Good evening folks.

What's your views on the current trend of cars not having spare tyres, not even space-savers, but just having a can of spray repair and a mini compressor?

I suffered a flat tyre today at speed and, by the time I'd found somewhere to safely pull over, there was no way a can of foam was going to get the tyre re-inflated, so I had to resort to recovery!! I was surprised, however, how drivable the car was with a completely flat tyre!!

I'm pretty annoyed as, in the 'good old days', a puncture could be fixed at the roadside in 5 minutes with the spare, and you'd be on your way.

I'm going to price up a space-saver and jack in the morning

Rant over!!

I do believe cars should be fitted with a spare. I guess the manufacturers use the lack of space or too much weight excuses. For the average car though, these excuses are daft.

I think it's down to cost. A spare tyre doesn't cost a lot in the grand scheme of things. However, if a manufacturer is trying to save as much money as possible, a spare is an easy afterthought.

So you get a space saver, where do you put the punctured one if you have a full load ?

Do motorcycles carry spares?

I can count on the fingers of one hand, the number of punctures, I've had, in 25 years, but I've broken down and had to be recovered more often than that due to other things.

CV joint.
Ignition Module.
Complete Engine Failure x 3.
Brake failure. (Complete loss of brake fluid via a rear caliper)
Alternator Failure x 2
Failure to start x 3
Hand Brake cable snapped.
Front Wheel Bearing Collapse.
Exhaust CUT through suspension fluid pipe (hydrospatic metro)
Electrical Smoke from ignition switch x 2

I suspect that in 80% of punctures a can would be enough, and why carry the extra weight, and have a smaller boot, if you don't need to.

Saw a review for the new Jag F-Type the other day. When the spare wheel was specd it took up the whole boot space!..sure it was only a space saver too, pretty poor packaging! It's pretty vital to me to always have a spare on board. Haven't had a puncture in years, but I know that as soon as I don't have a spare I will be hitting sharps everywhere! As for run flats, I would rather walk!..

Had 3 punctures last year. Doing a large mileage as i do often driving at night and early mornings on rural roads means no spare wheel equals no sale. Rules out quite a lot of car brands' normally premium brands (whatever they are). , Some d segment cars will have them as an option Vauxhall or standard eg Toyota so they will be the choice come decision time on the lease.

I did have to laugh though that Green Flag's hold music is 'Rescue me'

I'm glad all my cars have had spares. 4 cars and 6 ruined tires those spares have been a godsend!

I would rather not have the puncture thoyfh

A cost and emissions thing. No spare less weight more mpg is one is one of the excuses for no spare.
Personally think not even having a space saver is a bloody stupid idea. Can mean the difference of being sat on had shoulder for 10/15 mins while you change it or 2 hours waiting for recovery

Despite my logic above, there was for 5 years, 2 full size spares in the boot of my wife's cavalier, along with a can of spray, and a compressor, and a trolley jack (along with the standard jack).

She did once puncture and destroy 2 front tyres, and I happened to have a spare set of alloys, so after I was 'called out' to change them, I just left the extra spare and my "spare" trolley jack in the boot.

I expected that she might one day ask me to move them.

Despite me showing her how to change a wheel, there was no way, even with an extension bar that she could ever do it, so I have no worry, now that she has a mIni, in her not having a spare. I'm looking on ebay for full size 16 inch wheel, but it will have to be cheap.