spare? I thin the space in mine is too small?
Your breakdown service will not tow you home if you get a puncture and your car does not have a spare (if it is supposed to have one).
I learnt this the hard way... luckily it was during the day and they took me to the nearest tyre monkey outfit.... which was almost the same distance as towing me home in the other direction... the daft sods.
I learnt this the hard way... luckily it was during the day and they took me to the nearest tyre monkey outfit.... which was almost the same distance as towing me home in the other direction... the daft sods.
FamilyPack
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2012
- Messages
- 94
- Car
- C350 CDI Sport Estate
If you need to use your space-saver spare, you put the 'real' wheel in the boot.
If the boot is full (which it typically will be) you place the dirty, smelly, large and heavy punctured wheel gently on the lap of your wife / significant other who is sitting in the passenger seat.
If the boot is full (which it typically will be) you place the dirty, smelly, large and heavy punctured wheel gently on the lap of your wife / significant other who is sitting in the passenger seat.
If you need to use your space-saver spare, you put the 'real' wheel in the boot.
If the boot is full (which it typically will be) you place the dirty, smelly, large and heavy punctured wheel gently on the lap of your wife / significant other who is sitting in the passenger seat.
NO YOU DON'T....
Woman killed after tyre explodes inside sports car - The Daily Record
FamilyPack
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2012
- Messages
- 94
- Car
- C350 CDI Sport Estate
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,199
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
It must have been very over inflated to cause bodily damage. Lorry tyres being large and pressurised to over 100 psi can explode badly, but I've never heard of it with a car tyre.
millo777
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
- Messages
- 1,250
- Location
- Swansea, Dubai, Riyadh
- Car
- 1997 W140 S600L/2003 S211 320cdi
I wouldn't recommend the holts tyre weld as I bought a can and left it on a side table briefly while waiting to put it in the other car only for my cat to knock it on the floor and it empty it's rank goo all over the house. Managed to get it outside before too much had escaped. After that I wasn't keen to leave a can in the boot of the car.
I've since gone back to the 15s on the w124 estate as the wider 16s wouldn't fit in the spare tyre space.
I've since gone back to the 15s on the w124 estate as the wider 16s wouldn't fit in the spare tyre space.
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
- Messages
- 48,765
- Location
- London
- Car
- 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 RWD / 2016 Suzuki Vitara AWD
Some years ago I met a young man who had a few fingers missing on one hand. He said that when he was 18 he was sent to pump up the air on the tyres of a light aircraft (Piper Super Cub, for those of you who are following the aircraft thread...), and was told the pressure in psi. Unfortunately he had no training for this and did not realise that the gauge was in bar.... not funny, but could have been worse - he could have died.
Incidentally, I noticed in a HGV garage once that they had a metal cage near the air line supply, and were supposed to place the tyre inside the cage before inflating it. Also, they were told that when inflating tyres on the vehicle, they should kneel to the side of the vehicle and as far away from the wheel as possible, so that no part of their body was right in front of the tyre, then stretch the arm to reach the valve. Nothing of the sort is available in our petrol stations though....
Incidentally, I noticed in a HGV garage once that they had a metal cage near the air line supply, and were supposed to place the tyre inside the cage before inflating it. Also, they were told that when inflating tyres on the vehicle, they should kneel to the side of the vehicle and as far away from the wheel as possible, so that no part of their body was right in front of the tyre, then stretch the arm to reach the valve. Nothing of the sort is available in our petrol stations though....
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,199
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
You don't need such precautions for car tyres, but should always use a cage when blowing up a freshly mounted or ring secured commercial vehicle tyre.
Some years ago ATS (iirc) had a fitter blown through the roof by a tyre exploding, hence the implementation if cages.
I remember puncturing both nearside wheels after running through some nails deposited at the roadside .
I have also had the misfortune of a puncture a couple of days after an earlier one , while my spare was still in the garage being fixed .
In each case I got a family member to bring wheels out , but there can be a genuine reason for not having one .
I once had a car tyre explode whilst inflating it , after noticing it looked soft . Turned out the inner sidewall was damaged , unseen as it was a rear tyre and it blew out with a loud bang . Apart from me just about jumping out of my skin , no harm done and glad it didn't blow when driving on the motorway .
misfire84
Active Member
a standard 17" front fits in the standard wheel well
stroudwaterboy
Member
To answer the original question, no need to carry a spare wheel legally. If you have a spare wheel there is no need for it to be legal if it was fitted to the car either.
Igurisu
Active Member
Not sure if I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. To the best of my knowledge if a spare is in/on the car then it should be legal or it would be an MOT failure. But, there is no legal requirement to carry a spare.
I recall in my early motoring years taking a "bald" spare out of the boot when it was MOT time.
Henry D
Active Member
The spare wheel and its tyre condition is not part of the mot test,doesn't matter if its there or not
