IS250C spare wheel

[Mike Compton]

My 2010 car didn't come with a spare run flat wheel. Is it worth buying one? It has done 44k miles. 

[LenT]

I’ve always regarded ‘run flat’ as a bit misleading.  The idea is that for a slight weight penalty per tyre occasioned by the thicker side walls, you can continue to drive on a punctured tyre.  But the extra weight was offset by the claim that you didn’t need to carry a spare wheel.

However, it’s not that simple.  Firstly the speed and range of the failed tyre is severely restricted.  Basically just enough to get the tyre to where it can be changed.  There’s also, apparently, the very real risk of damaging the wheel rim.  And if the tyre damage is in the sidewall itself, then the tyre could lose its integrity and collapse, so it would be undrivable, unsalvageable and again lead to wheel damage.

So the question, Mike, is what we’re you planning to do in the event of a tyre failure if you didn’t have a spare?

 It might depend where it happened, of course.  If it was a slow leak on a motorway then limping to the next service station might be an option.  If it was an offside wheel that was undrivable, then I’d wait (ideally safely away from the car!) and call for the professionals - because even they sometimes get killed changing those!

Of course it maybe that for some reason you’re not in a position to change a wheel for yourself, even if you had one.

Clearly there are many scenarios one can create.  But on balance I would have thought that you ARE better off having a spare than not.  Mine came with a Spacesaver - which I preferred to use when a Goodyear that is, apparently, classed as a run-flat, suffered a broken valve. 

Ultimately it’s far better to have one and not need it, than need it and not have one!

[Mike Compton]

Thanks len - makes a lots of sense.

[true blue]

Hi I think you can get a space saver which will fit in the recess in the boot floor ,I briefly looked at it when I bought my car but I think it lifts the boot floor cover and it seemed a lot of work to re-hash the area to look tidy .I carry the Lexus compressor and a tin of holts seal (I have modified the Lexus compressor by removing their out of date goo) I also carry an emergency plug kit ,the plugs have a mushroom head and are inserted with a special tool and then cut flush used these on motorcycles for years O K for a hole up to 4 m/m but no use for splits .Before Covid We used to do a lot of Continental touring so as a belt and braces and there are only ever the 2 of us in the car ,I bought a full size wheel put it in a nylon cover and have it in the back of the car between the seats ,chose this as it does not inconvenience us and the French do not approve the use of space savers on the motorway toll roads

Dave

[LenT]

46 minutes ago, true blue said:

I bought a full size wheel put it in a nylon cover and have it in the back of the car between the seats ,chose this as it does not inconvenience us and the French do not approve the use of space savers on the motorway toll roads.

You certainly seem to have considered most eventualities - and rightly so.  But would I be right In thinking that while a spacesaver may not be illegal on a French motorway, they discourage its use because the maximum speed (50mph/ 80km) could present a hazard?

Also wondered about the spare wheel in the back of the car between the seats.  Do you tie it down in any way?  Dread to think of the havoc it could cause in the event of an impact!

[true blue]

Hi Len 2 good points raised there ,legality my French is basic ,but I will tell you a story ! I also have an MX5 and we regularly use that on the continent as well with a group of friends .A few years ago one of us got a blowout on the motorway ,it was not a instant deflation so 6 of us in convoy were able to pull over and stop as we all have the same car 1 person carries a spare wheel with luggage distribution between us as there is not much room in an MX5 .We jacked up the car to start changing the wheel ,the road was quiet, a young French guy stopped to enquire about are welfare we assured him we were OK .I did notice him on the mobile as he left ,5 mins later the Gendarmerie arrive full inquisition breathalyser etc I explain I know what we are doing show him the replacement wheel so he phones up the Polizie (main men) they arrive complete with a secretary and we go through all the questioning again this time documented ;Eventualy they decide we can't do this ,I have replaced the wheel so we are escorted off the motorway to the nearest most expensive cash only tyre depot .No further action taken .I tried to find out from the tyre fitter about the legality issue ,but according to my translation this happened because we did not ask for assistance which meant one of his relatives who runs a local garage did not benefit from the job 

Back to the Lexus the wheel is vertical hard against the back of the front seat not ideal  secured to the bottom halves of the rear seat belt but we also have 2 bags strapped to the back seat if the hood is down so yes we could have problems

Dave

[LenT]

Quite a story, Dave.

First, MX5 - the type of car that the British car industry used to make...but better and reliable!

Slightly surprised that a line of six parked MX5s on a French motorway hadn’t attracted the attention of the local gendarmerie in the first place.  But good to hear the lengths they go to to support local industry!

As for the spare, well it sounds like you’ve done what you can - short of getting some kind of separate floor fixing welded up by a good workshop.

I wish you safe driving....
 

[true blue]

cheers Len , been there ,done that with British sports cars ,had MX5's for the last 21 years ,best fun for your money ever should be available on the NHS 😀

Dave