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Dealing
with tyre punctures - a personal view
Peter Varely responded to a V8 Bulletin Board thread
discussing spacesaver wheels for the RV8 as a way of making
more room for luggage when touring, with this personal view
on his approach to the issue. (Sep 12)
Here is some food for thought.
How
old or underinflated is your spare tyre?
If it is older than seven years then it is on the way out -
the rubber starts to dry out and gets minute cracks in it.
Have
you changed a wheel using the tools supplied with the RV8?
The jack is very unstable on any ground that is not perfectly
flat. The wheel brace is best used by Conan the barbarian as
it is way too short to get leverage on wheel nuts that have
never been removed since Adam was in the boy scouts. Now try
the wheel changing task on a busy highway in the middle of winter
and at night - that's usually when you get a puncture.
From
what I see you have few options.
> Stick to the full size spare wheel in the boot.
> Try and find a spacesaver wheel and tyre.
> Get a "goo and go" kit to get you home."
>
Join a "roadside assist" company so that you can stay
in your car and wait for them to replace the flat tyre or organise
a recovery truck.
At the
end of the day it really depends on what situation you are in
when you need to replace that flat tyre. If all the planets
are aligned and Murphy has set a blind eye to you, then you
might be lucky. If you are wondering what option I have taken?
Well
I have:
> Joined a roadside assist company! It has already paid for
itself because I had to use their towing service |
From this - a full size spare wheel taking half the boot
- to . . .
To this - more space for luggage when touring with an
RV8.
twice due to contaminated fuel because of a corroded fuel tank,
and that's another story.
> Removed the full size spare wheel and purchased a good
quality "goo and go" kit.
Now
I have probably jinxed myself!
Do remember it is important not to tow an MG RV8 - it must be
taken on a trailer. See the caution in our note in RV8NOTE252.
More
See our illustrated version of this note. More |
