Hi
anyone not carry a spare wheel??

I have been carrying a flat spare for 3 years... lol

but I also carry a high pressure tyre compressor..

I finally pumped it up to go to Valla...

and now have it and My tools out of My boot and the front is about 50mms higher...

LEE

I wouldn't think of going without a spare, mostly because bugs handle much better with some weight in the front! I wouldn't really want to have to use my spare, since the tyre on it is at least 25 years old, but it holds air fine and has tread on it so presumably it could do the job.

I agree with you there Lee, old tyres are not to be trusted. With 14x6" rims on the car though, the spare tyre is only ever going to be a temporary solution to limp home on. I have spare 14x6" rims at home with tyres on but they don't fit into the spare wheel well.

2 X fully-inflated light truck tyres on spare wheels in the treasure chest, also a foot-operated pump and valve tools (there's lots of space in a DOKA).... If you rely on an air compressor, you introduce several new potential points of failure into the system: battery, charging system, air compressor, air hose, valve etc.

One alternative approach is to carry a can of tyre sealant (once upon a time, there was a product called "Zzzzsssshhh" or similar) which isn't especially reliable but you can fit a can, even in a Beetle.

hth

all the talk about spare reminds me
.... i should find that jack and put it back in the car

No spare in the buggy, but where the hell would I put it, do carry a compressor and a tyre/puncture repair kit though, at least when I go outa town.

Put yr tools back in and add some more!!

I have the original Czechoslovakian spare in mine. Still looks mint. Though I would not use it and besides, when i go to 130mm X 5 pattern it will be useless.

Do the offroad boys often carry spare tyres? or just puncture repair kits?

I have the original West German spare tyre in the bug ...I will be replacing it once I plan to do interstate trips...I'd never risk using it but yeah its good to have the weight in there!

The type 3 is missing its jack which does remind me it needs replacing... I had a tyre blowout on the fwy a few months ago due to my tyres having cracked sidewalls so it now has all new tyres

not sure if i have a jack in the car atm, i run the space saver spare.
must put the compressor in as well when i check.

me no spare, except when I go camping or very serious offroad... ie, hardly ever.

I carry a 5yo 'tyre in a can' and have never had a puncture.

VWs cars generally don't weigh enough to have issues as long as you keep your tyres in reasonable condition. Specially on 4wd/truck tyres.

no spare in the Baja one old can of tyre seal and thats it.

none of my Bajas have had spares and touch wood never had an issue that the tyre seal can't fix to get me home.



steff......................

I never used to have a spare driving around in my bug, and then in 2008 I thought I might buy one at Valla, just to be safe, within 3 months or so (maybe more) I had a Michelin blow out on the back right in a big way, whilst going back to Armidale from Coffs on Waterfall way, lucky I had the spare, but the old VW jack that is a topic for another thread...

It was ok jacking it up and taking off the wheel but didn't have enough lift to let me put a fully inflated wheel back on! a car stopped and lent me their jack though so made it home.

Funny story, I broke down in the middle of waterfall way just near ebor heading back to Coffs, another car stopped to help me and asked if my radiator needed more water! I told him it had fallen off up the road and I couldn't find it, believe it or not he went back for a look and came up the same answer, its then that I told him it was aircooled

lol

takes me back to that movie 'Doc Hollywood' where the mechanic opens the front of the 356 and says, "where's the dang engine?!"

Michael J Fox looks worried and the mechanic winks and says, "gotcha!"

Yeah, same happened to me with a boat trailer, towed it for 3 years and the one b4 that for 2 1/2 years without a flat, bought a spare at a garage sale and 2 weeks later had a tyre failure, put the spare on and alls well till 5k up the road the other one went, no spare, musta been time for new tyres anyway.

No spare in the BAJA but I keep a puncture repair kit and compressor all the time

Marc

Hi

In the sons bug we have some sort of skinny pumped up style space saver, I found it at the side of the road, I had a centre fitted to it that is 4x130 & 5x130 & 5x100. I've already leant it to another VW driver to get him home.

On my yellow bug and in my new one I will use Porsche space saver, its the pump up type, you can vary the OD via the pressure which is ideal for cars running odd size wheels front and back.

Steve

I use a phone. Takes no room and RACQ will tow it if they cant fix it. All part of the subscription.

Its pretty common for new euro cars not to have a spare
mums new pug doesnt, just 2 cans of spare in a can
mates 405 is the same


I dont often carry my spare unless im leaving town, I can only do 80km/h max on it anyway

touch woood i generally have a good run with never geting flats

my last 2 tyres replaced had 5 nails between them and i noticed swapping my rad the other week my front has a tyre screw. been in so long the heads worn off

havent put air in since i put the rims on 6 months ago

Quote:

Originally posted by Joel Its pretty common for new euro cars not to have a spare mums new pug doesnt, just 2 cans of spare in a can mates 405 is the same I dont often carry my spare unless im leaving town, I can only do 80km/h max on it anyway touch woood i generally have a good run with never geting flats my last 2 tyres replaced had 5 nails between them and i noticed swapping my rad the other week my front has a tyre screw. been in so long the heads worn off havent put air in since i put the rims on 6 months ago

Well funnily enough i have plenty of spare spares


Ive noticed over the years alot of standard bugs that have been in accidents the spare doeesnt fit in the wheel well anymore
My ex's 68 beetle, the spare only fit in the wheel well if you let the air out first

Most vw people look crosseyed when they see my spare
I have one of those ultra ultra ultra rare prototype superbeetles, 1 of only 2 in existance that have a spare in the uprigth position like a standard bug

I beleive the other one is in the Netherlands with an Alfa romeo engine up its tuckus

i always carried a spare, shitty or good, not for in case of a flat, as i never had tools or a jack, just that early bugs and some others were designed to have the spare wheel in there to absorb impact incase of a head on smash.... if u ever get a chance, compare damage between a bug with a spare and without.... hard i know, as you cant say they were in a controlled environment... but still.... the difference is noticeable.

What stud pattern is that space saver Joel??

4 x 130 ??

some tyres are wider and larger OD than others...

I had a firestone spare which would only fit in Flat..

but Now I have another brand of tyre pumped up and it fits easily.. both same size tyres...


LEE

I have always been told a fully pumped spare is part of the crash impact protection

Having had a small(ish) one in a Super I can believe it
The tyre took a fair amount of the impact

Running Porsche I was worried that you could only carry the inflatable spare as it wouldnt fit

I have since fount that they do fit - so I do now (again) carry a fully pumped spare

at the moment i have my caravan spare in the bug, dont know why, just havent taken it out and i am normally less than 5km away from home, and have no use for a spare in the manx as there isnt enough weight to flatten the tyre if there is no air in them .

matt