Space saver spares - a warning

Honest John Back Room » The Back Room Archive
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 31 Dec 2001 11:39
Space saver spares - a warning - Mike H
Other readers should be aware that ordinary garage tyre pumps cannot reach the 60psi pressure demanded by spacesaver tyres. I found this out the hard way when I had to fit mine after a puncture & found that it it had only 48psi - net result, it went down to 45psi after using a garage pump! I was told by several garages that 45psi is their normal maximum pressure. The only way to inflate it to the correct (safe) pressure is via a specialist tyre dealer, possibly car main agent, or electric tyre pump.

A happy new year to all other regular readers & contributors!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 31 Dec 2001 13:11
Re: garage pumps - Andrew Smith
Had the same problems with my bike (needs 70-80psi for road riding). Made even more bizzarre by memories of the safety films we were shown when I was young. I think these were circulated around schools and insisted that pumping your bike tyres up at forecourt pumps was dangerous because your tyres might explode. Forecourt pumps can't even get close to the pressures required by modern bike tyres.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 31 Dec 2001 17:07
Re: garage pumps - Honest John
I will run Mike H's very sensible warning in the column on 2nd or 9th February. Thanks, Mike.

HJ
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 1 Jan 2002 22:54
Re: Space saver spares - a warning - Andrew T
This pressure seems to correspond to the upper limit specified on many (normal) tirewalls.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 2 Jan 2002 23:30
Re: Space saver spares - a warning - Mike
The limit is possibly restricted also to protect members of the public from serious injury caused by over inflation and blowout of a defective tyre. There have been fatal injuries. This is why its a good idea to check tyre and rim for serious defects. Mike
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

From choosing the right tyre to what to do when it goes wrong - we have the answers.

Tyre News And Advice