It isn’t exactly a secret that the spare wheel is a dying thing. Mobile repair kits (the can of foam that sits in the boot) have been replacing space-savers and full-sized spares for a number of years, the thinking being that they’re lighter, which helps with CO2 levels, they leave more space in the boot, and modern tyres are stronger than they used to be so they’re less prone to punctures.
Trouble is, the mobile repair kits don’t seem to be living up to the hype. For starters, a lot of drivers are flummoxed when they lift up the boot floor and find a can, or compressor, rather than a wheel,
and they don’t know how to use it.
“In [my] conversations with breakdown and recovery organisations, the biggest single reason for a call-out is vehicles not carrying a spare,” says Peter Lambert, fleet director at Kwik-Fit Fleet. “I understand from a company car driver/fleet manager perspective that no spare is a hassle and causes disruption and added downtime when a tyre suffers a puncture and there is no spare.”
It’s a story that tallies with what the roadside repair specialists say.
“A very small percentage of people can successfully use the mobile repair kits, and we’re going out to more and more punctures where there’s no spare,” reports Phil Ryan, head of technical operations at the RAC.
“It’s doubled in the past three years. In 2013 it was 80,000, we’re on track in 2014 for it to be 160,000, and we’re expecting a quarter of a million in 2015.”
Although the trend for repair kits isn’t likely to slow, one manufacturer, at least, has identified the problem, which was brought to its attention by a number of fleets snubbing cars without spare wheels.
“If we’ve ever had a car without a space saver then we’ve taken calls asking for it,” explains Julian Lea, product manager at Lexus GB. “In cars with a space saver we’ve never taken a call asking for the extra boot space. There are some corporate customers that insist on at least a space saver and won’t take a car that only has an inflation kit.”
Lexus is now offering its forthcoming NX small off-roader only with a space-saver spare
wheel, although there’s no word on exactly how much that eats into the boot space.
Lea continues: “UK customers much prefer a space saver even if it decreases boot space. The UK [NX] will be specified with a space saver on all models. There will be no change to the deck height, but it reduces under-floor storage.”
Despite the supposed benefits of mobile repair kits, the general consensus among the fleet and the wider tyre and breakdown industries is that a good old-fashioned spare wheel or space-saver is far superior.
“[A spare is] far more useable because a technician can fix [the vehicle with] it,” says Ryan. “Repair kits can work in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, but more tyres are shredded now than just getting a straight puncture, particularly with low-profile tyres, and no repair kit will solve that.
“Customers are often surprised when vehicles don’t have [a spare tyre]. Many people wouldn’t have a clue and if you’re a sales rep for a, b, or c company then it’s not on your mind to think about that sort of thing.”
Andy Williams, operational services manager at leasing giant Alphabet, agrees that a proper spare is the better option, but adds that it can encourage drivers to change a wheel at the side of the road, even though you might not want them to: “Absolutely [a spare is better than a repair kit], especially in terms of fleets generally and care for employees.
“If you provide a vehicle with a spare wheel then there are two sides to it: if you do, are you then encouraging the employee to change a wheel by the side of the road? It’s a balance between convenience and prioritising safety. If [an employee] gets a puncture on the motorway, do you really want them changing the wheel at the side of the road?
“I’m sure there are fleets out there that have policies in place [to prevent employees from doing so]. It’s much like the mobile phone policy. It’s on the same level.”
The advice is to check the fine print at the procurement stage (BusinessCar’s list of the top 10 fleet manufacturers’ tyre policies will help – see right) and make sure you know what your vehicles come with from the outset, and whether there’s an option to upgrade.
Williams continues: “A lot of it is around the car choice generally, but it’s peace of mind. I think if you’ve got a spare then great, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all policy. The underlying issue is that even if you choose to upgrade, there isn’t a spare to put in a number of manufacturers’ models, so it’s down to picking a model that has the capability to get you somewhere safe.”
A bit of noise also goes a long way, according to Ryan: “It’s helpful that large fleets do raise their concerns in that way because they have the buying power to raise awareness with drivers and they have more influence with manufacturers with issues like this.
“With retail sales, manufacturers will often try to sell customers an aftermarket space saver, but I believe that happens less with fleets. I would applaud fleets who are raising awareness of this.
“I understand the CO2 legislation that’s driving the manufacturers in this direction and a big part of that is reducing weight. But with fleets, a lot of drivers have got special requirements or loads with things that need to be delivered and that’s an issue. Especially time.”
One size fits all
At the start of 2014, the RAC launched an initiative to tackle the issue of lengthy call-outs to vehicles without a spare wheel. The universal spare wheel is a five-stud 17-inch alloy wheel that fits what the organisation describes as “a high proportion of vehicles”, which reduces the time required to carry out a roadside repair.
The firm’s technical operations director, Phil Ryan, told BusinessCar: “The problem really reared its head about three or four years ago.
A lot of manufacturers don’t fit a spare and customers are less inclined to change wheels anyway.
“The complexity it presents for roadside patrols is immense. You’ve got to find a tyre for that car and replace it, so it takes much longer.”
The universal spare has since been issued to all of the RAC’s patrol vehicles. Once it has been fitted at the roadside, the patrol technician contacts the nearest tyre supplier (although it has to be one the organisation is partnered with) to establish whether a more permanent replacement is available, or the driver can book a mobile fitting later on and leave the universal spare with the fitter.
“I expect this to become the norm in the industry within the next couple of years,” says Ryan. “I do think the rest of the breakdown industry will follow suit.
Top 10 fleet manufacturers’ spare tyre policies
1. Ford
Repair kit standard on all models except the Focus and Kuga, which have a space saver.
The Ka, Fiesta, B-max, C-max, and Grand C-max can all be had with a space saver as a £95 option. The Focus has a paid-for option of a full-size spare when 16-inch wheels are fitted. The Mondeo policy changes depending on wheel size, but it can be had with a repair kit, space saver or full-size spare. The S-max and Galaxy are not available with spare wheels due to an extra row of seats but can be specified with run-flat tyres for extra cost.
2. Vauxhall
Repair kit standard on all models. Space-saver spare available as a
£95 option.
3. Volkswagen
Space savers standard on the majority of models. The Golf Estate, Jetta, Passat, CC and Phaeton have full-size spares. Exceptions include the Take Up (the entry-level Up city car), where a full-size spare costs £50, and models where packaging restrictions (a third row of seats, batteries, subwoofers, or a large standard wheel) size prohibit it.
4. BMW
Run-flat tyres standard with all cars except M performance models, which have non-run-flat tyres and a repair kit.
5. Audi
Varies widely across the range. Too many alternatives to list.
6. Peugeot
Most models come with either a space saver or full-size spare, although certain trim levels on the 108, 3008, 508 and 5008 have repair kits. The RCZ is only offered with a repair kit.
7. Mercedes
Majority of models have a repair kit except: GLA on 19-inch wheels; C-class AMG Line, which has run-flats; E-class (except E350 Bluetec and E300 Hybrid models, which have a repair kit); C-class coupe; GL; CL, which has a space-saver spare; and G-class, which has a full-size spare.
8. Nissan
Repair kits standard with the Note, Qashqai and Leaf. The Micra and X-trail get space-saver spares. The Pathfinder has a full-size spare. Front-wheel drive Jukes come with a repair kit while four-wheel drive versions have a space saver.2
9. Hyundai
Space saver standard with the majority of models except: i10 and ix35, which have a repair kit as standard and space-saver/full-size spare as respective options. Santa
Fe, iLoad and i800 all come with a full-size spare.
10. Citroen
Varies across the range but the brand said it does a mix of repair kits, space savers and full-size spares.
