Spare wheel check

[Daz999]

Hi Folks, i decided to check on the condition of my spare wheel. It was not as bad as i thought but still not sure if i would be happy to use it.





I found this rubber item in the plastic wheel carrier. Any ideas as to what it is?

 

[bonzo]

The wheel looks like it can be saved, but more to the point, how old is the tyre?

 

[Jack Ratt]

Looks like a butt plug

 

[t-tony]

At a guess I'd say the tyre is as old as the rest of the car?

Tony.

 

[Chipper3]

You have a spare wheel?? Where's mine?

I was once told (probably by a guy hoping to sell me tyres) that you shouldn't trust tyres over 6 years old.

 

[Daz999]

I've spent a bit of time cleaning up the wheel and it appears to just surface rust. I think i will take it down to my local tyre place and ask them to remove the tyre so i can check the area around the beads more clearly.
The tyre itself "looks" remarkably good for 12 years old with no cracks at all but i will change it if i can save the rim.

Yeah Jack i thought that too,

Is it supposed to be attached to the wheel cradle mechanism in some way?

 

[GazHyde]

I'd go with the line of replacing it through not knowing how old the tyre is. That said, I've ditched the spare tyre and carrier and put the BMW tyre inflation kit in the boot of the car.

I've driven using the spare and it's not a pleasant experience, plus you have the problem of where to put the road tyre when it's fitted.

Looks like a butt plug

Go and sit in the naughty corner for 30 minutes

 

[Daz999]

Cheers Gaz, Is the inflation kit a compressor and goo type? Do you know if the tyre can be repaired properly after using those?

I also have an E91 currently on runflats and was thinking of switching it to normal tyres, so a kit may be the solution for both cars.

 

[hard top]

Do you know if the tyre can be repaired properly after using those?

Yes, its a myth that the tyre can not be repaired after using the gunk.
At my mates garage he cleanes them out, repaires them and puts them back on the car.
Most other places will just want to sell you some new rubber.

 

[GazHyde]

Is the inflation kit a compressor and goo type?

Essentially yes. This is the kit, except this is branded MINI but it's identical.

Do you know if the tyre can be repaired properly after using those?

I've never checked, but I would still use this in preference to the space saver any day.

 

[t-tony]

Agreed, but it's horrible s*** to clean out and if you were charged a fair amount of labour to do that it probably wouldnt be cost effective though.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Shirl's MX5 had that type of kit but the "fill" does have a limited shelf life.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

Forgot I had this picture, which explains why using a space saver is impractical unless you are on your own in the car.

Oh, and while I remember: There was a recorded incident of a passenger in a Z3 carrying a road wheel on her lap which had a bulge in the side wall, but hadn't deflated. It burst in her lap and she died from internal injuries.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8600833.stm

Ok, that's at the extreme end of the scale - but could you really ask your passenger to sit with a wheel on their lap while you drive?

 

[hard top]

Agreed, but it's horrible s*** to clean out and if you were charged a fair amount of labour to do that it probably wouldnt be cost effective though.

Tony.

Bullshit Tony, use a steam HP cleaner........

 

[Daz999]

Ok guys, thanks very much, i will probably go down the mobility kit route as it saves me having to buy a 17inch space saver for the tourer and a new tyre for Zed .

 

[hard top]

Essentially yes. This is the kit, except this is branded MINI but it's identical.
View attachment 12684

Is that part of the kit that goes with the buttplug Gaz?...........

You can buy this stuff in spay can and it does the same job.

 

[bonzo]

Yeah, but the gunk repair kits can't do much for a big gash can they..... I remember (I think) Mike Fishwick saying he drove ok on a spacesaver spare. ...I got a virtually new wheel and tyre on Ebay for £80 some time ago. I waxoyled the rim well and it's still fine, and just needed a wee bit of pressure after checking it yesterday.

 

[t-tony]

Bullshit Tony, use a steam HP cleaner........

Not many tyre centres will have a steam cleaner Mike, and it's still horrible s***.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Evening all, just tried to zoom in on the tyre pictures up above but I can't quite make it out, if you look at your tyres you'll find a date code on them. This particular tyre seems to be 4301, this means the tyre was made in the 43rd week of 2001, like I said I can't quite make it out but if this is correct the tyre is way past it's use-by date (generally reckoned to be about 5 or 6 years). You'll have to have a close look yourself, but this will tell you how old the tyre is.

 

[hard top]

My mates garage does tyres as well, probably the last of the dying breed.....

@t-tony