Just got a Mk3 1.8i with the coupe roof and it seems very good. However, I’m still nervous about the lack of a spare tyre. Has anyone found a skinny spare that fits a 16in wheel with the 5 studs, or does anyone have experience of the stuff that you squirt into the tyre and leave there permanently, eg Flatfree or Ultraseal?
Bob
I’ve used the squirty stuff before to reinflate a flat and it was fine, loads of cars don’t carry a spare these days.
Remember if you do have a flat that is too severe for the foam (like a huge hole) you can still drive at low speed - it’ll ruin the tyre, but sometimes it’s better to do a mile or two at walking pace than break down somewhere dangerous.
Used the squirty stuff also and did what it said on the tin.
Can then be messy to get off your rim before replacing with a new tyre but much better a bit of mess than being stranded.
Had an MGTF in the past and it only came with the squirty stuff and no spare.
i saw a power point & compressor in the boot of a mk3. is that standard? good idea i thought.
G’day mate, Welcome to the Forum
I threw my spare out about 4 years ago when I need extra space in the boot. 2 cans of sticky stuff still in the plastic bags. I personally wouldn’t want to drive too far on a space saver wheel/tyre.
Time for a poll? - who has actually had to use the silly spare wheel???
There was an article in STHT some time
ago where the stuff you put in the tire before getting a puncture
was tested. When that set of tiers reached the end of there life a
deliberate puncture was induced, and the results favourable.
Same as you Geoff, I threw out the spare as soon as I bought the car. I have a can of the sticky stuff instead. A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away, I ownwd am “MG” Meastro (sorry!). This had a flat in the middle of nowhere when my wife was driving it. I kept a tin in the boot so that she would not have to change the wheel on her own. She followed the instructions and managed to drive home ok. The problem was that she didn’t read the part about this being an emergency repair, and drove home to Preston Lancs from Harrow! It’s good stuff, but not designed for that kind of trip, stop asap and get the trye replaced if you have a flat and have had use the goo.
Thank you all for your responses on the spare tyre question. I’ll try and attend an area meeting and join the club soon.
Bobd
Hello and welcome Bob[:)]
Ben
Only time I’ve ever used it is when I was restoring my 14" alloys and I needed to move the car when one was being painted. Just off the drive and into the garage though, and it was before I had the car lowered and the 17" wheels fitted.
If I put the space saver on with the 17" wheels on the other three corners, the sill almost touches the floor on that corner! That’s what sold it to me to remove the space saver, put a can of spray in the boot and have an RAC membership.
the only time i ever needed it in 6 years was last year when a little bit of over enthusiastic driving over brecon beacons ripped out the inside tyrewall front nearside (missed the apex).
the spare, as always, was in the shed so i had to make a phone call.
being brecon beacons, there was no signal… but thats another story.
my wife now insists its in the boot whenever we go away.
at least there is less room for shoes… ouch dont hit me again [::(]
[H] Hi Bob,
I’ve put 17’’ wheels on my car, so dont carry a spare, but I do carry the squirty stuff, just in case and it works fine, and with the new squirty stuff you can have the tyre cleaned and repaired, if the side wall has not been damaged, pluss you get more space in your boot !!
All the best
Jeff [H]
What is this ‘squirty stuff’ and where do i get it from?
Thanks,
Ben
Just my feelings on the subject. I had the misfortune to shatter an alloy, so would rather the spare than the squirty, since waiting for a tow in the rain mid November is never fun.