ProperCharlie

if i was stuck without a spare for whatever reason and the rac refused to help i would be pretty annoyed. i mean, isn't that the whole point of paying them money every year? i have heard of people getting them out for running out of petrol and they responded no problem. don't they have a clause:

"will not respond if the breakdown is a result of failing to carry enough fuel to complete your journey"

[Edited by ProperCharlie - 10/7/2003 8:40:03 PM]

TVR Gary

As the title suggests.......I have removed my spare from my track day car and just wondered what would happen if I had a flat?

StickyMicky

if u have larger wheels i dont think u can use a space saver wheel anyways?

so just mention that u cant get a 17/18" space saver wheel?

TVR Gary

Its on a pug though with 15's.

messiah

I thought it was Illegal not to have a spare tyre (not including just after changing a flat one)

Franko

true... didn't think you could pass your mot without a spare. (thats at strict garages of course)

The Gilly

didn't think you had to have a spare for the mot???

Never had one in my last car because of the ice install

Franko

Its what i was told by my local mot station although he passes mine with full decats

sh4un

I think its illigal to have an unroadworthy spare tyre, bald etc not sure if its illigal to have no spare at all.....

TVR Gary

Just chuck it in the boot for the MOT job done surely ....???

That wasnt the question I just wanna know if the AA /RAC would recover me?

ragnarock2

Some of the newer supercars have no spare at all (to save weight) - they have the "tyre weld" style stuff - dunno if it works though?

Buzzer

You don't need a spare for MOT. However if you do have one it must be roadworthy or you will fail your MOT and you get 3 points from the plod if they check.

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

If the spare is in the car it forms part of the MOT, if it isn't in the car it's not part of the test.

D

Franko

TVR

They should recover you its what they get paid to do. I've always found that they are helpfull and do recover you in most circumstances.I wouldn't expect them not to recover on the basis that there wasn't a spare tyre. their job is to recover breakdowns and no spare tyre and one tyre flat is a breakdown.

MorayMackenzie

The current BMW M3 and M5 cars have an exhaust system that takes up the space that would previously be used by the spare wheel well... So these cars have no spare wheel as standard, BMW supply an air compressor and a can of tyre weld type stuff.

As others have already mentioned... As far as the MOT goes, if you do have a spare wheel, then it does have to be legal.

GU5

I was in a works van a couple of years ago and got a puncture at about 10 45 pm, they sent the bloke from ATS out with a new tyre and fitting van Also had a choice of tyre to put on it, not just the most expensive

carl

AA say they will not recover anyone who's stranded because of "failure to carry a serviceable spare". OTOH they know which cars come with the tyre-weld stuff (TVRs, 206CCs, etc.) and will apparently come out.

Robyn

AA will send a mobile tyre fitter to you (they may have to take it away to fit an alloy) I had this happen when I had a flat and my spacesaver failed as well.

They will make the call on your behalf but thats about it

Adam555

I had this problem with my old car (spare was bald, no good, they wouldn't fit it) -

First time - they took away the flat wheel away and returned with a new tyre fitted (I waited on the roadside on my jack)

Second time - said they would give me a lift to a garage and I was to repair then they would give me a lift back and fit the wheel

I think it all depends on who you get, where you are and the time of day

I was thinking about removing my spare in my Scoob to save weight but thinking about it I decided it really wasn't worth the hassle if I got a flat

BuRR

Chris Jones and me were once stranded out in the sticks after he hit a rock on his front n/s. He totally trashed his 18" Compomotive (however the tyre stayed up for a while) so we thought we were sorted - with me having personal RAC cover, and him having personal AA cover.

I phoned the RAC - they wouldn't come out as hitting the rock was deemed as an accident and not a breakdown!! So we were recommended to claim on his insurance.

Chris phoned the AA - who stated they would send out a tyre specialist. We told them the wheel was ko'd, not the tyre. They insisted on sending out a tyre specialist. We explained that the spare was a 16" space saver and that the rolling radius' were different, and we were more or less told "tough luck, take the tyre specialist or leave it - you're not getting recovered"

I know this isn't technically a puncture, but be careful out there.

At the end of the day, Sonic saved the day by driving out to us with a spare set of wheels. (good lad )

*Sonic*

Ahh, that saved me from some typing

Thanks Burr

FLAT ERIC

iTrader: (1)

Could you not bend the truth a bit & say it was your second puncture of the day & say your space saver/spare was being repaired already.But too far away to nip up the road & get.And that they shut early on ****days anyway.

Ken Ross

From Page 7 of the terms and conditions book for the AA

Section 9d

any additional charges resulting from your failure to carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel(s) or tyre(s). The AA will endeavour to arrange assistance from a 3rd party on your behalf, but will not pay for the cost ofthe call-out or any repair;

midget1500

ok, from what i understand you merely have to have the means to continue travelling in the event of a puncture (i.e. spare tyre/wheel or tyre weld stuff).

Chicken Man

MOTs are laughable ain't they!!!

If you've got a bald spare you fail, if you've got no spare you pass!

My mate says he doesn't even open the boot when he does his MOTs!

Did you know it works for other things as well?

Why do you think theres so many fiestas driving around with a stud hanging out the boot lid and no rear wiper?
If its broke, unbolt it and hey presto - won't fail on that!!!!!!

I went to an MOT garage a while ago and they had a catalitic convertor welded to a tapered pipe that they stuff up your tail pipe (ooh er!) to check the emmisions! Their 'services' cost you an extra tenner but still a lot less than bu66ering around fitting the cats for a day!