The spare wheel has lived. Once clearly visible, it then compacted like a cake before being replaced by a puncture-proof spray. This is the new rule, but there are still some exceptions.
Why sacrifice the spare tire? To reduce consumption and protect the environment. Depending on its size, a spare tire weighs between 10 and 20 kg. Its elimination instantly leads to a reduction of 1 or 2 g / km in CO emissions.2. In addition, its disappearance makes it possible to fit out a new storage space, increase the capacity of the fuel tank or even more easily install the additional battery required by a hybrid engine model.
A good step for the environment. But what about security?
Punctures are increasingly rare and many of them would have been easily avoided by making sure to respect the pressure, for example.
That said, if you believe the tire manufacturers, these punctures happen on average five times in a motorist’s life.
PHOTO JOE WILSSENS, SUPPLIED BY STELLANTIS
Mounted on a base, the spare wheel is proudly displayed in the RAM TRX bucket.
Today, just over 50% of new vehicles produced worldwide do not have a spare tire. Instead, we find rather a puncture-proof bomb. This cannot help you if the tire is notched or completely flat. In the latter case, it should be noted that some vehicles also offer an electric compressor to alleviate this situation. Some, but not all. Hence the need to verify the proper functioning of these elements now rather than doing so in a panic situation at 35 degrees below zero.
Roll flat
The other solution is to opt for run-flat tires (run flat). For a few years now, these have been fitted to certain high-end vehicles such as those from BMW or, more recently, the most upscale version of the Toyota Sienna.
These tires, which are more expensive to replace, have very rigid sidewalls (degradation of ride comfort to be expected), but do not manage to seal the large cracks themselves. And if necessary, it is important to remember that these tires must be replaced in pairs and not individually.
On the other hand, the motorist can reach the next mechanical workshop without stress, even if it is more than a hundred kilometers away. It should be remembered that any run-flat must be considered as an abnormal and temporary situation.
Go back
Some motorists believe that nothing can replace the good old spare tire. André Thot is one of them. To do this, during a visit to a junkyard, he purchased a rim corresponding to his current vehicle and a breakdown kit at a cost of $ 560. “A solution that is not very economical and rather cumbersome, but it reassures me,” he says.
Professional help
The prospect of having to empty the contents of its trunk on the side of the road, in order to access the spare tire (by the way, is that where it is on your vehicle?) And its hardware or even the tire sealant and compressor (if applicable) is not a piece of cake. Not to mention the difficulties in making the change: on many car models, the operation is physically very complicated. To believe that, for most builders, it should be reserved for professionals. They are not totally wrong. Especially since, according to several surveys conducted by both the tire industry and automobile associations, 8 out of 10 people do not know how to remove a wheel. The easiest and most secure is to take out a subscription with a breakdown service such as CAA-Quebec or even with your insurance company.