French autoroute? make sure you have a spare tyre
Discussion
Just heard from one of my mates. They had a blowout on a French autoroute on the way back to catch the ferry this evening. Car (think it's a Lexus) doesn't have a spare, just a can of tyre goo, no use for their destroyed tyre.
They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
Every car I have owned in the last decade and a half has had different sizes of wheel and tyre on front and rea axles. Should I carry two spares then? 295 width tyres take up a lot of space!
I'm resigned to having to call the emergency recovery service if I get a blowout as no local garage will stock my tyres in any case. Unlikely though, as I've only had four punctures in the last three years.
I'm resigned to having to call the emergency recovery service if I get a blowout as no local garage will stock my tyres in any case. Unlikely though, as I've only had four punctures in the last three years.
lufbramatt said:
Just heard from one of my mates. They had a blowout on a French autoroute on the way back to catch the ferry this evening. Car (think it's a Lexus) doesn't have a spare, just a can of tyre goo, no use for their destroyed tyre.
They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
Sounds like a pain in the backside, although the bit i have highlighted isn't true!They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
jimmy156 said:
lufbramatt said:
Just heard from one of my mates. They had a blowout on a French autoroute on the way back to catch the ferry this evening. Car (think it's a Lexus) doesn't have a spare, just a can of tyre goo, no use for their destroyed tyre.
They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
Sounds like a pain in the backside, although the bit i have highlighted isn't true!They phoned the RAC, who won't recover them even though they have euro cover as autoroutes are private property(?) and they have to phone a local recovery company, at a set cost.
Finally at the garage, they are told that the garage can't get hold of the right sort of tyre, apparently its a funny size, until Monday. They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already. So they've been stuffed for 3 nights in a hotel, another day off work and missed the ferry.
All that for the sake of a couple of kg's of steel and rubber!
Have heard back from them, apparently it has runflats on it which opens another can of worms, hence no budgets. Garage won't put normal tyres on it.
They've found what sounds like a really nice campsite with a nice restaurant and mountain views and put it down to experience, with the bonus of 3 days of extra holiday.
ETA: it's a 2013 Volvo S60
They've found what sounds like a really nice campsite with a nice restaurant and mountain views and put it down to experience, with the bonus of 3 days of extra holiday.
ETA: it's a 2013 Volvo S60
Edited by lufbramatt on Friday 27th June 19:07
lufbramatt said:
They've found what sounds like a really nice campsite with a nice restaurant and mountain views and put it down to experience, with the bonus of 3 days of extra holiday.
That is the bonus of breaking down in France....over here you'd be near an industrial estate or retail park probably.Anyway, surely a space-saver tyre is what is needed here, or at least to to get home ?
lufbramatt said:
Car (think it's a Lexus) doesn't have a spare, just a can of tyre goo, no use for their destroyed tyre.
If it is a Lexus, Lexus Assist should have sorted it out.There's thread elsewhere of someone with an X5 that just had the same thing happen and BMW flew him home and will bring the car back when they can find a tyre.
lufbramatt said:
They're not allowed to fit a "near enough" budget tyre as the tread pattern has to match the others on the car already.
If they had a spare, chances are it'd be a space saver (and hence a different tread pattern)?Methinks Le Frog may not be being entirely straight with Monsieur Rosbif.
They have to have the same level of wear or near enough.
So they will not fit a single new tyre if the other one is half worn, it needs to be nearly new (at worst) at least.
Friend of mine screwed them though, he parked round the corner and said he was miles away and could only get one wheel at a time, (on car jack) so could they fit one new tyre, then he'd go back to the car, jack up the other side, and bring them the other one...
Needless to say there was never a sequel.
So they will not fit a single new tyre if the other one is half worn, it needs to be nearly new (at worst) at least.
Friend of mine screwed them though, he parked round the corner and said he was miles away and could only get one wheel at a time, (on car jack) so could they fit one new tyre, then he'd go back to the car, jack up the other side, and bring them the other one...
Needless to say there was never a sequel.
TooMany2cvs said:
...Much pricier, too.
Absolutely not true, certainly in the case of motorcycle tyres - after a grief-ridden puncture fiasco on our bikes in France last week, a mate had a new tyre fitted for about 30% less than the equivalent UK price. Can't imagine car tyres are significantly different?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff