Tyre repair kits – is it the end of the replacement tire?

If you've recently bought a car or know someone who has, you've probably noticed that many cars no longer come with a replacement tire. This raises some questions! Why is that? If you get a puncture, do you have to call a tow truck? And if you're stopped by the police, are you in trouble? Let's answer these questions and finally demystify this update in the automotive world.

Tire repair kits have come to replace spare tires and there's a reason for that: they allow for more trunk space and also lighter cars, which consequently have lower emissions and taxes.

There are various types of repair kits, which can vary in price and the experience of those who handle them. As a general rule, these kits consist of a liquid sealant and a compressor. However, as with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages.

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Advantages:

By having your own tire repair kit, you'll have more trunk space and your car will be lighter, which will help to reduce fuel consumption. This solution usually doesn't require you to remove the tire from the car, which means you don't get dirty when repairing the tire and you don't have to remove nuts and bolts, which, let's face it, are always too tight.

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Disadvantages:

As not everything can be perfect, giving up the spare tire also has its disadvantages. Repair kits work well for small punctures in the center of the tire, but if it's a large puncture or on the sides, you'll be forced to call a tow truck, which can cause the tire to blow out.

If your car doesn't have a spare tire, you can opt for different kit solutions, the prices of which start at around €10. There are low-cost kits with a puncture pump, kits with a compressor and professional kits. The first is the most affordable solution, which simply removes the object that damaged the tire and inflates it with the pump so you can travel around 20km, enough to get to a garage. In the case of kits with a compressor, there is a liquid sealant and a separate compressor, which can be used for situations other than a puncture. If you have mechanical skills, you can opt for a professional kit with a patch instead of sealing fluid. In this case you'll get the same job as most mechanics.

To prevent these situations, remember to always keep your tires healthy and change them when you need to.

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Happy travels!

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Sources:  DECO PROTESTE

Translated with DeepL.com