Spare wheel or not ?

Whilst it makes some sense, and it looks better with it on, is carting a big heavy spare around worth while ?
I have always taken spares out of my cars and carry a can of tyre weld etc and at worst, breakdown cover will sort it out anyway.
If you're trying to improve mpg would not removing this substancial wheel weight improve things.
The only real issue for me is that it looks pretty ugly without it.
Maybe a bizz idea, make dummy spares from foam

From a realistic point of view, you'll save or little or nothing, removing the spare wheel. If you want to save weight, only half fill the fuel tank. This will save more weight without the inconvenience of not having a spare wheel with you. Of course you could have the inconvenience of running out of fuel on longer journeys instead. However if you are doing a longer journey, just add more fuel. It's only stop/ start trips that removing weight could help with. Once you are moving, weight saving makes no difference at all.

Have you ever tried tyre weld? they admit themselves it will only work in 40 odd % of punctures. Give me a real spare any day.

Oh and if you think the spare looks ugly try taking it off. The bracket that holds it is seriously ugly.

Alibro said:

Oh and if you think the spare looks ugly try taking it off. The bracket that holds it is seriously ugly.

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You misread. As I said, the only down side to no spare is the ugly carrier.

LOL, OK wrong on that one but still think having no spare is just asking for trouble.

Alibro said:

LOL, OK wrong on that one but still think having no spare is just asking for trouble.

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I'm getting on in years now but all I remember ever having was a slow puncture once, so I've never had to put a spare on ever.

I live in the country down a long lane and have had loads of punctures over the last ten years or so. Probably thorns and sharp stones caused most of them. Makes me more paranoid about punctures than most.

I think not carrying a spare is a false economy. Sooner or later it'll cost you some how!

Nodge68 said:

If you want to save weight, only half fill the fuel tank.

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I never used to worry if the car was lowish on fuel. However, after having a magnitude 7 earthquake and plenty of m6 aftershocks shake us and our city to bits.... which was on a previously unknown fault line that happens to run straight though a volcano that we are told by the same seismic experts is dormant and has been for hundreds of millions of years... I always make sure there is plenty of diesel in the Freelander for a quick get away should the need arise!

GrumpyGel said:

I think not carrying a spare is a false economy. Sooner or later it'll cost you some how!

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Maybe living in NZ it would or out in the wilds of UK.
Anyway, us hairdressers couldn't change a spare for fear of chipping a nail

my tyre weld did not work, and the spare was half flat and discovered later that at some point that had a screw in it and was leaking very slowly. so what do you do then I pumped the spare up and went home.

clarkkent said:

Maybe living in NZ it would or out in the wilds of UK.
Anyway, us hairdressers couldn't change a spare for fear of chipping a nail

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Not had a puncture in the 12 years here, but had 2 in my Disco driving around the wilds of South London before we moved over here!

My next door neighbour's son-in-law is a hairdresser. He's a pukka hairdresser as well... him and his wife (also a hairdresser) have called their 3 kids Sebastian, Talula and Cinnamon - they've quite 'luvey', but very down to earth. When he's over he comes and gives me a hand working on the Freelander, and his brother works at the car breakers I get bits for the Freelander from.

Yes, I said Tyre weld off the top of my head, it's a different one I have but been so long since I saw it I can't remember the name but it fixes and inflates.
Many smaller modern cars come with these kits rather than a spare.
Of course the other assumption is that everyone can change a wheel, I wonder just how many could these days and especially an LR beasty.
Just need to come up with a design to hide ugly carrier, you never know it may catch on......see you on Dragons Den

I seem to recall that one you have used tyre weld your tyre can't be repaired, and so needs to be replaced

I had Viking tyre seal in my tyres years ago. Witness a demo at the lro show and was convinced it was a good product. When I was getting replacement tyres I puncture one of them at the bottom and it didn't seal. I then spun the wheel round and that didn't seal it. there was still plenty of air in it. Eggsactly what they did at the show, but didn't work for me.

A lot of new cars carry the tyre filler kits. Saves money on selling the spare wheel as part of the car. Problem is if you ever need to replace the wheel yer dun't have one. Obvious I know but many don't consider a popper tyre or kerbed/damaged rim.

The aa and rac carry a universal 17 inch tyre, or so I'm told. You borrow it and leave it at the tyre fitter when you get yours replaced. The aa or rac collect it later on.

Not having a spare is a bit like not having aa or rac cover. It's one of those things you may not use, but handy to have as a backup when you do need it. Some refuse to have it. Some can't afford it. But when you come to use it yer looked after and helped.

Pcwizme said:

I seem to recall that one you have used tyre weld your tyre can't be repaired, and so needs to be replaced

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only if you go to quick fit rip offs any other decent tyre repair place with fix it for you.

Actually I tell a lie about not having a puncture here in NZ. I did have a tyre that deflated slowly - I had an inner tube put in that.

But of course you can't carry inner tubes around as a quick fix to a flat!

Just a side note, how to change a tyre is part of the driving test in the UK now, you don't actually have to do it I don't think but demonstrate knowledge of what to do

If your worried about fuel economy you should have bought a smart car [emoji6]

jedi said:

If your worried about fuel economy you should have bought a smart car [emoji6]

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:doh:
Never thought of that, they don't have a spare wheel

flat said:

Just a side note, how to change a tyre is part of the driving test in the UK now, you don't actually have to do it I don't think but demonstrate knowledge of what to do

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blimey didn't realise that about the test

could u imagine Joey Essex in trying to change a tyre , not saying he's dense, lol

must admit i personally would always want to have a spare with me , also belong to green flag