[eye30]

I've just put on the space saver tyre as I've a nail in the rear nearside tyre. 

Looking at it it looks as if it has been in the tyre for a while and thinking back over the last couple of days I've felt a softer feel while driving.

Some manufacturers are not providing a spare, full or space saver, but providing a "fix in a can".

It has been reported that repairers are refusing to fix tyres which have had the "fix in the can" as it creates problems inside the tyre wall.

Owners have had to payout for a new tyre even tho' the damaged tyre can be repaired and has many miles left on it.

Well mine has only done just over 2,200 miles and I'd be $%$£"£* off if I had to buy a new tyre because of the "fix in the can."

A BBC consumer programme last week highlighted the lack of spare tyres being provided. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zwzbh

All I can say is I'm grateful I've a spare and will only have to pay for a repair and not a new tyre.....

[Surferdude]

This is getting more and more ridiculous.

The sealant idea had its day 20 - 30 years ago. The problem was the same then as now. Sidewall damage or a largish hole? Useless. Repair afterwards? Almost impossible to remove the sealant. Believe me, I've tried. And then, as now, after one attempt it was, "Sorry. You need a new tyre sir".

Two observations.

The original sealant came in a pressurised can about the size of a normal pest spray, with an air line. You connected it to the valve and it emptied itself into the tyre and you drove away.

The sheer volume of cars on the road today and the number of miles/ kilometers driven by the normal motorist mean this problem is going to be much more prevalent than it was then.

We've had this sort of discussion before.
https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=5918.0

[Dazzler]

Fortunately punctures seem a bit less common these days Lester, but still a pain when they happen 

[Seoul-mate]

I can't recall the last flat tyre I had as it was that long ago. But stories like yours Lester make me a little
nervous as neither of the cars we own has a spare tyre. In our 1.6 TDI Golf Blue Motion, VW have gone all
out to reduce the weight of the car and the 3.8L/100km and the 1300km per 52L tank we easily achieve
will hopefully outwiegh the "rare?" drama of having to use the roadside tyre repair kit (the spray can and
small compessor sitting in the otherwise empty wheel well). Of course if the tyre damage is too excessive
for the repair kit we will have to sit around waiting for roadside assist to help us out.
My second car, a Mercedes B200, has four run flat tyres and no spare. This is apparently not just a weight
saving initiataive but also allows the floor of the hatch to be raised and lowered by about 12.5 cm (5 ").
Raised to make a level surface right through the back when the seats are down and lowered to give extra
height in the rear hatch when needed. A spare could be fitted in the wheel well when the floor is in the raised
position but because we optioned the Harmon-Kardon sound system the amplifier has been placed into that area.
Anyway I have been told we can run over a police "stinger" which might puncture all four tyres and we can drive on
without stopping and happily keep driving at a reduced speed all day and night with the vehicle's computer
compensating for the altered handling characteristics of the "flat" tyres. Then when I eventually find some outlet
that has four replacement tyres I can take out a second mortgage to pay for them

I am not a religious type but I still pray every day that we don't get a puncture in either of our cars.

[Doggie 1]

Not that uncommon. I had a flat in my i30 (thankfully had a full size spare).

[rustynutz]

If they don't wanna repair a tyre because of the use of sealant, I'd be then slappin' a "tube" in it.........

[Dazzler]

Very interesting about neither of your cars having a spare Russell.. we are finding out about them bit by bit 

[Phil №❶]

Anyway I have been told we can run over a police "stinger" which might puncture all four tyres and we can drive on
without stopping and happily keep driving at a reduced speed all day and night with the vehicle's computer
compensating for the altered handling characteristics of the "flat" tyres. Then when I eventually find some outlet
that has four replacement tyres I can take out a second mortgage to pay for them

I am not a religious type but I still pray every day that we don't get a puncture in either of our cars.

Can't wait till someone does that in COPS, could be a long show 

[Surferdude]

If they don't wanna repair a tyre because of the use of sealant, I'd be then slappin' a "tube" in it.........

Nice thought Rusty but the ones I've had experience with also react poorly with rubber over time. I've taken a tube out of a tyre with sealant in it and been able to tear the tube apart with my bare hands.

[Surferdude]

I can't recall the last flat tyre I had as it was that long ago. But stories like yours Lester make me a little
nervous as neither of the cars we own has a spare tyre. In our 1.6 TDI Golf Blue Motion, VW have gone all
out to reduce the weight of the car and the 3.8L/100km and the 1300km per 52L tank we easily achieve
will hopefully outwiegh the "rare?" drama of having to use the roadside tyre repair kit (the spray can and
small compessor sitting in the otherwise empty wheel well). Of course if the tyre damage is too excessive
for the repair kit we will have to sit around waiting for roadside assist to help us out.
My second car, a Mercedes B200, has four run flat tyres and no spare. This is apparently not just a weight
saving initiataive but also allows the floor of the hatch to be raised and lowered by about 12.5 cm (5 ").
Raised to make a level surface right through the back when the seats are down and lowered to give extra
height in the rear hatch when needed. A spare could be fitted in the wheel well when the floor is in the raised
position but because we optioned the Harmon-Kardon sound system the amplifier has been placed into that area.
Anyway I have been told we can run over a police "stinger" which might puncture all four tyres and we can drive on
without stopping and happily keep driving at a reduced speed all day and night with the vehicle's computer
compensating for the altered handling characteristics of the "flat" tyres. Then when I eventually find some outlet
that has four replacement tyres I can take out a second mortgage to pay for them

I am not a religious type but I still pray every day that we don't get a puncture in either of our cars.

Hi Russ, that isn't the best of news.
BTW. Unless you have some new type of run flat tyre I've not yet heard of (always possible - I don't keep fully up to date these days), run flats should only be driven at a maximum speed of 80 kph and for no further than about 80 - 100 klms.

[rustynutz]

If they don't wanna repair a tyre because of the use of sealant, I'd be then slappin' a "tube" in it.........

Nice thought Rusty but the ones I've had experience with also react poorly with rubber over time. I've taken a tube out of a tyre with sealant in it and been able to tear the tube apart with my bare hands.

Oh ok, I've used Finilec and then a tube later on in my motorcycle tyres years ago with no issues, but then again bike tyres only last 5 minutes compared to car tyres so the sealant may not have had time to affect the tube.....

[Seoul-mate]

Hi Russ, that isn't the best of news.
BTW. Unless you have some new type of run flat tyre I've not yet heard of (always possible - I don't keep fully up to date these days), run flats should only be driven at a maximum speed of 80 kph and for no further than about 80 - 100 klms.

Yeah, you are probably right Trev......the Mercedes salesman that told me this was probably being a little overzealous with the facts.
Anyway when we get together for coffee sometime (in the not too distant future) you can run your eye over them and tell me what you think.
Russ

[Seoul-mate]

Very interesting about neither of your cars having a spare Russell.. we are finding out about them bit by bit 

Yeah, sorry Dazz I have been a little slow in posting in the "Members Other Motors" section but will remedy that soon...

[Dazzler]

Very interesting about neither of your cars having a spare Russell.. we are finding out about them bit by bit 

Yeah, sorry Dazz I have been a little slow in posting in the "Members Other Motors" section but will remedy that soon...

No worries Russ only joshing 

[Surferdude]

Hi Russ, that isn't the best of news.
BTW. Unless you have some new type of run flat tyre I've not yet heard of (always possible - I don't keep fully up to date these days), run flats should only be driven at a maximum speed of 80 kph and for no further than about 80 - 100 klms.

Yeah, you are probably right Trev......the Mercedes salesman that told me this was probably being a little overzealous with the facts.
Anyway when we get together for coffee sometime (in the not too distant future) you can run your eye over them and tell me what you think.
Russ

I'll try to find out a bit more in the meantime. What brand are they? Conti? Michelin? Pirelli" Goodyear?
And after 14th of November a nice quiet cup of coffee somewhere with friends will be much appreciated.
6 people in our house right now with our son, his Canadian wife, 4 y/o and 1 y/o staying. The kids are beautiful but it's full on, all day every day. Oh. And our #2 son gets married in a couple of weeks.
H-E-C-T-I-C !!!!

[Surferdude]

I found this. I'm guessing this is the model you've bought. Interesting read. I still can't get around the fact that in the great distances between any major centres in Australia, you are limited to where you can get help.

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/mercedesbenz-adopts-runflat-tyres-20120404-1wbnn.html

[Phil №❶]

I certainly hope that idea doesn't catch on with car makers that I'd buy from. MB & BMW are out of my league. 

[Surferdude]

I certainly hope that idea doesn't catch on with car makers that I'd buy from. MB & BMW are out of my league. 

I honestly think (hope) it's a passing fad.
Honda (and Acura) in the US have stopped fitting them and Michelin have stopped making them.
However, I also believed for a long time the temporary spare wouldn't continue.

[Dazzler]

It makes me wonder why these manufacturers have persevered this long. I have read countless reviews of BMWs in particular where the biggest criticism they have had is the ride quality due to the run flat tyres 

[eye30]

In the mid 80's I bought a mini Metro which had run flat tyres on.

The most I only from the front was 10,000 miles before I had to renew.

Puncture repaired and back to full compliment.

With the space saver it has a speed limit of 50 MPH (80 KPH) so leaving on for any longer restricts speed especially on unrestricted roads.

[Seoul-mate]

. What brand are they? Conti? Michelin? Pirelli" Goodyear?

They are Continentals......... ContiSport Contact SSR  225/45/17R

This is the best pic I have of them at the moment,

[Keith]

Every car I had that didnt come with a spare sent me off to the dealerships. Every time ( 3 times I think) the dealer has happily sold me a comparable steel version off the same model car where th buyer opted for alloys at some point between ordering & delivery.

I only ever paid around £25 for the wheel shod with new rubber, then I sourced a jack and a wheel nut spanner separately from a scrappies for £5.

Of course thats ok if there is room for a spare wheel in the boot....

[Dazzler]

  Now he's teasing us with just small bits of his car  (talk about keep us in suspenders)

[Shambles]

Now he's teasing us with just small bits of his car ...

Not what I would call "good looking", if I'm being honest Russ 

[Just Rick]

interesting topic,will be like buying a truck or new trailer soon,a spare on a truck has to be bought as an optional extra,and when you buy a new  tri axle trailer,the rims and tyres are actually beleive it or not options,go figger,maybe the car industry is starting to take lessons from the heavy vehicle industry.