My First Puncture!

[Prudie]

I have driven 6 miles home from work in the dark and pouring rain, all the way I knew something was wrong. Anyway at home I have a flat tyre, there is a screw in the wall. I've not had a puncture in this car before and have discovered I have no spare tyre - just manufacturer supplied electric pump and a tin of spray tyre mender stuff - is this safe? Should I use this stuff to get to the garage or just take the wheel in?

[bhg481]

When we bought our car I insisted on a spare wheel (a no-cost option) in place of the repair kit.
A few years ago in France we had a tyre wall puncture. We were 40 miles from the nearest tyre depot and it took them 2 days to get us a replacement tyre (in fact, they would only sell us 2 tyres).
Thank goodness I didn't rely on the blow-up kit and I would NEVER buy a car with no spare tyre.

[whiskeryron]

I am afraid that this is wrongly called progress. On a different subject I recently needed to go for a medical appointment & discovered that I had a flat battery & had to wait for the R A C to come out & get me started. Oh for the days of starting handles when I would have been on my way with a couple of turns of the engine.

[Hopkirk]

Things have come a long way Ron.

Did you know they even have heaters in cars now.

[bhg481]

I think starting a modern engine with a starting handle might be a problem - compression ratios are much higher than they used to be and a diesel would be really hard work.
On top of that, if you get the technique wrong you could be waiting for the ambulance instead of the RAC.

[whiskeryron]

//
Hopkirk
Things have come a long way Ron.

Did you know they even have heaters in cars now. //

Good grief, Whatever next !!!

[bhg481]

It also reminds me of a friend of mine who, after a "session" with his girlfriend in the back seat with the radio on (an old valve radio), found that his battery had gone flat. Starting the car with the handle was "difficult".

[Prudie]

OMG bhg you've made me shudder. Years ago that happened to me although we were on a track down in some woods and we shouldn't have been together (if you know what I mean). To top it my car was an automatic. I still have nightmares about that afternoon.

[Hopkirk]

Tell us more, Prudie