Having a spare tyre in the car is not something to which most of us give too much thought. We may even forget it is there until the dreaded day we need it.
At Kevin Burke Tyres, the team takes spare tyres seriously and hopes to raise awareness of the need for a good spare tyre.
It is not a legal requirement to have a spare tyre, unless you run a taxi or hackney but nevertheless having the right tyres can make all the difference when braking suddenly or driving in harsh weather conditions. Kevin Burke Tyres would recommend that people always carry a spare tyre and keep it in as good a condition as any other tyre on your vehicle. However, it is not illegal to sell a vehicle without its spare tyre or even to register a car in Ireland without one.
There are three types of spare wheels, learn about these below:
- A full size spare wheel can be used to replace any of the wheels currently fitted to a car. You do not have to use the same brand and these tyres do not have any regulations on what speed or distance you can travel after fitting them.
- A smaller spare tyre known as a compact spare tyre or donut tyre can only be used to get yourself to the nearest repair centre. You can only drive for up to 50 miles and at 50km/hr on these tyres so it is not ideal in comparison to a full size spare.
- A run-flat tyre has a reinforced sidewall that can still be used to drive while it has lost all its air. Similarly to the smaller spares, it is not your best option as it can only be used to get to the nearest repair centre.
If you do not have the space for a tyre, you can always buy a smaller tyre like the ones mentioned above. They would not be the preferable option but a lot of cars use them these days as they save space and cut costs. When purchasing yours, do ensure to stick to the regulations mentioned in this editorial. The team at Kevin Burke Tyres also advises not to use inflation devices. Kevin Burke Tyres supports the RSA's standpoint on this and advises clients to steer clear of using devices that are usually included in common tyre repair kits.
In the unfortunate event that your vehicle breaks down and you have a punctured tyre, then you can have your car towed at no higher than 32km/hr to your nearest repair centre. You can use a temporary spare tyre as long as your vehicle is a passenger vehicle, you don’t drive above 80km/hr, and you only use it to get to the closest repair centre.
Any further questions on spare tyres, do not hesitate to call Kevin Burke Tyres on 091 845329.
Alternatively drop into one of the three stores across Galway (Galway city, Athenry, and Gort ) and speak with a member of staff.
