-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
No Spare Wheel
- Thread starter Empato
- Start date
Plug kit and a compressor are indeed the elegant solution - unless you've punctured a sidewall. Road Hero kits, my weighty alternative, has proven itself Calais SC to Dartford Service Centre. AA never hurts, often helps.
One might also mention...
1: Using tyre goo solutions (even Tesla's own) screws up the M3 acoustic tyre and renders it unfixable while probably not fixing the leak
2: The OP, Empato, being new to these precincts may have wondered what that little magnifying glass icon was for in the upper right hand corner of the screen. It's for searching for topics like "No spare? What can be done"
It's use is recommended to prevent the regurgitation of old and repetitious advice.I think the Tesla one is out of date and no loner appropriate from what I've read. The tyres now tend to be acoustic which basically means a foam lining and the tyre weld/foam stuff is said to not get to the required hole easily.
A compressor of any type is needed to blow the tyre up and half the time that allows you to limp to where you're going if its a slow puncture. Then a plug repair kit if you want the extra protection.
The Dynaplug ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PLPJ9FQ/
are the gold standard for these amongst many people, or maybe its just they are the most expensive as you can get alternatives that cost a lot less. You need some strength to get the plugs in but they do work for most punctures.
A compressor of any type is needed to blow the tyre up and half the time that allows you to limp to where you're going if its a slow puncture. Then a plug repair kit if you want the extra protection.
The Dynaplug ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PLPJ9FQ/
are the gold standard for these amongst many people, or maybe its just they are the most expensive as you can get alternatives that cost a lot less. You need some strength to get the plugs in but they do work for most punctures.
Watts_Up
Well-Known Member
I read bad comments regarding flat tyres, in particular for loss of flexibility and driving comfort.
In fact I'm a little annoyed by Tesla choice of not providing an easy way to store a spare inside the trunk.
I noticed that other EVs makers might also not provide a spare but only a repair kit instead,
however there might be a spare storage available because the EV was derived from an ICE car.
If Tesla want to sell cars all over the world, in particular in areas with low density of population like Russia or Australia for example,
I am surprised that Tesla didn't design the trunk to easily hold a spare, as travelling without a spare might be even more critical.
I have only experience with the Model 3, but I noticed that there is a beam in middle of the trunk between the two wheelhouses.
If this beam have been moved a little bit forward or was a little bit curve, it would have been easy to put a spare flat inside the trunk.
I know that Tesla always mentioned that a spare is not needed because you can just call a Service Center to get a new wheel and tyre.
Well this solution could work if you live in a major city but as soon as you take a trip in the countryside, especially in a mountain area,
you might be stranded for a full day, especially on weekend because the SC are closed.
So if your tyre cannot be patched, then your car needs to be tow to the nearest city and then you will need to find a new tyre.
Since the size is not common, you might then loose an extra day to get a new one.
Last edited:
Jason71
Well-Known Member
That is very similar to the ones for push bikes, which work well. But I preferred the look of the stop and go. I thought the dynaplug type would be very hard to force through a steel banded radial car tyre. The S&G has a tool for reeming out the hole and then what looked to me like a better method for inserting the plug. but I have not had cause to use it fortunately so cannot say first hand. reviews seem excellent though
LongRanger
Active Member
am lucky to have through company car scheme access to Kwik-fit (well lucky is a word maybe not the truth) so anytime I get any sort of tyre issue they are required to come support us as company drivers.
However for real emergencies have just enquired to Tesla UK parts/service to see if they can supply a single spare wheel/tyre combo. It won't help me further afield but locally means we could use our other car to bring the spare, then the other wheel can go off to be sorted in slower time at Kwik-fit.
incidentally to save me measuring/guessing what is the correct wheel bolt head size please ?
However for real emergencies have just enquired to Tesla UK parts/service to see if they can supply a single spare wheel/tyre combo. It won't help me further afield but locally means we could use our other car to bring the spare, then the other wheel can go off to be sorted in slower time at Kwik-fit.
incidentally to save me measuring/guessing what is the correct wheel bolt head size please ?
