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?

 

[L' Hobo]

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.

Maybe not but, at least one would have the correct tyre to fit the others on the vehicle and not have to choose between having to buy 2 or waiting for a couple of days while the correct tyre is found?

 

[L' Hobo]

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

We all live in hope but, personally I'm I would never assume anything!
Always check!

 

[PaulW2]

I see there's a Telegraph headline this morning that only 3% of new cars are now sold with spare wheels.

So maybe the idea that wheels would be changed at the roadside will soon only be a quaint relic of the past, like carburettors

 

[Spriddler]

I see there's a Telegraph headline this morning that only 3% of new cars are now sold with spare wheels.

So maybe the idea that wheels would be changed at the roadside will soon only be a quaint relic of the past, like carburettors

Yes, and the odd thing is that the floor panel of my car's boot still has the spare wheel shaped void but with just the aerosol gloop kit in it.
I'm told by a pal in the auto development industry that spare wheels are omitted to save cost and weight, resulting in better mpg and lower emissions.

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[Phill D]

I believe I have read somewhere ( that I can’t find at the moment ) that the likes of the AA and RAC are now starting to carry universal fit emergency spare wheels

 

[L' Hobo]

I believe I have read somewhere ( that I can’t find at the moment ) that the likes of the AA and RAC are now starting to carry universal fit emergency spare wheels

How would that work with all the different sizes & weights?

 

[Stoosal]

AA Multi-fit spare wheel | AA

the AA has a solution for vehicles with no spare wheel or multiple punctures. Thee AA multi-fit spare wheel

www.theaa.com

seems to have been in use for a while so progress being made for larger vehicles. Are the days of a spare conundrum wheel over?

 

[StillGoing]

My Fiat based Hymer did not come with a spare wheel (only the useless gunk). There is nowhere to carry a spare under the vehicle. There is nowhere to safely fix one in the garage.

 

[Phill D]

I carry a spare wheel complete but I also carry a “puncturesafe” emergency gunk kit and a decent air pump.
The puncture safe gunk is significantly better than the supplied goo and the tyre can be repaired after its use.

It would allow me to at least get to safety before I need to change the wheel.

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[scotjimland]

Have always carried a spare wheel , even with the RV which had 22in coach wheels.. two man job to change ..
You may be OK without , but if travelling outside the EU bubble ,,. ie Morocco or Eastern Europe wouldn't go without a spare, tools and knowledge how to do it myself ..

I also carry a tubeless tyre repair kit, rubber worms and tools to do a repair if bad luck strikes twice ..

Also the Ring RAC 900 tyre inflator

 

[Dolmen]

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?

Seems a good compromise to me and what I did in my last van, van before that no spare at all. If you breakdown it is going to take longer if they then need to send for a mobile fitting team, however, the chances of it happening are slim (I do know it does happen, however, the% is minuscule). The advantage to me was that it fitted in the under bed locker and the tyre being hollow I could fill it with all the other stuff I would never need. I wouldn’t change the wheel myself so whether I had a full wheel or just a tyre I would need to consider where is a safe place to be while waiting for the recovery service.

 

[10tenmen]

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

I spoke to a Fiat Professional garage and was told the alloy bolts fit fine and no need to buy another set.
When I bought the spare wheel and hanger system I swapped one of the alloys for the steel using the same bolts as a test and it was fine.

 

[Phill D]

I spoke to a Fiat Professional garage and was told the alloy bolts fit fine and no need to buy another set.
When I bought the spare wheel and hanger system I swapped one of the alloys for the steel using the same bolts as a test and it was fine.

The important part is that you checked and made sure.

Too late at the side of the road

 

[cyberyacht]

When I replaced my tyres at the beginning of the year, I bought 5 and carry just the tyre in the interests of weight saving. Jacking up the van and changing a wheel on my drive convinces me that I shan't be doing it with HGV's whistling past my ear at 60mph.

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[the1andonly]

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.

Pherhaps thats a good idea, requiring/prompting a timely resolution

 

[Lenny HB]

My Fiat based Hymer did not come with a spare wheel (only the useless gunk). There is nowhere to carry a spare under the vehicle. There is nowhere to safely fix one in the garage.

