Should I carry a spare tyre? AND legality of tyres older than 10 years

Talking new tyres , well when i bought 2 as new mth old tyres from Dublin with ice spikes which I removed, two weeks later the belts twisted in one and almost impossible to drive, so now its brother is my spare which is on my bum.
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This was my continental 7 years old only covered 4,000 miles blew put at 70mph the bottom pics again continental 7 years old 20,000 miles noticed it flat after being parked up for 2 days
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Red Dwarf said:
Really, why? I would think myself careless if I was setting off (especially to remote places) if I didn’t have a spare wheel and tools to change it.
Much after 5pm up here in the north you’re going nowhere or being recovered if you don’t have a spare. That a vehicle doesn’t have provision for carrying a spare, make provision!
I mentioned some time ago about a guy in a VW T5 camper who popped two tyres going over a cattle grid. He had really low profile tyres on silly big alloys. He had one standard T5 wheel with a standard tyre. Holiday somewhat ruined.

No spare, you’re taking a gamble.
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I asked if I could have a spare wheel and tyre as an optional extra on the Astra estate I got a few years ago and was told no, compressor and gunk only option. The Mokka I have now did not have the option either nor did the other car I had new in the last 9 years. Every puncture I have had has been the wrong type for the gunk to work and seal properly as they have all been sidewall cuts from stones on the country lanes where I lived. I would have much preferred a spare.
Moving to the motorhome I do carry a spare and a wheel brace but not a suitable Jack. I had a rear blowout a couple of years ago and after breakdown came to change my wheel I decided I didn’t need one just the spare. The guy was twice the size of me and had a five or six foot extension on a long bar and he put a lot of effort into getting the bolts undone. I took the decision on the grounds I am not physically capable of changing the wheel on the van. I don’t think that makes me careless as I assessed the job before reaching my conclusion. So i know where you are coming from but if I have to wait for breakdown then so be it. 😁👍
 
As to age of tyres, I didn’t worry about carrying a perfect 12 year old spare. It had no evidence of deterioration or sera or damage? Why would I want to throw away a perfectly good Continental when the manufacturer themselves say they only need to be checked not replaced? That of course in the absence of any applicable law
 
Fazerloz said:
What other spares do you carry as many things can leave you stranded or ruined hol. Where does the list end, gearbox perhaps.
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Not as daft as it sounds. Had a mate who rode a BSA Bantam and was heading to Achmore to visit friends. He knew the big end was on its way out ( pressed crankshaft on a two stroke) he was determined to get as many miles out of it so took a spare crank with him. He split the motor when he arrived in the Highlands for his return journey, he reconed he would have made it back on the original crank taking it easy.😂
 
Nabsim said:
I asked if I could have a spare wheel and tyre as an optional extra on the Astra estate I got a few years ago and was told no, compressor and gunk only option. The Mokka I have now did not have the option either nor did the other car I had new in the last 9 years. Every puncture I have had has been the wrong type for the gunk to work and seal properly as they have all been sidewall cuts from stones on the country lanes where I lived. I would have much preferred a spare.
Moving to the motorhome I do carry a spare and a wheel brace but not a suitable Jack. I had a rear blowout a couple of years ago and after breakdown came to change my wheel I decided I didn’t need one just the spare. The guy was twice the size of me and had a five or six foot extension on a long bar and he put a lot of effort into getting the bolts undone. I took the decision on the grounds I am not physically capable of changing the wheel on the van. I don’t think that makes me careless as I assessed the job before reaching my conclusion. So i know where you are coming from but if I have to wait for breakdown then so be it. 😁👍
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I do not follow your logic.
I like you cannot do !
But the breakdowm man can.....but only if a spare is available...ie you have a spare. See my earlier post !
 
