Carry a spare wheel and tyre, or just the tyre

[GMLS]

On the basis of probably not going to be able to change a wheel myself, I'm thinking I'd end up calling someone out anyway so thinking just carrying a spare tyre.Not ever having to need one, I'm guessing the mobile tyre fitters will all have the right equipment to remove and replace a motorhome tyre?

 

[Mikeco]

I don’t see how your normal breakdown trucks will be able to do it but they could change it if you have a wheel, a full wheel will take up the same space just a bit heavier.

 

[Wh05apk]

I just carry a spare tyre, the best tyre from when I changed the tyres, the new ones are directional, so would I need to carry 2 if they were fitted to wheels?

 

[DJIT]

I think you can run a directional tyre “backwards” at a lower speed, for a short time until you can get it swapped.
If it were me, and had a flat front, I might put the “backwards” tyre on the back if the vehicle was FWD.

 

[Otter Spotter]

On the basis of probably not going to be able to change a wheel myself, I'm thinking I'd end up calling someone out anyway so thinking just carrying a spare tyre.Not ever having to need one, I'm guessing the mobile tyre fitters will all have the right equipment to remove and replace a motorhome tyre?

Do you mean keeping a spare tyre but not bother with Jack and tools ? I tend to agree with that as I am never going to try a swap tyres if I had a flat, I would call the AA. So a little bit of weight and space saved.

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[Lenny HB]

Problem with just carrying a tyre if you do need a wheel change, your breakdown service will turn up, swear & curse a lot. Then they will have to call a mobile tyre fitter or recover you to a tyre fitter, you could be delayed for hours all for the sake of saving a few kilos.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Problem with just carrying a tyre if you do need a wheel change, your breakdown service will turn up, swear & curse a lot. Then they will have to call a mobile tyre fitter or recover you to a tyre fitter, you could be delayed for hours all for the sake of saving a few kilos.

Why?, they carry jacks and a tyre wrench. If I have to wait I will put the kettle on

 

[Lenny HB]

Why?, they carry jacks and a tyre wrench. If I have to wait I will put the kettle on

You would stay in your van on the side of a motorway thats mad.

I doubt if a recovery truck would carry tyre changing gear they certainly wouldn't have a balancing machine.

 

[GMLS]

Problem with just carrying a tyre if you do need a wheel change, your breakdown service will turn up, swear & curse a lot. Then they will have to call a mobile tyre fitter or recover you to a tyre fitter, you could be delayed for hours all for the sake of saving a few kilos.

Yes that's what I'm worried about.I'll tell them that I just had a tyre when the call went in but I'm thinking the message will get lost or they just follow a standard protocol and cause a delay in the process.I'm probably going to investigate fitting a wheel holder in between the chassis rails.

 

[PaulW2]

On the basis of probably not going to be able to change a wheel myself, I'm thinking I'd end up calling someone out anyway so thinking just carrying a spare tyre.Not ever having to need one, I'm guessing the mobile tyre fitters will all have the right equipment to remove and replace a motorhome tyre?

It would be something they're not expecting and there are of course risks associated with that. I personally wouldn't take the chance. It's certainly worth checking the fine print of any breakdown cover you have, and if the point isn't covered maybe asking them to check.

Years ago in France I had a puncture in midwinter (in a car) on the motorway. Put the spare wheel on. Two miles further another puncture. Called breakdown insurer. They said "you're supposed to do it yourself". I could say I did and then had another puncture, so they turned up and put us on a flatbed. (Had no idea before the call that they would require me to do sub-zero tyre changes in the sleet on a motorway shoulder.)

Have had similar issues with other insurance (specifically travel and health) where you suddenly discover rules or exclusions that were never specified in documents.

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[GMLS]

So next question.If I end up getting a steel wheel with the same stud pattern, is it a direct replacement for the existing alloys or do I need to carry some sort of adaptor or spacers?

 

[Phill D]

So next question.If I end up getting a steel wheel with the same stud pattern, is it a direct replacement for the existing alloys or do I need to carry some sort of adaptor or spacers?View attachment 835300

Don’t believe you need adapters but you will need different wheel bolts. They are different.

 

[DerryW]

Is that correct, I have a steel wheel as the spare, but haven’t come across a spare set of wheel nuts.

 

[scotjimland]

Don’t believe you need adapters but you will need different wheel bolts. They are different.

not necessarily .... it would depend..

I changed four alloys to steel rims and the bolts were fine

checked by the the tyre fitter when I also had new tyres fitted to them ..

 

[Lenny HB]

Don’t believe you need adapters but you will need different wheel bolts. They are different.

Is that correct, I have a steel wheel as the spare, but haven’t come across a spare set of wheel nuts.

It varies so you need to check them out. Bolts for alloys are normally 2mm longer and on some chassis they can foul in a steel wheel.

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[TCG]

It varies so you need to check them out. Bolts for alloys are normally 2mm longer and on some chassis they can foul in a steel wheel.

Something else to check then… can you just buy spacer to accommodate the extra 2mm
thanks Lenny… school day every day

 

[Lenny HB]

Something else to check then… can you just buy spacer to accommodate the extra 2mm
thanks Lenny… school day every day

It would be cheaper to buy new bolts.

