On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:26:19 +0100, Jonathan Campbell
wrote:

I recently bought a s-h. Toyota Auris.

When taking delivery, I demanded a lesson on how to change a wheel, or
more correctly, where was the spare, jack, lock-nut key etc.

Surprise. No spare. Just an electric pump (which is good and which I've
always carried anyway, even in a car with a spare) and a bottle of gunge.

Any comments on the effectiveness of this solution?

The lack of a spare has caused me some worry; but that having been said,
and rapidly touching wood, I haven't had to change a wheel in maybe 20
years --- an electric pump or foot pump always being able to temporarily
remedy punctures due to nails or thorns. Plus, renewing tyres well
before they are beyond the 1.6-mm legal limit.

I'd guess the gunge would be ineffective for a puncture caused by severe
kerbing or hitting a large stone? And you wouldn't want to ruin a tyre
with it if just a small relatively slow puncture.

I suppose I could buy a spare; there is space for one if the container
for the pump and gunge was removed.

The only times I've had to change a wheel due to a puncture it's been
because of the severity of the puncture - either a tear in the
sidewall or a significant puncture ( such as when the power steering
pump fell apart on a Peugeot and I ran over the shaft! ). I wouldn't
drive on such tyres even after they'd been filled with foam.
Any other puncture I've had has been of the slow variety - fixable at
leisure.

If I were that worried about the cost of carrying the weight of a
spare around I think I'd rather have one, and opt for never filling
the fuel tank over half full.

Regards,


--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
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