I will probably get some flak for this but my spare is 15 years old. :oops:

It came with the van from new, has been stored underneath in a rack (out of harmful UV rays) and has never been used. It might be a gamble but I reckon it will get me to a garage or home (whichever is closer).
 
maingate said:
I will probably get some flak for this but my spare is 15 years old. :oops:

It came with the van from new, has been stored underneath in a rack (out of harmful UV rays) and has never been used. It might be a gamble but I reckon it will get me to a garage or home (whichever is closer).
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Newer than my spare! ;)
 
jagmanx said:
I do not follow your logic.
I like you cannot do !
But the breakdowm man can.....but only if a spare is available...ie you have a spare. See my earlier post !
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The last time I called for a breakdown was I think in 2014. Had the T4 Camper (with a spare) and the Car. Problem was the cars clutch decided to give up the ghost on the drive to the festival we were at.
RAC (I think) man came to recover the car - did a flat tow back to the house. I noticed in the back of his van he had spare wheels ;) won't cover every vehicle of course, but in terms of emergency get you homes, could be handy for many drivers.

Scotia said:
Not as daft as it sounds. Had a mate who rode a BSA Bantam and was heading to Achmore to visit friends. He knew the big end was on its way out ( pressed crankshaft on a two stroke) he was determined to get as many miles out of it so took a spare crank with him. He split the motor when he arrived in the Highlands for his return journey, he reconed he would have made it back on the original crank taking it easy.😂
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That's not carrying a spare, that is carrying a repair.
 
Nabsim said:
I asked if I could have a spare wheel and tyre as an optional extra on the Astra estate I got a few years ago and was told no, compressor and gunk only option. The Mokka I have now did not have the option either nor did the other car I had new in the last 9 years. Every puncture I have had has been the wrong type for the gunk to work and seal properly as they have all been sidewall cuts from stones on the country lanes where I lived. I would have much preferred a spare.
Moving to the motorhome I do carry a spare and a wheel brace but not a suitable Jack. I had a rear blowout a couple of years ago and after breakdown came to change my wheel I decided I didn’t need one just the spare. The guy was twice the size of me and had a five or six foot extension on a long bar and he put a lot of effort into getting the bolts undone. I took the decision on the grounds I am not physically capable of changing the wheel on the van. I don’t think that makes me careless as I assessed the job before reaching my conclusion. So i know where you are coming from but if I have to wait for breakdown then so be it. 😁👍
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Are you sure you don't have a Jack?
My VW LT had the same cab as your Sprinter and it has a standard jack tucked away in a place people may not realise ;)
(and it is a 4.6t vehicle so the jack provided would be suitable for a vehicle of that weight (and so cover yours as well)).
 
Looked at the tyres on our van last week, although they all have plenty of tread and have recently passed MOT am not that happy with the oldest pair which are 10 y.o. and are looking perished, so am replacing them.
Am leaving the spare as it appears good condition as it has spent it's 10 years out of the sun, my only concern is the spare will then be a different model (although same size/rating) and I know the French can be a bit sniffy with replacing different tyres so if I have a problem in France might have to change it myself, but by the time we ever get to touring EU again should be fit enough to do that.
 
Scotia said:
Not as daft as it sounds. Had a mate who rode a BSA Bantam and was heading to Achmore to visit friends. He knew the big end was on its way out ( pressed crankshaft on a two stroke) he was determined to get as many miles out of it so took a spare crank with him. He split the motor when he arrived in the Highlands for his return journey, he reconed he would have made it back on the original crank taking it easy.😂
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Thankfully having to carry a load of spares on the bike have long gone. (y)
 
I always put my best to the front, back is doubles so if one blows i can still land safe, one of these may be handy
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jagmanx said:
I do not follow your logic.
I like you cannot do !
But the breakdowm man can.....but only if a spare is available...ie you have a spare. See my earlier post !
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Is it the way I wrote it maybe? I DO carry a spare on the van but don’t have a suitable Jack. Breakdown will have a suitable Jack, long enough extension bar and hopefully the strength to break the nuts (I would never have got them undone when I had the blowout) 👍
 
wildebus said:
Are you sure you don't have a Jack?
My VW LT had the same cab as your Sprinter and it has a standard jack tucked away in a place people may not realise ;)
(and it is a 4.6t vehicle so the jack provided would be suitable for a vehicle of that weight (and so cover yours as well)).
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There is a Jack under the cover in passenger footwell, is that where you mean? It isn’t hefty enough to lift the weight I don’t think. I will double check though as I now have doubt on what I saw. I still wouldn’t attempt to change a wheel on the van though
 
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