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Author Topic: Worth ditching the spare wheel?  (Read 2380 times)

Offline vRS Carl

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Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« on: June 03, 2010, 02:21:27 pm »
In today's era of supplying tyre repair kits in new cars. Is it worth leaving the spare wheel in the garage?

I know tyre weld isn't much use for a blow out but why do manufacturers now not supply a spare unless you pay for it? Apart from cost to themselves obviously.

Do any of you travel without your spare wheel?

What benefits would that yield? Can't see it really doing much for weight reduction/fuel consumption etc?

Offline Gene Hunt

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2010, 02:35:00 pm »
I've got the space saver.Much better than a can of squirty siht.At least a space saver will get you home.  :happy2:
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Offline vRS Carl

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2010, 02:37:40 pm »
Yup that's my thoughts I was just wondering what other peoples were  :happy2:

Offline animal

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2010, 02:41:21 pm »
Same as above, the weight reduction is not going to effect handling or fuel economy in 'real world' daily driving, so I'm happy just to leave it in there so that the man from VW Assist can come and put it on for me if I need it.
Only 250.1bhp - but with that noise, who cares?

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2010, 02:44:09 pm »
Only time Iin the last 5 years that I've had to change a wheel while away from home, a can of squirty wouldn't have helped stick the remains back together, a space saver may be limited but at 2AM on a wet night it still got me home  :love:

Offline Hurdy

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2010, 04:44:37 pm »
On long trips and holidays the spacesaver has it's place, but for local stuff it comes out. I always have the squirty stuff in the car, but what you have to realise is that the squirty stuff is no good unless you can get the wheel off the floor with a jack anyway. :happy2:
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Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2010, 06:50:43 pm »
I just had a puncture. It was on the edge of the tyre tread, near the wall. No amount of tyre sealant would have helped. Had I not had my spare, I would have had to be towed back home (no local tyre places had the ps2 in stock, only ps3) and then paid a taxi to get to work and back. It would have cost me more than if I hadn't gone in.

That spacesaver helped me out but life would have been sweeter if I had had a full sized rim.  
« Last Edit: June 03, 2010, 07:52:46 pm by stealthwolf »

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Offline bacillus

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2010, 06:58:00 pm »

That specsaver helped me out but life would have been sweeter if I had had a full sized rim. 

Was that an intentional pun??   :laugh:
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Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2010, 07:53:39 pm »
^^^Unfortunately no. Jut wasn't paying attention when typing on the iphone. Sometimes some words come out funny.

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Offline Janner_Sy

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2010, 08:47:15 pm »
i wasa thinking of getting a space saver for use when im around town etc.

but for a long 150mile + journey id put the full size back in.  losing 10-15kg cant be a bad thing can it

Offline Top Cat

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2010, 09:00:10 pm »
If you use the squirty stuff can the puncture still be repaired.  :happy2:

Offline vRS Carl

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2010, 09:03:05 pm »
Some places say no others say yes.

Apparently the tyre can be taken off, washed out and then repaired and re-fitted.

Offline Top Cat

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Re: Worth ditching the spare wheel?
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2010, 09:07:41 pm »
Thats not to bad if you can. Their is no way i would be spraying that stuff into my 19in PS2's if it couldn't be repaired.  :smiley: