Spare tyre, Spare wheel or kit?

Rivermount

Rivermount

Free Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2019
Posts
53
Likes collected
82
Location
West Berkshire
Funster No
67,161
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
Since 2019, a bit before lockdown!
Hi, when we got our van it only came with a repair kit. I believe I have heard that some recovery services will not attend to you if you have a puncture and no spare wheel? As a matter of interest have any of you been in the situation where you have had a problem and a recovery service has refused to help? Also do any of you only carry a spare tyre rather than a spare wheel and have the services then supported you? At the moment we think we need to get a spare wheel but would be interested in others experiences. Many thanks for your help.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Definitely a spare wheel for me and a tyre on its own will take up the same space as a full wheel but heavier of course.
 
Upvote 0
pappajohn said:
Repair kit and inflator isn't going to help with a blowout or sidewall puncture.
A tyre would be better BUT what if the alloy rim gets damaged before you can stop?
Therefore, a full spare wheel is the best option.
Click to expand...
Spot on there, those fix and go kits are useless. At the very least get a tyrepal system if space/payload does not permit
 
Upvote 0
If a tyre blows at speed it can easily damage a steel wheel not just an alloy.
We never go anywhere without a proper spare.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Full spare wheel and tyre. Van's come with an inflation kit as its probably a cheaper option.
 
Upvote 0
Thank you all. That was generally our thoughts. We think a wheel and carrier will fit under the van - just need to source now.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
the problem I have there is no room uner the vehicle on the Chassis for a spare there are various tanks and gubbings in the way. Also, I have no Garage so no locker suitable for a spare wheel. so short of standing it in the shower i'm stuffed.

so i have a Tyre pressure and Tyre temperature monitor system and the tyres run with "puncture safe " in board.
not perfect but as good as i can get it.

would carry one if it was physically possible and i did not have to stand on it in the shower. :unsure:
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Just spent a month sourcing and obtaining a full spare wheel for our Sprinter. Currently having a cradle fabricated for it as it has been impossible to find a ready-made one down here.
 
Upvote 0
If buying an aftermarket wheel check the load rating as a they are often lower than the Fiat OEM wheels.
Also if you travel in France & Spain get a tyre that matches your existing tyre as breakdown companies won't fit it if its not the same as the other one on the same axle. They will insist on supplying 2 new tyres.
 
Upvote 0
After a friend spent three days of their holiday on a garage forecourt waiting for a tyre over a French Bank Holiday, I always carry a full spare wheel and tyre. It is heavy but I have a big garage and I value my limited holidays. At £100 brand new inc tyre it was a no brainer for the peace of mind.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
We carry a full steel spare in the garage, at 32kgs it's a pity it cant be stored safely under the MH to provide more useable space in the garage, which has a very low max weight limit of 150kgs, so as you can see the spare wheel takes up over 20% of the available capacity.
 
Upvote 0
We had just the repair kit and was fortunate for 4 years. After I replaced all 4 tyres last year I kept the best as a spare. Just need to find a 16” wheel. Don’t carry the tyre in the uk just abroad.
 
Upvote 0
Lenny HB said:
If buying an aftermarket wheel check the load rating as a they are often lower than the Fiat OEM wheels.
Also if you travel in France & Spain get a tyre that matches your existing tyre as breakdown companies won't fit it if its not the same as the other one on the same axle. They will insist on supplying 2 new tyres.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this, we will look carefully. We are intending on having a european trip this summer so yes will make sure it is the same.
 
Upvote 0
Full size spare every time!! Some recovery companies will not Come out if you are not carrying a spare.
Be aware if the van is fitted with alloy wheels and your spare is a steel rim then you more than likely will need a set of wheel studs as well as they are different lengths for alloy and steel wheels.
DJT?
Rivermount said:
Hi, when we got our van it only came with a repair kit. I believe I have heard that some recovery services will not attend to you if you have a puncture and no spare wheel? As a matter of interest have any of you been in the situation where you have had a problem and a recovery service has refused to help? Also do any of you only carry a spare tyre rather than a spare wheel and have the services then supported you? At the moment we think we need to get a spare wheel but would be interested in others experiences. Many thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and information.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Spare Tyre/wheel or Sealant kit?

Having just read NorthernSands very entertaining tale regarding having a problem with one of his tyres it has got me thinking around whether I really can travel round Europe with no spare wheel/tyre? My Chausson (on Ford chassis) just came with a tyre sealant kit, meaning that if I have a...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
Upvote 0
Thanks for the advice. Just have to find a wheel, tyre and somewhere to store it. Lots of space under the van so I just have to sort out how that will work.

I was wondering if the van converter would like to help?
Quote from the Hobby manual page 1:
You should have a functional spare tyre available at all
times. Therefore, have the spare tyre replaced without delay.

Perhaps they just forgot it..........
 
Upvote 0
I blew the side wall on my inner offside rear duley. Huge Big Bang, 95psi letting go, I thought it was a nearby shotgun, anyway I needed to use the spare wheel and tyre that our, cough, cough, :h: Winnebago:h: came with. It’s in its own dry warm locker accessed on the near side at about chest height, but it weighs heaps and heaps, certainly more than likkle old me could manage and so I called the RAC to help. It motorhome weighs 10.5 tons so bring a decent jack says I and in due course the man arrived with a seriously under par trolley jack. Looking at it he say, I can’t lift that. Indeed not says I, so they send out a bigger subcontracted vehicle and I helped the man get the wheel out of its locker and even then it was a struggle. Anyway the wheel was changed and the damaged one put back in the locker. I’m off says the man standing there waiting for something,:gum:. Wait says I you have not torqued up the nuts, can’t he replies I don’t have a torque wrench and so it was then that the fight began.:mad:

Are any of you still awake. :whistle2:
 
Upvote 0
Our MH came with a repair kit. I have been pondering about this since we got it. Excellent comments here has convinced me to go out and get a spare wheel. Question. Does anyone know if there is a massive weight difference between an ally and a steel rim? Ducato 16" I think.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Phill D said:
the problem I have there is no room uner the vehicle on the Chassis for a spare there are various tanks and gubbings in the way. Also, I have no Garage so no locker suitable for a spare wheel. so short of standing it in the shower i'm stuffed.

so i have a Tyre pressure and Tyre temperature monitor system and the tyres run with "puncture safe " in board.
not perfect but as good as i can get it.

would carry one if it was physically possible and i did not have to stand on it in the shower. :unsure:
Click to expand...
If your garage is not big enough, or not enough room underneath the van, could you not fit the spare wheel with a nice tyre cover on the rear back panel or even on the roof? You will see quite a few motorhomes with spare wheels on the rear, or on the roof, some even think its cool! Like Autotrails have.
Just a suggestion, you dont have to listen to me, not many do :cry:
LES
 
Upvote 0
BnBJwf said:
Our MH came with a repair kit. I have been pondering about this since we got it. Excellent comments here has convinced me to go out and get a spare wheel. Question. Does anyone know if there is a massive weight difference between an ally and a steel rim? Ducato 16" I think.
Click to expand...

Yes there is. I looked into this but it is a bit like the length of a piece of string. The University of Internet disagrees on the percentages, but the consensus is that alloys are lighter than steel by between 5% to 30% depending on your wheel size and how much pointless decoration is on the alloys. My 16" spare does not match my other 4 alloys, but stranded at night, on a smart motorway in the peeing rain and howling gale I couldn't give a toss. Basically, get the simplest wheel you can that matches the configuration of your existing set.

You must have the same tyre on it as you have on the other wheels. Some folk say that it is a good idea to swap over the wheels every so often. I can see pros and cons.
 
Upvote 0
Spare tyre for me.

Couple of years ago when travelling around with the brother in law, he found a large split in one of his tyres.

We were in the Gorge du Verdon at the time & it took four days to get a replacement!

So if you have the time to wait in such circumstances great but atm I don't! Of course depends on where your stranded I suppose!
 
Upvote 0
BnBJwf said:
Our MH came with a repair kit. I have been pondering about this since we got it. Excellent comments here has convinced me to go out and get a spare wheel. Question. Does anyone know if there is a massive weight difference between an ally and a steel rim? Ducato 16" I think.
Click to expand...
Why spend a lot of money on an alloy spare that probably won’t get used? Get a steel rim and fit a tyre very often on the classifieds on the forum.?
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top