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tim_roberts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2013
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 215

United Kingdom 2010 Freelander 2 TD4_e S Manual Santorini Black

Punctures are entirely a matter of luck (unless like my sons you make a habit of hitting the kerbs in which case it's just bad driving!) and likewise the chances of an aerosol sealant 'fixing' a puncture are not good - especially if you've had to run on the flat tyre for any distance.

Even though it's down to luck, there are certain rules that punctures always obey:
1. It will be raining and dark when it happens
2. You will have a boot full of luggage and will have to unload it all onto the roadside to get at the spare wheel
3. Because of the rain, dark, etc you will leave one vital item of lugage behind when you load it all back into the boot and drive off.

As I understand it, the MoT man can fail you if your spare is bald or flat. How come he can't fail you if your spare is missing?! When I bought my FL2, it had a spare wheel, but no tyre. How legal would that have been?

Post #263542 12th May 2015 12:41 pm
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V40TC



Member Since: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Somerset
Posts: 301

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto Indus Silver

very legal as you are not likely to fit it and drive.
unless desperate.

Post #263543 12th May 2015 12:51 pm
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LR NUT



Member Since: 12 May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4350

Scotland 2014 Freelander 2 TD4_e Dynamic Manual Fuji White

A spare tyre can be 100% bald and your car will pass an MOT! Spare tyres are not part of an MOT test. MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Post #263544 12th May 2015 12:52 pm
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Navigator



Member Since: 29 Dec 2010
Location: Within reach of the coffee machine
Posts: 492

Scotland 

Ayjayh wrote:
personally changed a wheel at the roadside , and how many times in how many years?


Too many to mention, including in my very impoverished student days, prising off the tyre and repairing the tube as there was no spare.

Most recently (in dark and snow) about two months ago. About the only breakdown one can do anything with these days without a computer analyser and a workshop full of kit. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

Post #263556 12th May 2015 3:14 pm
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frawdder



Member Since: 19 Apr 2013
Location: In ma hoose
Posts: 86

Scotland 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

I've had two punctures since Christmas, blame it on the new house development nearby. Only had to change wheel on one though but saved me the price of a new tyre as both were repairable, not so if I had used the foam.

On a side note, from memory my last car is the only one I have not had a puncture with. BMW with run flats. When I queried about having a spare their response was that is now deemed dangerous to change a tyre by the roadside, especially on the motorway and there will be more manufacturers fitting run flats in the future. Hope not, the ride quality was terrible Sad

Post #263579 12th May 2015 6:59 pm
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JST



Member Since: 01 Nov 2011
Location: Lizant
Posts: 1098

France 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Narvik Black

Not in my FL2 but yes in my wife's Peugeot 307cc. It had a steel spare which is OK but limited to 50mph. My FL2 had a steel spare so I bought an alloy with decent tyre on fleabay for £55 - well worth it! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Post #263582 12th May 2015 7:07 pm
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LR NUT



Member Since: 12 May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4350

Scotland 2014 Freelander 2 TD4_e Dynamic Manual Fuji White

A new full size spare alloy with a branded tyre along with a wheel jack and brace for £185 was a very wise option for those who specced it from new. If you were to ever kerb/damage an alloy you have a brand new one in the boot. Similarly when you come to replace your tyres if you keep your car that long then you will only need to purchase three tyres! Also if you have a puncture and use the gunk there is no one up here in my area who will touch it! I have heard that certain garages do but it's very messy and time consuming to clear the gunk out! You don't even get a wheel brace and jack unless you spec the spare wheel! So basically JLR expect you to travel home with the gunk and then round about trying garages who will repair it! Pathetic really they should give you a jack at least so that you can take the tyre off yourself and then get a friend or family member to take the wheel to a garage and see who can fix it! For those who have a second car we can take the damaged tyre ourselves to a garage. MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Post #263588 12th May 2015 7:46 pm
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Ct8637



Member Since: 06 Jan 2017
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 115

United Kingdom 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Santorini Black

Old thread but, a spare is vital I find. Had a blowout on a motorway on xmas day a couple of years back in my BMW, only just bought the car so went to change it and boom, no spare! Luckily it was a run flat so crawled 50 miles home and waited a few days to get the tyre changed. Same car one Thursday night at around midnight on the A1 somewhere between the m25 and yorkshire. Had the gunk but did nothing as the split was too big. Recovery geezer had to call around depots and luckily managed to get hold of a tyre close enough size to fit. Few weeks ago in a different car had another puncture, caused by some knobheads who decided to smash some glass in the road in the town center. Thing is it was a slow puncture so by the time it was flat it was evening and I was in the middle of the new forest. Again, gunk didn't work and had no spare.

