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I going to take my car down to France with the family and wondered if anyone had any tips/advice, in particular I'm a little anxious about getting a flat/blowout and not having a spare to get me to a garage. I thought about getting a spare wheel (because I already have a spare matching tyre) but thats going to take up a lot of space in the boot and not sure my good lady wife will appreciate it or indeed if we will have room with a tent etc... Whadda you think.

I had an A4 S line with space saver. got a big chunk out of tyre, put on saver but did not really want to drive with family and fully loaded car for 360 miles back to ferry. By the way could not get a new tyre for 4 days, (235 18) over there, so would have missed the boat. Borrowed a car to come home with tyre and family, went back next week, put new tyre on. Cost £700 then bought 18in copy with cheap tyre...

I am going to france in a few weeks and wonder what to do....but I have done the trip in 5 cars before with no spare at all, just the inflater kit.

Get europe road side recovery

Take a can or 2 of tyre repair foam, maybe a kit to repair tubeless tyres because you would have to be very unlucky to blow a tyre. A flat is possible, also unlucky, but a can and a repair kit will get you to a garage at least.

Breakdown insurance by the AA for continental travel is not too expensive if you're really paranoid (paid about £170 for 15 days last year, and yes, I was paranoid but in a 33 year old car).

And don't forget the yellow bibs...

I remember last time I sliced my tyre in a rural area in france, and I called around for a new one. It went like this:

Me: "Hello have you got any 255 35 19 tyres in"
Frog: "Did you say 155?"
Me "No, 255"
Frog: Click.

Anyway, I know the lingo so if you get into trouble PM me and I can sort you out. Worst case I can overnight a part worn to you that you can have fitted locally.

Another option: You could just take a tyre. At least you could pack in and around it and if the worst happens, it'll be easy enough to find someone to fit it.

Shoppinit I think you have the best option there, I had considered that. The only thing is I don't have a repair kit or tyre foam - I'll do some research I assume its easy to get (although one thing that puts me off this is, I read somewhere that once you have used it it knackers your tyre so you loose £250 worth of rubber for the sake of a punture) I

I looked into a space saver which seemed the most sensible option but I have 19" wheels and could only find an 18" one.

Analysis, Analysis, Analysis......

You can't use a space saver because it won't fit over the callipers.

You can get cans of tyre weld at halfrauds.

Anyone found out if an A8/S8 space saver will fit?

No, I used to carry a spare (old) tyre in the boot, as had learnt the hard way previously... after all, the boot is huge and you can even put luggage inside the tyre if you're really struggling

I think I'm done. Got a couple of tyre repair foams from fleabay tonight. Apparently it doesn't destroy your tyre, you just have to wash it out. Just need some bulbs and a high vis vest! I have a fire extinguisher bizarrely, left over from my days of owning a W107 500SL Merc. Now that was a V8 experience.

Get a couple of bottles of this http://www.repairproducts.co.uk/page50.htm works a treat on punctures and is biodegradable and just washes out. A lot cheaper than the stuff from Audi, the RAC and AA use it.

Has anyone actually successfully used the tyre foam??

I've had three punctures in the RS - one where a stone cut the sidewall, and two on the open road where as soon as the tyre was flat the rim knackered the tyre shoulder - in each case the goo was completely useless and just made a nasty mess on the road!!

IMHO if you are going somewhere where getting a replacement is likely to be difficult then take a worn tyre (or wheel + tyre) - it's the only safe option. I've got several well worn tyres stacked in my garage just in case!

Dave

Hi Viz vests are compulsory in France for all the family nowadays...

Tyre foam is good for punctures, but if your tyre is cut or damaged, miracles won't happen.

At the risk of jinxing myself, the only punctures I ever had were caused by screws or nails left on my garage floor at home...

i always carry a spare wheel and tyre on long journeys , suitably strapped down for safety
tyre foam is useless if the tyre wall goes , which is not uncommon , and you can put squashables in the wheel if necessary

monoi wrote:Hi Viz vests are compulsory in France for all the family nowadays...

Yes and they have to be accessible from inside the car. Worst case is a small fine though if you haven't got them.

I found the tyre foam absolutely useless, as the only punctures I ever had with RS6 tyres was side wall failure from potholes & rocks... the only use a can of foam, to physically ram the metal can into the ruddy great hole in the side wall.