 

[Bern8]

My MH comes with a squirty can of puncture repair spray. Not really happy driving a 3.5t motorhome with that as its repair (that’s if I don’t get a blow out). Looked into carrying a spare tyre but I asked the garage where I got the MOT and they never got back to me. Asked the dealer when it went in for its hab check & they never replied either .
I need to follow this up as surely telling any breakdown company to send a tyre repair vehicle can’t be misunderstood (can it)

 

[Aspenshaw]

I was given a set of Fiat steel wheel bolts by Travelworld when I picked up my van which had alloy wheels. I'm happy carrying a spare and, if necessary, doing without something else. Might be different if I bought a newer van.

 

[royandsharont]

You would hope if Fiat fitted their alloys with a steel spare then all bolts etc would be correct. Anyone know different?

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[Mikeco]

You would hope if Fiat fitted their alloys with a steel spare then all bolts etc would be correct. Anyone know different?

They were different in 2008 when I put the steel spare on using the same bolts for the alloys, the wheel would not go round as they were catching on something. I had to buy a set of bolts which I sold to a Funster a few years ago.

 

[dosser]

Been caught out with this a couple of years ago. Thought I had a puncture when we got to the tunnel for our trip to France. Turned out it was a crack In the alloy. Luckily had a spare steel wheel and bolts with us that let us carry on without trip.
Would always choose wheel and tyre just because of our previous experience.

 

[PaulW2]

Mine has alloys, a wind-down steel spare, and in a box in the back it has a jack, wheel spanner and winder for the spare wheel. As far as I can tell standard Fiat panel van kit.

And now I'm told that I may discover, if I have a puncture, that the spare doesn't fit because they didn't supply spare bolts?

 

[PP Bear]

My MH comes with a squirty can of puncture repair spray. Not really happy driving a 3.5t motorhome with that as its repair (that’s if I don’t get a blow out). Looked into carrying a spare tyre but I asked the garage where I got the MOT and they never got back to me. Asked the dealer when it went in for its hab check & they never replied either .
I need to follow this up as surely telling any breakdown company to send a tyre repair vehicle can’t be misunderstood (can it)

Not sure the squirty stuff would have helped me in my hour of need. Luckily I carry all the kit I need to change the wheel, but definitely couldn’t do a drivers side puncture on the motorway. Question is, would you drive on a flat to a safe area, especially on a smart motorway and risk the extra damage it’s likely to cause.

 

[the1andonly]

Would always choose wheel and tyre just because of our previous experience.

Same here.

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[A-Mech]

I just carry a spare tyre, the best tyre from when I changed the tyres, the new ones are directional, so would I need to carry 2 if they were fitted to wheels?

Tyres can be directional or asymmetric or symmetrical. Both the latter can be fitted either side, front and back. Just ensure you don't buy directional tyre.

 

[Brains]

Like many of us, my van is simply supplied with a can of the squirty stuff and an a pump.
I have no intention of ever using that option unless in a real emergency.

I bought a spare wheel and tyre off eBay which had been the spare wheel from the underside of a Sprinter the same age as my van.

The tyre has never been used and as it lives in the dark of my rear locker it should be OK as a 'get you home' spare for the next decade or so.

 

[Stoosal]

Just asked a mate who works for a (local) recovery firm. They do not carry any equipment for replacing a tyre. Will fit spare carried with vehicle. Common things these days with just a squirty can which isn’t suitable for a lot of punctures etc. Will put on vehicle and take back to garage and either wait for it to open to do repair or arrange for a mobile tyre repairer. Says some days tyre fitters take ages to turn up or won’t attend til normal working hours. Says quite embarrassing the amount of time some people have to wait for a simple tyre repair. Asked about taking direct to a tyre fitter. Says problem is if they take there and they don’t have suitable tyre etc they can’t take to another location so it is usually back to base or designated garage.

 

[Jez1966]

Personally it's all (complete wheel & tyre) or nothing.
I would drive to save place on flat. Doing the maths Cost of rim vs life/death
If you carry only a tyre you need a mobile fitter, they will have access to tyres and bring it with them.

For info we have a Swift Kon-tiki and we're in the USA for a year.
Original Michelin Agilis on front only lasted 16k miles.
Replacement front with Cooper Discoverer HT 3, fitted in Canada lasted 25k miles, total 43k miles.
@ 43k miles all 4 tyres replaced with Kenda Klever H/T 2.
So 6 tyres in 43k miles.

You can follow our misadventures @ https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-gap-year
Journal @ https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/categories/americas.82/

 

[andyelbac]

So next question.If I end up getting a steel wheel with the same stud pattern, is it a direct replacement for the existing alloys or do I need to carry some sort of adaptor or spacers?View attachment 835300

On the basis you have a Fiat/Peugeot chassis and you have your spare steel wheel sitting under the chassis on the wind down carrier then I believe you need an adaptor plate to be able to hoist the flat aluminium wheel back into position as there are differences between the steel and ali. centre hole. It sounds like the sort of thing you wouldn't bother with but if you do have a flat and you have a steel wheel replacing an ali, where do you put your ali. wheel if you can't hoist the flat one back in? Fine if you have lots of space in the garage but if not you are going to have to carry a flippin great 30kg wheel and tyre in your hab area.