SPARE TYRE and WHEEL WHICH SYSTEM DOES YOUR CAR HAVE?
WHICH SPARE TYRE SYSTEM DOES YOUR CAR HAVE?
As a tyre retailer for 40 years, this is an increasing problem for the modern motorist. When the car manufacturers had to make their cars lighter. So that they could hit their emission targets. Considering many ways to lighten the weight of their cars to make them more emissions friendly. Including other different ways of doing without a SPARE TYRE and wheel.
Today’s problem has been that the car makers did not come up with any universal and unified method of doing this. So different cars have differing systems for the replacement of your spare tyre. Consequently, the problem is that when you buy a car it is the last thing on your mind. Off course, to check out the spare wheel system for that particular model of car.
Space saver; flat tyre systems.
This was one of the first ideas to come from the car manufacturers. In theory the idea is not too bad. If you look into your boot you will see a very thin looking wheel.
With a thin looking car tyre that actually resembles a motor bike tyre. The wheels are usually painted a bright colour, bright red or bright blue, to distinguish the spare wheel from the wheels on the car. The space saver car SPARE TYRE is a different size to the rest of the tyres on the car, but is the same overall diameter (height) so that when it is fitted to the car then it keeps a balanced driver experience, when the wheel is being driven on. The space saver spare tyre is regulated to 50 MPH when used because the tyre is much thinner and can only carry the cars weight at a slower speed. Once the tyre is fitted it is important to get your original puncture fixed and return it to the car, this will not then restrict your speed.
Run Flat tyre system
The cars that are fitted with Bridgestone Run Flat Tyres do not have a spare tyre at all. The technology is in the actual tyres. When you get a puncture in a run flat the increased strength in the tyres structure. Consequently and supports the weight of the cars weight without having any air in. This is only a temporary fix. Thus, once again the car must not exceed 50 MPH. The other downside of the run flat tyres. Of course, is that because the tyre has been run on. Unfortunately, they are usually damaged beyond repair and a new one is required. The main advantage is.Subsequently, if you do get a puncture then you can just drive the car at 50 MPH. Importantly, in relative safety without the car deviating and the driver having to get out of the car and changing a wheel.
Emergency tyre repair kit spare tyre system
This is simply a can of tyre repair solution that you screw onto the tyres valve and it release a solution into the tyre a hopefully seals the hole that has caused the puncture. In my opinion this is the most unsatisfactory system. In the perfect scenario when you just have small nail or screw in the centre of your tyre, then the repair kit would probably work, but this is not the usual case.
Side wall damage
So in all my experience, most tyres succumb to side wall damage. Including, larger repairs that the emergency repair kit will not be able to cope with. The last car that I had with this system was a Nisan Juke. Because we travel to France a couple of times a year, we needed a spare tyre so we found an alloy wheel that fitted the studs and fitted a new spare tyre, you will also need a small jack and a wheel brace, because these are not supplied by the car manufacturers. This is an easy thing to do if you have a friendly tyre retailer and well worth the effort to cover yourself in case you have a dreaded puncture in the middle of nowhere.
The main gist of this though is to make sure you know which spare tyre system that is provided with your car and familiarize with it. Some car owners are lucky enough to have the old fashioned spare wheel fitted complete with a jack and a wheel brace.