When I purchased my octy it came with a tyre repair kit and no spare.

I negotiated a spare as part of the deal.

Last night my good lady visited her sister - hit a pavement - it took out part of the tyre sidewall - not much the kit would have been able to do in that case !!

First sidewall damage in over 30 years of driving.

This is why i bought a spare wheels kit and put it in the boot.

What so they expect you to do in this case? The foam clearly isnt going to do anything. Is this a way of getting money to a recovery firm to get you home? I wonder how much of a cut they get.

For all the technical reasons put forward for the omission of a spare wheel, it seems that it's not just my cynicism alarm bells that ring.

Good timing, most UK dealers have a new offer on at the moment for discounted spare wheel kits.

Here is DM Keith's...

Aha, it's no use when the spare wheel in yer boot is the wrong one though!! When I bought my VRS last year, it had a spare wheel so I thought all was OK.

Only when I needed it, did I find out that it was the wrong one Looks like one of the previous owners had got a spare wheel with tool kit to replace the repair kit, but it was a 15" wheel and this didn't fit on my VRS.

After spending the £100ish to get the proper size, I've now got a wheel and tyre I don't need!

Gutted, as you now know you need a minimum of 16" to fit over the brake caliper on the vRS.

As you are a Freedom member you can advertise the 15" wheel and tyre in the 'For Sale' section...

Yep, I've had a tire split recently. Not much that a can of foam would have done. I will always carry a proper spare, even if it means its in a bag in the boot.

Yeah, thanks. I'll get the size details and put it in that section.

I was surprised when I got my car new that the spare was an alloy Vega. I thought they had started using steel spares.

Had a space saver (looked like a wheelbarrow wheel) with a Neon hire car in the US, and did have to use it.

Can't see the point for the amount of space it saves?

What they don't tell you is that you need to jack up the car to put the foam in- funny as there's no jack supplied!!! First job was to get an alloy spare Neptune off here, kerbed but who cares for the spare, then genuine jack/tool foam thingy off eBay all for a hundred quid. Does give you that warm fuzzy feeling knowing I can sort a basic puncture myself instead of waiting around for the recovery with ' her in doors ' moaning! Haha

What so they expect you to do in this case? The foam clearly isnt going to do anything. Is this a way of getting money to a recovery firm to get you home? I wonder how much of a cut they get.

But for 3 years, you are covered by Skoda Assist (RAC) so it will cost you nothing.

Despite the mongrel having its battery in the spare wheel well I still carry the space saver loose everywhere I go (wedged in behind the drivers seat)

Thankfully not had to use it yet, but I think the time I do will be the time the repair gunk will not do anything at all.

I trust your "Good lady" was dealt with in the appropriate way lol

I've never understood the thinking behind the omission of a spare wheel, and would certainly never want to hit the road without one.

While I am on the subject, I keep meaning to look at the spare in my scout. It's a 16" with 205/55 rubber, but if I remember correctly there is a 50mph speed limit on them (recommended).

Scarily, I did see a Merc E class running a skinny temp spare on the front passenger side on the M4 this morning... doing about 80mph in lane 3 as we all started to slow for the roadworks at J11. Not a very good idea I'd have thought.

I've never understood the thinking behind the omission of a spare wheel, and would certainly never want to hit the road without one.

While I am on the subject, I keep meaning to look at the spare in my scout. It's a 16" with 205/55 rubber, but if I remember correctly there is a 50mph speed limit on them (recommended).

Scarily, I did see a Merc E class running a skinny temp spare on the front passenger side on the M4 this morning... doing about 80mph in lane 3 as we all started to slow for the roadworks at J11. Not a very good idea I'd have thought.

With the Neon mentioned above, it was 50 mph and 3000 miles max. Though who'd want to do 3000 miles on that thing...?????

First thing I bought when I got my car. It's beyond me why anyone wouldn't get the spare wheel when buying a new car when it's only about 50 quid.

Its all vw group cars not just Skoda my boss has just got an rs 5 (not got to drive it yet)and took out a tyre and buckled the 20 inch alloy was very surprised to find a can of foam and a pump in the boot not very happy at all.

The reason for omitting the spare wheel, tyre, jack and wheel brace is...

1. Reduces cost and increases profitability.

2. Reduces weight which equals higher MPG and lower CO2.

Only realising you don't have a spare at the point of being stranded is your own fault.

That reminds me of the old joke about the lady who broke down in a VW Beetle, opened the bonnet and found to her horror there was no engine.

Her friend came along in another Beetle and said "Never mind, I've got a spare one in the boot."

Edited 20 February, 201313 yr by ednmra

When I purchased my octy it came with a tyre repair kit and no spare.

I negotiated a spare as part of the deal.

Last night my good lady visited her sister - hit a pavement - it took out part of the tyre sidewall - not much the kit would have been able to do in that case !!

First sidewall damage in over 30 years of driving.

Did you say your good lady hit a large POT HOLE in the road. The roads are so bad this time of year, contact your local council.

Did you say your good lady hit a large POT HOLE in the road. The roads are so bad this time of year, contact your local council.

no she hit the edge of the kerb !

Around here it 's a bit like the dogems avoiding potholes - the council do resurface, but they ony seem to do the bits that aren't too bad - strangely enough!

"I trust your "Good lady" was dealt with in the appropriate way lol " And I have learned over the years how to curse silently, smile and pick up the magic card

When I purchased my octy it came with a tyre repair kit and no spare.

I negotiated a spare as part of the deal.

Last night my good lady visited her sister - hit a pavement - it took out part of the tyre sidewall - not much the kit would have been able to do in that case !!

First sidewall damage in over 30 years of driving.

This is why:

1/ I bought a spare wheel kit (had the same concerns as yourself as for the only 2 punctures I've ever had the gunge would have been useless- it's cr*p on pushbike tyres too!

2/ I keep the keys to the vRS well away from SWMBO......I did promise she could drive it when I wanted to order 1, just didn't say when that would be..

This is why i bought a spare wheels kit and put it in the boot.

What so they expect you to do in this case? The foam clearly isnt going to do anything. Is this a way of getting money to a recovery firm to get you home? I wonder how much of a cut they get.

For the 1st 3 years they expect you to phone Skoda assist- after that you're on your own...literally. Pants it is but not just limited to Skoda.

I picked the spare wheel kit when I ordered car as it was only £50, which is very reasonable. I assume by not putting one in standard it gets the official weight of car down on type approval helping lower CO2 emissions and thus your road fund licence. They could charge full parts price for spare kit on new cars but don't. I bought a new 18" Neptune and fired the 205/55/16 out of the car I only got it for the kit as it was essentially getting a free wheel, as opposed to buying them after.

Fits a charm

I had a punchure today on the way to work & was grateful for having a spare wheel,im tempted to keep a eye out for a cheap 18" alloy so i can get rid of the 16" steel spare,good idea that FUBAR!.

Hmmm, I got my vRS used....and it has the spare wheel kit........hmmm ,well, it has a spare whell kit.....never thought to check the spare was big enough!!! Gonna have to check now!!!

Good call on the picture with the 18" wheel in situ FUBAR....that looks like a great idea......if I find a Neptune 18" cheap enough......