Thread: spare tyres - actual times you needed a second spare

Originally Posted by MLD

Who would have thought this topic would attract this much attention. I guess it is one topic that is not based on a level of specialist expertise, there is no wrong answer and everyone has an opinion.

Agree, everybody has a different approach.

Originally Posted by numpty

As I said, each to their own. I personally don't understand the fascination for "big" tyres, whatever that means. I've never had anything but the OE size tyres on any of my Land Rovers be they 750/16's or 235/85/16's and they've always sufficed.

I will agree that modern tyres are so much better than earlier ones.

Imagine a 76 series dual cab at 4 tonne with 32" tyres, and due to the loads, he runs the rear tyres at 50psi most of the time.

Then imagine a wagon or dual cab at 2.5 tonne with 33" tyres, and due to the loads he runs the tyres at 34psi most of the time.

I would hazard a guess that the first guy gets maybe five times as many punctures as the second guy.

I reckon the loads placed on the tyres relative to the tyres rated load capacity is possibly the biggest factor in whether a second spare should be carried or not.

(Having said that i am not saying that i would necessarily recommend or not recommend the second guy in my above example carry a second spare.)

the time you need a seconds spare is the time you didnt take one.
Murphys law.

On the majority of 4WD's the spare is usually Not a new tyre and is often not even the same size or type of tyre that is on the rest of the truck, Also most people don't worry too much about the condition of their tyres before they head off on a long trip.
This is one of the main reasons why you often see people stuck on the side of the road with a blown tyre and No spare to replace it with.
Having new or tyres in really good condition and the spare being in the same condition/size/type as the rest of the tyres will go a Long way to preventing being stuck on the side of the road But that isn't a 100% guarantee that you won't stake or blow more than one tyre when travelling remote or when you are hundreds of K's away from the nearest tyre joint.
I don't subscribe to carrying an extra spare all the time or for short trips or weekend camping, fishing or 4WD runs But if you are intending on travelling long distances in remote areas and lets face it once you leave the major towns or cities in Australia there isn't too much there So It doesn't hurt to have that extra spare "Just in Case",.
Most people will carry extra fuel for these extended trips so why not carry an extra spare tyre as well

Please... please... stop representing opinion as fact.

From your experience maybe, however, from my experience most people who do travel regularly have matching spares.

I agree many use the “best old roaded” one as the spare in many cases which is false economy.

Most of the travellers I’ve come across with a puncture either had no jack, couldn’t get the wheel nuts off, flat spare (especially if underslung).

On the point of underslung tyres; there is a kit that can be fitted to enable remote checking of pressure and reinflation if required without climbing under.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Please... please... stop representing opinion as fact.

Make your mind up FFS.
Here you are "Bagging" my post.

[quote=Tombie;2813637]I agree many use the “best old roaded” one as the spare in many cases which is false economy.[/quote]

Then here you are agreeing with what I have posted.

“Often not the same size”
“Often not the same type”
“Most people don’t worry about the condition of their tyres”

This has not been my observation.

And by what appears to be a never ending volume of tyre and trip prep threads, several those on this forum appear to be onto it.

Originally Posted by Tombie

“Often not the same size”
“Often not the same type”
“Most people don’t worry about the condition of their tyres”

This has not been my observation.

And by what appears to be a never ending volume of tyre and trip prep threads, several those on this forum appear to be onto it.

These are not only my observations But are also the observations of a Mate of mine that has been a tyre fitter for many years and he has worked on thousands of 4WD's in that time.
Maybe you are not looking hard enough or you need to get out more Because believe it or not there are heaps of people that simply cannot afford to have a matching spare or don't even think about the spare until they need to use it.