Now got the feeelander, first thing I checked was the spare. It's a steel wheel but it's full size with brand new tyre. As soon as I can I will be buying an alloy so I have a proper spare, for once 😂

Post #315397 15th Jan 2017 10:09 pm
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Gapster



Member Since: 30 Aug 2016
Location: Auvergne
Posts: 148

France 

I have the same experience - changed a flat roadsid twice in 40yrs of driving. However, I wouldn't dream of going out without a spare tyre, the 'peice of mind' is priceless..

It's like many other things in life where 'sods law' comes into play. You only need something that one time you don't carry it.

As an aside.... Spent a lifetime practicing combat/m.arts. Never needed to apply it in a 'defensive situation' despite having done a bit of door work/protection in my youth. Rolling with laughter Only dead fish go with the flow

Post #315400 16th Jan 2017 6:43 am
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Yorky Bob



Member Since: 28 Apr 2015
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 4561

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Firenze Red

Maybe I have just been lucky! Can I ask how many of you have actually personally changed a wheel at the roadside , and how many times in how many years?

On one journey I had 7 flat tyres to get there ! Mind you I did drive from Yorkshire to Gilgit. Laughing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit-Baltistan FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Post #315414 16th Jan 2017 10:01 am
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dorsetfreelander



Member Since: 20 Jul 2013
Location: Dorset
Posts: 4353

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Loire Blue

Back in the 90's at the height of the IRA problems I had a puncture just up the road outside an army tank training school so I pulled in to their entrance. All hell broke loose as they obviously suspected a car bomb. I was questioned and the car was searched then I was allowed to replace my wheel but with a couple of guys with guns standing over me. No sudden movements etc .... Sad 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Post #315418 16th Jan 2017 10:08 am
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Yorky Bob



Member Since: 28 Apr 2015
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 4561

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Firenze Red

The pleasure of getting old is we all have stories Dorset. Thumbs Up

You just reminded me of yet another one of mine - I used to have a legal explosives licence, obtained by saying it was for Cave Rescues (we used them really for exploration). Back in dicks day we went to Ireland by ferry to go caving and of course the ammo tin in the car stunk of Nitro Glycerine, try explaining that to the nice man with the big gun. Whistle FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Post #315424 16th Jan 2017 10:23 am
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MartynB



Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: Currently Rootless !
Posts: 1777

United Kingdom 2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto Zermatt Silver

One thing I always do ( after getting caught out and not being able to change a puncture on an Alfa Sportswagon ) is to pop the alloys off any car we've had and slap copperslip on the mating faces. Steel hubs, alloy wheels, and winter road salt can easily leave you with a wheel that won't come off without a lump hammer and a block of wood ! Not what you need in a puncture situation .

When I was working I ran BMWs for 12 years with run flats, twice they saved my bacon on the M62 allowing me to get to Manchester airport without the scary option of a wheel change on the M62.

I agree that " peace of mind " is priceless, with both cars I'm often out of "mobile 'phone signal" and no way am I going off road to a fishing beat where I'm the only person there, without the ability to get back ! 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .


Last edited by MartynB on 16th Jan 2017 11:52 am. Edited 1 time in total

Post #315428 16th Jan 2017 10:39 am
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Yorky Bob



Member Since: 28 Apr 2015
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 4561

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Firenze Red

Excellent point about the Copper-slip Martyn.

I am always keen to apply it to any new car, I remember BMW alloys especially stick on hard from day one and they may not come off for years on modern menu type servicing. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Post #315429 16th Jan 2017 10:45 am
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grumsel



Member Since: 16 Nov 2016
Location: Heeze
Posts: 278

Netherlands 2012 Freelander 2 TD4 Sport Auto Barolo Black

Ct8637 wrote:

Now got the feeelander, first thing I checked was the spare. It's a steel wheel but it's full size with brand new tyre. As soon as I can I will be buying an alloy so I have a proper spare, for once 😂

This was also one of the first things I checked. My freelander has a alloy wheel with a brand new tire, same alloy wheel and tire as the other wheels.

For my daily commute I wouldn't mind not having a full spare. When I had a car without a full spare I always borrowed a full spare from my garage when going on a holiday by car. In the 35+ years I drive cars I only had a flat tire once.

Post #315431 16th Jan 2017 10:48 am
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