The MK1 Punto came with a cheapo limited-use spare wheel, not exactly a space-saver, but uses the same rim as the other 4 wheels, the first thing I did after checking the numbers stamped into the wheel were all the same, was fit a normal tyre, 165/65R13 like the rest, which fits into the spare wheel well no problem, just leaves the tool tray a little proud under the floor covering. Why they can't do the same with the latest cars is best known only to Fiat. After all when you get a flat tyre and put the spare on, you have to put the punctured wheel somewhere while you get it to a tyre shop, if it won't fit where the space saver went, what are you going to do, put it among the back seat passengers maybe ?

I get the logic with wanting a spare or space saver, but in this day and age punctures are nowhere near as common as they used to be. My BMW came with runflats, but I’m currently running non-runflat tyres and have no spare. If I have an issue I’ll just call my breakdown service and get trailered away. Broke down in a work car the other day, probably could have tried to MacGuyver it and sort the coolant leak out, but we’ve got breakdown cover so I called them and they picked us up and trailered us back to the factory.

Not much help for those of us with no breakdown coverthou

Breakdown cover really should be seen as an essential.

The Girl's car is due sometime at the end of June, since her dad spec'd up the Nav' doodah in the dash to the bigger 7" (?) jobbie... as you do.

Once it arrives I'll have a look at the wheel well and the "puncture kit" mountings and then get hold of a space-saver and the other pieces required (jack case, big screw to hold it in etc.).

A space saver will do since it'll be enough that someone else can just change the wheel enough so that she can drive it home. She'll be at college - 20 miles away at the most (for now at least).

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.



Ralf S.

306maxi said:

Breakdown cover really should be seen as an essential.

Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Being towed off a motorway is expensive enough if you don't have breakdown cover. Ok, you might not live anywhere near a motorway or major dual carriageway, but I have both just 5 minutes drive from my own house and we have litte choice but to use both almost every day. For us, to be without any form of breakdown cover would be a bit crass. As it is, both cars are covered by the packaged account with have with Nationwide.

correct me if i'm wrong, but the slime can only repair a tread puncture and not the sidewall?

I'm checking because a fix-your-own-tread-puncture kit is only £5-£10 and you can do it with the wheel still on the car if needed.

A spare is still better and easier, but a 12v compressor and a repair kit is a better repair than the slime, and wont damage anything. These kits are the same type of thing that a garage does when it repairs a tread puncture. I've done 2 from my kit and had no issues with those tyres till the end of their lives.

You can’t repair the sidewall anyway.

Slime doesn’t actually damage anything either, it’s foam that can render a tyre unfixable.

Mytheroo said:

correct me if i'm wrong, but the slime can only repair a tread puncture and not the sidewall?

I'm checking because a fix-your-own-tread-puncture kit is only £5-£10 and you can do it with the wheel still on the car if needed.

A spare is still better and easier, but a 12v compressor and a repair kit is a better repair than the slime, and wont damage anything. These kits are the same type of thing that a garage does when it repairs a tread puncture. I've done 2 from my kit and had no issues with those tyres till the end of their lives.

Click to expand...

Depends where you get them repaired many shop not only pulg the hole but patch the inside basically double repairing it to insure it remains solid

chris3234 said:

Depends where you get them repaired many shop not only pulg the hole but patch the inside basically double repairing it to insure it remains solid

Click to expand...

I see. I wonder what that patch looks like, and how much of the internal plug they cut off etc

Mytheroo said:

I see. I wonder what that patch looks like, and how much of the internal plug they cut off etc

Click to expand...

Here seems toshow a good idea on a proper repair
http://www.dexel.co.uk/blog/british-standard-tyre-puncture-repair/

i see, so the plug and patch is a single item, pushed through from the inside.

Obviously I can see this being much sturdier etc, though I wonder how much overkill it is for a normal road car.

Mytheroo said:

i see, so the plug and patch is a single item, pushed through from the inside.

Obviously I can see this being much sturdier etc, though I wonder how much overkill it is for a normal road car.

Click to expand...

Doing something in a way that confirms to a standard is never overkill, doing it in a way that doesn’t meet the standard is doing half a job.

306maxi said:

Doing something in a way that confirms to a standard is never overkill, doing it in a way that doesn’t meet the standard is doing half a job.

Click to expand...

having a BS3621 5-bar mortise lock on your stair-gate isn't overkill?

Mytheroo said:

having a BS3621 5-bar mortise lock on your stair-gate isn't overkill?

Click to expand...

That’s not a standard for stair gate locks though is it?

306maxi said:

That’s not a standard for stair gate locks though is it?

Click to expand...

Exactly.

BS AU 159 is the standard for tyre repairs to road going vehicles; read all about it here. One thing which is absolutely clear is that removing the tyre from the rim and checking internally is mandatory.

It's one thing to bodge a nonconforming tyre repair on your wheelbarrow; it's an altogether different matter on a motor vehicle where lives are at stake.

chris3234 said:

Not much help for those of us with no breakdown coverthou

Click to expand...

I paid £22.83 with country wide recovery/back home limit 1 call per year

jrkitching said:

Exactly.

BS AU 159 is the standard for tyre repairs to road going vehicles; read all about it here. One thing which is absolutely clear is that removing the tyre from the rim and checking internally is mandatory.

It's one thing to bodge a nonconforming tyre repair on your wheelbarrow; it's an altogether different matter on a motor vehicle where lives are at stake.

Click to expand...

and yet millions have had no issues and no-one has ever reported a problem with a properly installed external plug.

But yes, lives are at stake and no standard has ever been overkill ever.....

Weird how the actual standard for car mechanical safety, the MOT, is fine with an external plug.

Mytheroo said:

and yet millions have had no issues and no-one has ever reported a problem with a properly installed external plug.

But yes, lives are at stake and no standard has ever been overkill ever.....

Weird how the actual standard for car mechanical safety, the MOT, is fine with an external plug.

Click to expand...

Your MOT facility takes your tyres off the rim to check whether your tyres have been repaired properly? Interesting.

306maxi said:

Your MOT facility takes your tyres off the rim to check whether your tyres have been repaired properly? Interesting.

Click to expand...

no they don't, because it's not a required standard is it. If it was, they'd check for plugs and require a certificate of internal plug repair for each plug.