What's better? Spare, temporary spare, maybe a repair kit?

For many years, the main equipment of every car is a spare wheel, which over time is replaced by a repair kit. What's better?

“Run flat”, as people call the situation when a car tire is punctured, probably happened to every driver. In such a situation, the spare tire saves. During the pioneering era of the automotive industry, tire and wheel damage was one of the most common driver failures of the day. The reason was the terrible quality of the roads and the tires themselves. Therefore, almost before the start of World War II, many cars were equipped with two spare wheels.

Now such protection is not needed, but tire damage does occur. Therefore, each car must have a spare tire, a temporary spare wheel or a repair kit. The latter consists of a container of tire sealant and a compressor connected to the vehicle's 12V outlet.

Why do many manufacturers replace the spare wheel with a repair kit? There are several reasons. First, the kit is lightweight. At the same time, the spare wheel weighs at least 10-15 kg, and in top-end cars or SUVs, and 30 kg. At a time when designers are thinking about losing a car, it's important to subtract every kilogram. An important reason for equipping cars with a repair kit is also to find additional space in the trunk. Spare wheel space can be used for additional storage under the boot floor, which also has room on the side for a repair kit.

An introduction to repair kits was a temporary spare tire. It has the diameter of a standard car wheel for which it is intended. On the other hand, the tire on it has a much narrower tread. In this way, manufacturers are trying to find more space in the trunk - a narrow tire takes up less space in it.

So which stock is better? – For drivers who travel long distances, the car must be equipped with a spare wheel, says Radoslaw Jaskulski, an instructor at the Skoda Driving School. - In a situation where the tires are damaged, they are guaranteed to be able to continue on their way.

According to an Auto Skoda School spokesperson, the repair kit is an ad hoc solution that works well mostly in the city. - The advantage of the repair kit is its ease of use. There is no need to unscrew the wheel, which in the case of, for example, the Skoda Kodiaq, where the wheel weighs 30 kilograms, is quite a challenge. However, if the tire is more damaged, such as its sidewall, the repair kit will not work. This solution is for small holes in the tread. Therefore, if a more serious tire damage occurs on the road, and only a repair kit is in the trunk, we are doomed to help on the road. - says Radoslav Jaskulsky.

But if you manage to patch a hole in a tire with a repair kit, you must remember that you can drive several tens of kilometers on such a tire, and at a speed of no more than 80 km / h. It is best to contact the tire shop immediately after using the tire repair kit. And here the second problem arises, because the service will be more expensive. This is due to the fact that before patching the hole, it is necessary to remove the preparation that was previously pressed into the tire.

Is this a temporary spare tire? - Yes, but there are a few facts to consider. The speed of this tire cannot exceed 80 km/h. In addition, the same principle applies as with a repair kit - find a tire shop as soon as possible. Driving too long on the temporary spare tire can damage the vehicle's traction mechanisms. Radoslav Jaskulsky warns.