Mobile Tyre repair
 

My next car I believe doesn't have a spare, it has the foam stuff.

But if you get a blow out where you can't use this, I'd need to call some one out.

Can you recommend a good, quick service that will come to my aid?

I live in Essex if that makes any difference.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

You're basically looking at two options, either a mobile tyre fitter or a full breakdown service.

A mobile tyre fitter probably wouldn't be able to come out right away (or will charge a fair bit to do so) and the breakdown services (AA/RAC/Green Flag) will probably only have a temporary wheel to get you home/to the nearest tyre depot.

Is this going to be a new order car? Ask how much a spare wheel kit would be as an option

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

My car is the same so i joined the RAC using Tesco clubcard vouchers as it is only £48 a year in vouchers for the cover i needed RAC: Roadside + Recovery + At Home, this maybe your best option as the mobile places may not change the tyre at the road side in short notice?

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

In 29 years motoring I have had about 2 punctures.

But without a spare, I know I'll get one.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

Once you have used the silent you will need to purchase a new tire.


My 2016 VIVA had sealant kit but I purchase a Vauxhall space Sava kit £180.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

Most new cars come with at least one year's breakdown cover so no need to worry at this stage I'm sure. :)

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

You can bet that when you do have a puncture it'll happen at the worst possible time so even with a breakdown service the hassle etc/ can be huge. That's why I bought Osem Jnr a space saver spare with jack and wheel brace to replace the silly foam kit supplied with his new car. IIRC it only cost around £70 on Ebay and was money very well spent I reckon.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

It all depends on the car whether a space saver wheel is legal i guess, on my Astra VXR i suspect it wouldn't be.

---------- Post added at 21:34 ---------- Previous post was at 21:32 ----------

I have had 2 punctures in my car though and i was able to drive a few miles with it flat and i don't think they where run flats just reinforced.

Personally i think your best option is the AA RAC etc, they would recover the car and take it where ever you want them to go.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

Not sure why it would be illegal on your car. :shrug:

The trouble with recovery etc. is that it will take extra time (sometimes a lot) and if you're going somewhere important when the worst happens you might not have that time.

Given the usually relatively low cost of a spare (full sized or space saver) I'd never be without one and there's always the option of having RAC cover or whatever in addition.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

My car was covered by The AA, they came out in 1.75 hours and they the sealant which failed, they towed me home by which time all the tire outlets had closed, 3 days later they brought a new tire and fitted that.


The AA guy did not have a good word to say about the sealant

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

I have no idea whether you can fit a spare tyre or not and if you can't then you have little choice of course but that's exactly why I'd rather have a spare I can change in about 20 mins.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

does the foam sealant damage the alloy or is it safe

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

I think the sealant renders the tyre un-repairable. It's really only any good for small punctures on the main tread pattern of the tyre, it's no good for sidewall damage either apparently.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

My point being is my wheels are 19in, not sure if i could get a space saver or they would have put 1 in the car, maybe it is to do with a cars power i really dont know.

I should have googled this along time ago but the car now needs changing with 94k on it and i do 18k a year.

Re: Mobile Tyre repair
 

Sealant foam is the same stuff as those old cans of "Holt's tyreweld" you could buy. As Osem mentions its designed for sealing around small punctures, such as something like a nail or screw in a tyre and its only designed to get you to the nearest tyre change place at low speed (much lower than a spacesaver I believe). Any other damage such as a torn sidewall or buckled wheel (very common with potholes) leaves you stranded.

Personally, I've got a full size steel spare in my car (2004 Focus) which I picked up off a friend. The standard spacesaver then went in my mum's car (2013 Fiesta) which only had sealant, and then we put together a wheelbrace and jack to change it.

Basically it boils down to this: Do you mostly drive in populated areas or urban areas? If its urban areas sealant and something like basic "call out" RAC/AA (with its 8 mile towing limit) will probably do you OK. If on the other hand you spend a lot of time out in the sticks, especially in areas with no mobile phone reception, then a spare wheel of some description is vital.

---------- Post added at 09:05 ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 ----------

I don't think there's any legal requirements regarding spacesavers, just that manufacturers require lower speeds due to the relative size difference between the spare and a normal wheel.

What you might find though is that the spare wheel well in the boot either isn't there at all, or only deep enough for a space saver wheel. Some cars come with collapsible spare wheels to help get around this. I'd ask around the model specific forums for an answer.

Personally, a spacesaver is the minimum I'll accept in a car I'm driving. At least with that you can get the car down in to town and get the other tyre fixed.