puncture.........

[Yorkshire Andy]

Got to work on Wednesday glanced at my driver's wheel ruddy screw right next to the sidewall...


Morning break we get 15 mins out to the car with some washing up liquid and a screwdriver lubed the screw and unscrewed it bubble bubble bubble oh joys......


Well I spent £100 on a spare wheel (option) over a pump and foam sealer kit that you get as standard

I tested the jack supplied when new... It ended up in the bin and I bought a proper trolley jack and big breaker bar and 17mm socket....


Unstrapped the jack from the cargo lashing point and put it under the jack point

Got the spare wheel off the hanger under the car (I lathered the threaded hook with Moli antisieze compound) so it undid no issues...

Cracking the bolts with the breaker bar then jacked swapped the wheel put all away and I still had time to eat a wedge of cake and get a brew on. Guessing it took me Les than 7mins from first touch of the wheel to assess it and get the car repacked ready to roll again ...



The MD came for a look and even he was supprised to see how quickly I did it (after asking me where I got my high lift rappid jack from )

Next day £100 lighter brand new tyre on.. ..



If you have read this far if you have alloys do you have the locking nut key and are the wheels greased so they don't cold weld to the hub?

[preparedsurrey]

The best thing to do with locking wheel nuts is bin them and fit proper ones in their place...thieves can get them off easily enough that they aren't a deterrent anymore.
Sidewall punctures can be legally repaired by a place that does proper vulcanisation repairs, happens regularly with lorries and 4x4s last time cost about £20

[Yorkshire Andy]

All season ) light off road tyre was down to 4 to 3mm sipes had all but gone was not worth the hassle of finding back tyre place willing to send it for a major repair

Got the other wheel swapped with the brand new identical spare so got 2 new tyres up front (backs are like new) so I've got my off road grip back

[yorkshirewolf]

Good preps there Andy, it should be basic stuff for all drivers but sadly i know a few who have never changed a wheel and wouldn't know where to start.

I have a T-max compressor, breaker bar and bottle jack to replace the standard stuff, it's usually useless, cheap crap on most cars - if they even have them!

One thing i have found to be good instead of the foam-stuff in a can, is the Linseal green agricultural tyre seal which has small bits of rubber mixed in which will fill big quite big holes, it does say on the bottle 'not for road use' and technically you have to replace the tyre but i had some in a tyre for over a year and all was well (in fact it was so well and unnoticeable thats why i forgot!)

You have to remove the valve, quirt the stuff in and then refill, so you need a compressor but it's good stuff:

https://www.agrilineproducts.com/tyre-s ... litre.html


Disclaimer: this is not for road use, if you use it in a tyre and it explodes/fall of the rim/makes you wheel square, you've been advised!

[grenfell]

The best thing to do with locking wheel nuts is bin them and fit proper ones in their place...thieves can get them off easily enough that they aren't a deterrent anymore.

On a similar note , I'm in a Facebook group concerned with van break ins ( gets quite depressing to go on with every other post about it).The problem with the locking nuts has been reported a while ago but recently there has been an increase in scrotes nicking spare wheels from under van hangers . I know the last thing anyone wants to do is struggle with a padlock and chain under a vehicle when it's cold , wet and dark but better than finding no spare . Crime aside we tend to keep a pair of disposable overalls and gloves with the jack just for when there's a puncture and we're in our best clothes.

[sniper 55]

The best thing to do with locking wheel nuts is bin them and fit proper ones in their place...thieves can get them off easily enough that they aren't a deterrent anymore.
Sidewall punctures can be legally repaired by a place that does proper vulcanisation repairs, happens regularly with lorries and 4x4s last time cost about £20

Fully agree, my last car a mazda had them break when I went to get new tyres, they just sheered and left me unable (well the tyre fitter couldn't) get the so and so's off. It was lucky they went then rather than when I had a flat tyree. Mazda took ages to get the sheered one off, I told them to bin the lot. Couriously they had a BIG box of "spare" plain nuts and replaced the lot free

For those who don't have one get a proper trolly jack (miles quicker and safer than the junk that comes with the car) and a proper good quality long handled bar to open stiff nuts. Some places just crank up stupidly tight, no torque wrench. God help shifting then by the side of the road with a 6 inch wheel nut spanner, and of course it's be dark and chucking it down...

[jansman]

The above is the reason I have Mutts Nutz RAC cover, smartphone and RAC App!

[sniper 55]

The above is the reason I have Mutts Nutz RAC cover, smartphone and RAC App!

I'd be shamed getting the RAC/AA out just to change a wheel...

[Citizen H]

When I bought my van it came with a tyre inflator, when I sold it I retained it as her indoors would call out the AA, I did tell the next owner there was no spare with the van, he wasn't phased by it so I guess he has his own, putting grease on the alloys never crossed my mind although I copperslip my Cranks and peddles on my mountain bike.... I feel a job coming on this weekend.

[preparedsurrey]

The above is the reason I have Mutts Nutz RAC cover, smartphone and RAC App!

I'd be shamed getting the RAC/AA out just to change a wheel...

Beware if you get the AA out after getting a puncture due to hitting a pot hole they class it as accident damage/ recovery not a breakdown and it's £120 charge!