ASK THE EXPERT: SHOULD I BUY A SPARE WHEEL, OR RELY ON TYRE SEALANT?
Dear Alex,
My 2010 Ford C-Max doesn’t have a spare wheel, which seems increasingly common these days. Should I buy a spare in case of a puncture, or get a can of tyre sealant and keep my fingers crossed?
– TC
Dear TC,
Your C-Max probably wouldn’t have had a spare wheel when it was new – they were an optional extra – but it would have had a tyre inflation kit consisting of a little air compressor and sealant that should allow you to seal and inflate a punctured tyre. If yours hasn’t got this, then it’s been removed by a previous owner.
Either way, the good news is that your car does have a spare wheel well, so there’s somewhere to put a spare if you decide to buy one.
But should you? The conventional wisdom is that a spare wheel is always better than a can of tyre sealant gunk. After all, a spare will always get you out of a situation, whereas tyre sealant can only help with certain types of puncture. Take a chunk out of a sidewall, or bust a bead in a pothole, and you’re stuffed; with a spare wheel, you’d be on your way.
However, keep in mind there are a couple of points to remember with a spare. Firstly, there’s a penalty, albeit very minor, in terms of fuel economy, because of the extra weight of the wheel.
Secondly, a spare wheel must be checked and re-inflated periodically, and replaced ideally every few years, if it is to remain usable. Tyre spray goes off after a while, too, but it’s a fraction of the price of a whole tyre to replace when it does. And, of course, forking out for one in the first place isn’t cheap.
I’d still err on the side of doing so, however, purely for the extra peace of mind. If you’re stuck at the side of a back road in the dead of night with no phone signal and a can of tyre spray that won’t work, you’re in for a long walk. At least with a spare, even one that’s past its sell-by date, you can limp to a place of safety and get help.
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