Why not?
I strapped mine to the rear wall.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned but one thing to remember is that if the wheel gets damaged when the puncture occurred your spare tyre will be a waste of time.
As an aside, my Volvo XC90 had a space saver wheel. When I had a puncture I changed it but the original would not fit in the space in the boot as it was designed for the narrower section and ratio of the space saver wheel. I don't know what I would have done if I had been going on holiday with a car full of kids and their associated luggage taking up all the space in the boot.

 

[L' Hobo]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned but one thing to remember is that if the wheel gets damaged when the puncture occurred your spare tyre will be a waste of time.
As an aside, my Volvo XC90 had a space saver wheel. When I had a puncture I changed it but the original would not fit in the space in the boot as it was designed for the narrower section and ratio of the space saver wheel. I don't know what I would have done if I had been going on holiday with a car full of kids and their associated luggage taking up all the space in the boot.

It's not been mentioned but if, when the front wheel puncture occurred if, it then flipped the car over and the other side got damaged .......a single full spare wheel might not be sufficient.

 

[Howard B]

Why not?
I strapped mine to the rear wall.

I strapped mine in the garage as well, but not the rear wall. Also fitted a spare wheel carrier, but havent needed to use it yet.

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[GMLS]

Thanks for all the input. Probably going with a steel wheel and tyre with the underslung carrier.

These guys do package deals ( e.g £160 all in with used steel wheel and part worn tyre, just checking date stamp. New also available)

Alloy wheels | Halmerend Wheels & Tyres Ltd | England

Stoke-on-Trent wheels and tyres specialists - we deliver nationwide.

www.halmerendwheelsandtyres.com

and I found this great instructional vlog.


Checked underneath and all as expected ready to go. Just triple checking whether bolt length an issue as I'm hearing conflicting information.

 

[Howard B]

Thanks for all the input. Probably going with a steel wheel and tyre with the underslung carrier.

These guys do package deals ( e.g £160 all in with used steel wheel and part worn tyre, just checking date stamp. New also available)

Alloy wheels | Halmerend Wheels & Tyres Ltd | England

Stoke-on-Trent wheels and tyres specialists - we deliver nationwide.

www.halmerendwheelsandtyres.com

and I found this great instructional vlog.


Checked underneath and all as expected ready to go. Just triple checking whether bolt length an issue as I'm hearing conflicting information.

I would look around. I got a genuine Fiat 16" steel wheel with continental camper tyre (18 months old) for £70 off ebay last year. it was a campervan hire company that was selling off all the spare wheels/ tyres.

 

[GMLS]

I would look around. I got a genuine Fiat 16" steel wheel with continental camper tyre (18 months old) for £70 off ebay last year. it was a campervan hire company that was selling off all the spare wheels/ tyres.

It includes the underslung carrier.

 

[DerryW]

Yes, and the odd thing is that the floor panel of my car's boot still has the spare wheel shaped void but with just the aerosol gloop kit in it.
I'm told by a pal in the auto development industry that spare wheels are omitted to save cost and weight, resulting in better mpg and lower emissions.

Or could it be, the manufacturers know that a large % of drivers will go onto to purchase a new wheel and tyre at an inflated price if it were included in the price of a new vehicle. That old cynic me.

 

[10tenmen]

The base chassis comes with a spare as I have bought them from a supplier after they were removed when new. It’s how they try to get it to the required 3500 weight.

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[Lenny HB]

These guys do package deals ( e.g £160 all in with used steel wheel and part worn tyre, just checking date stamp. New also available)

If you trave in France of Spain the tyre needs to be the same as on your van.

 

[Howard B]

It includes the underslung carrier.

OK, thats a decent price then.

 

[Spriddler]

DerryW
I think your second of the two quotes below is your own reply and not a quote of any of my posts.

 

[Jez1966]

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.

Centre hole of ali & steel wheel are fitted with the same Fiat badge so I don't think the centre hole is different.

 

[andyelbac]

Centre hole of ali & steel wheel are fitted with the same Fiat badge so I don't think the centre hole is different.

That's interesting. I plan on buying an under chassis carrier and carrying a spare steel with tyre in case I get a flat on my 16" FIAT alloys. In preparation I purchased an adaptor plate from a Funster here. As I haven't got the carrier or wheel yet have been unable to check that the adaptor is required. I took it on good faith. Perhaps it's not the centre hole size but some other detail between the steel and ali wheel that requires an adaptor? Any Funster here ever tried to hoist up a Fiat alloy with the under slung carrier?

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[jezport]

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

4 hours wait on the hard shoulder of a motorway sat out on the embankment waiting, not nice.