Should I lose the spare tyre on my Mk.1?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Given that it's 16 years old so well past its use by date, and if I changed it I would have nowhere to put the full sized wheel if I was using the boot, should I just replace it with a can of foam?

[Gillet]

I keep the spare wheel in there most of the time, but when i need the extra room i replace it with a can of foam, never thought about what i'd do with the original wheel if i did have a puncture. I'd say do it.

[Howard-]

Yep, do it. I lost about 10-15kg of crap from my boot including the spare wheel and all the jack clobber. Replaced it all with a can of Tyreweld, if that doesn't help, Hello Mr RAC

[NiceCupOfTea]

Howard- said:

Yep, do it. I lost about 10-15kg of crap from my boot including the spare wheel and all the jack clobber. Replaced it all with a can of Tyreweld, if that doesn't help, Hello Mr RAC

But what will the AA/RAC do? Take you to a tyre fitter? Take you home? Can just see me ending up with a ditchfinder on one corner

[Howard-]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Howard- said:

Yep, do it. I lost about 10-15kg of crap from my boot including the spare wheel and all the jack clobber. Replaced it all with a can of Tyreweld, if that doesn't help, Hello Mr RAC

But what will the AA/RAC do? Take you to a tyre fitter? Take you home? Can just see me ending up with a ditchfinder on one corner

I'll phone a few tyre places nearby and see if they have one or two (depending on how worn they are) Eagle F1 GSD3s in stock, and kindly ask the RAC to take me there

[900T-R]

I voted 'yes' although it really depends whether you have a skinny spare (effing useless and I wouldn't ever want to use one on my TVR ) or a full sized one which takes up more space but at least allows you to drive on normally; and I would go for a compressor/tyre goo kit rather than a can of Tyreweld (although the latter is all I had in the Saab).

Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 3rd February 18:04

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yeah, it's a spacesaver. Think is, the Mk.1 has a useful sized boot without the spare!

[Howard-]

Lose it. Power to weight ratio is everything!

[NeoVR]

Is tyreweld actually any good though??!!

I have both in the boot since i got the car.. might just ditch the spare as theres been a couple of times i could have used the extra space!

[J-Tuner]

This topic has reared its head a couple of times recently... I personally think having a physical spare wheel offsets the weight handicap providing the wheel is actually usable. I can't see how it wouldn't be a good thing?

Those tyreweld solutions - whats the worse sort of thing it can fix? Nail or screw in tyre? What happens if the tyre gets properly shredded? RAC time? Lose your now claims discount?

I am not against them, and may even take a gamble on one in the future as the car becomes a more track based toy - but i can't see why the spare is such a big deal either bearing in mind its only supposed to get you to the nearest garage for a new tyre

For the problem of where to put the full size wheel i'd either leave the boot open or at worse keep a black bin liner in the boot and it can go on the passenger seat (roof up or down). Passenger would have to lump it

Edited by J-Tuner on Wednesday 3rd February 23:13

[NiceCupOfTea]

It's just in such an awkward place and really compromises the boot...

[Don Phil]

I keep/kept mine in at all times, other than to Le Mans & back, needed the space, so tyre weld it was.

[J-Tuner]

NiceCupOfTea said:

It's just in such an awkward place and really compromises the boot...

Boot space was never a strong point for the '5 anyway

[Evangelion]

You could always Google 'Tyreweld' and read the reviews.

Here, I've done it for you:

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...

ETA - has anybody tried Ultraseal?

Edited by Evangelion on Thursday 4th February 00:26

[Dan_1981]

I'm thinNking the same with mine. I removed it's fancy leather cover the other day and I really wouldn't fancy going any distance at all on the space saver.

As for what to do with the aa? Get them to drop you at home. Then just take the wheels in for fitting?

Not ideal I guess but it's a solution!

[Munter]

I keep mine. It'll be useful if I need to get 10 miles to a tyre fitter/across town.

But then in the boot I also have a tow rope, jump leads, tyre weld, extra tools etc etc... Most reliable car I've ever had though...

[MX-5 Lazza]

Remember guys, if you do use the space saver spare you should only use it on the front. Using it on the rear can damage your dif.

[J-Tuner]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Remember guys, if you do use the space saver spare you should only use it on the front. Using it on the rear can damage your dif.

Lol a spare that can only be used on the front axle... great ! With that in mind it does make it less of a sure thing keeping it to be honest. You would have a can of tyreweld anyway in which case for the rear.

Maybe i will ditch mine....

[Howard-]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Remember guys, if you do use the space saver spare you should only use it on the front. Using it on the rear can damage your dif.

Makes me feel better about sticking mine in the loft

[Munter]

J-Tuner said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

Remember guys, if you do use the space saver spare you should only use it on the front. Using it on the rear can damage your dif.

Lol a spare that can only be used on the front axle... great ! With that in mind it does make it less of a sure thing keeping it to be honest. You would have a can of tyreweld anyway in which case for the rear.

Maybe i will ditch mine....

I hear a rumour that front wheels can be used on the back in the event of a rear puncture. And the space saver put on the front.