12V Li-Ion Mini Air Compressor
Got this in the boot as well, have used it a few times and really rate it well!
I feel your pain. Happened to me in Pas de Calais France on a Sunday. Not exactly deep in the Urals
Help from AA or Tesla? hahahahahahaha Road Hero to the rescue as well as my blue wedge for getting space enough to slide the jack under.It must be dire in places even further off piste.
There are some posts in another Tesla forum about a method of strapping a spare (at least a Road Hero compact one) to the underside of the parcel shelf. Many pros and cons but it does get it out of the way of the boot floor space and seems to be reasonably secure. YMMV.
this is one of the reasons I will never drive this car out of town...the mobile service has too many bad reviews to make me trust that service...and it seems to be prevalent trend with EV's....wierd for sure. I have a silly tire repair kit and a pump....I don't see myself pulling that out. I plan to buy another tire and keep in the garage..call home if I need this. Apparently special jack mounts are required!!! this is getting silly. why no run flats is a good question...
HenryT
Active Member
I think the reason for no run flats is because the ride quality would suffer too much if they were fitted, given the weight of the car. I had them before on BMWs and they were dreadful both in terms of road noise and vibration, and don't even get me started of the cracked rims....
Glan gluaisne
Active Member
Just had a look at the Road Hero wheel and kit. One interesting thing that I noticed was that the part number they list for the Model 3 is the same as that for a Honda CR-V.
That would seem to open up the possibility of finding a Honda CR-V space saver as an emergency spare. Tempted to have a look around and see if a Honda space saver would fit.
That would seem to open up the possibility of finding a Honda CR-V space saver as an emergency spare. Tempted to have a look around and see if a Honda space saver would fit.
I've heard that point being made so many times that I wonder how that inconvenience supersedes being stuck on the road...I
d take run flats over road noise any day.
MrBadger
Badger out
Not an absolute must have but for the relatively small cost, a small price to insure idiot proof location of any jack where the consequences of getting it wrong don't bear thinking about.
HenryT
Active Member
I simply mean that I don't think they would be suitable, not inconvenient - hence the point about cracked rims on BMWs. Because the side walls in the runflats are so rigid the suspension would be taking a hammering and I don't know about Babylon 5, but the potholes in my part of the universe mean that in all probability the rims would be the next bit to give up.
If you are concerned about convenience then fit runflats and see how you get on. That or carry a spare or some sort of repair kit.
LongRanger
Active Member
Run flats simply wouldn’t work with the suspension tuning of the car.
You can only be prepared for all eventualities up to a point - hundreds of millions of miles are completed each year with no punctures and then there are some miles where folks do have them.
Better to know what you would do in the situation where you encounter a flat tyre than worry too much about all manner of equipment to fix it yourself. On the occasions where you are going further out of extended comfort zone a compact spare or funky sealant kit can be factored in but most of the time there are plenty of tyre specialists within reach.
You can only be prepared for all eventualities up to a point - hundreds of millions of miles are completed each year with no punctures and then there are some miles where folks do have them.
Better to know what you would do in the situation where you encounter a flat tyre than worry too much about all manner of equipment to fix it yourself. On the occasions where you are going further out of extended comfort zone a compact spare or funky sealant kit can be factored in but most of the time there are plenty of tyre specialists within reach.
Drew57
Active ember
I have a small air compressor & pressure gauge permanently in the car & add a Road Hero kit for longer journeys.
What is actually the reason for manufacturers no longer providing a spare wheel, even a space saver? Cost cutting? Saving space? No one knows how to change a wheel anymore? A spare wheel was something you took for granted until relatively recently.
I often drive in remote places, and after recently experiencing a blow out in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal I’ve decided a spare wheel is essential. Has anyone had any experience with Road Hero or any other make?
I often drive in remote places, and after recently experiencing a blow out in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal I’ve decided a spare wheel is essential. Has anyone had any experience with Road Hero or any other make?
Similar threads
