jimh Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Forgive me if this has been covered previously as I'm sure it must but I could not find an answer and I'm after some advice. I am planning to take my CSR abroad and I'm slightly concerned that I don't have a spare wheel, just a can of sealant and a small compressor. Is there any availability of suitable spare tyres in France / Belgium? I have heard that it is possible to carry a spare front wheel and use that on the rear too but that a spacer is required. I have read somewhere that you can damage the LSD by using a tyre of incorrect diameter, can anyone confirm if this is correct. Is it possible to fit a temporary tyre to get the car moving while waiting to get the correct one from CC? If it is possible then what sizes would be suitable for either front or rear? Rear tyres are: 245/40-15 Front tyres are: 195/45-15 The rolling circumferences are: -3.6% = 195/45-15 +2.4% = 205/45-16 -0.1% = 185/60-14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Frankly I wouldn't worry too much. Punctures are relatively rare and you do still have the sealant. There are plenty of 15" tyres available from tyre stores which will give you the right rolling radius - no overworking of lsd. Try playing about with THIS to find the sizes which most closely match and correspond to popular VW and Peugeot models. Keep a note of them on a postit note stuck to the back of your RAC card. Much lighter and simpler and more economical than engineering a solution for carting a great lump of a spare part around with you. Enjoy your touring. Peter Edited by - 6speedmanual on 7 Jan 2011 18:41:07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Sorry Peter, whilst you have suggested a great little tyre size calculator, personally, I think Jim has every reason to worry. The tyres fitted to the CSR, especially the rear, are unique in size, and no-one other than Avon are making that size. Sure a narrower tyre can be stretched across the rim, but it is no way a permanent solution, and if you rip a sidewall out of a rear tyre, I doubt that a contintal tyre supplier will be able to obtain an Avon at short notice nor even at long notice either! Before anyone says how unlikely it is that they will damge a tyre so badly that it can't be repaired, I have wrecked at least 3 tyres, although not on a Seven admittedly, and know how easy it can happen. I have yet to sort out a solution, but I think that it may involve changing the wheel sizes on the car, a real hassle and expensive to boot, either that or have a spare tyre from each end wrapped and waiting to be dispatched from a trusted source to wherever one may be touring and need help, then be prepared to wait a few days in a local hostelry, all very unsatisfactory and expensive, to say the least. It's not until you start looking in detail that you realise what a big problem it could be, or OTOH, don't worry, and take a chance and a get you home in an emergency card, and everything will probably be fine. Paul J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Owen Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 After some experience from my Dad getting a puncture in France last year, and listening to reports of how the back street garage carried out the repair both my Dad & I now carry puncture repair kits with us + a very compact compressor I got from Costco. Clearly need to be careful with these 'amateur' repairs but for most punctures I recon this would get you out of trouble ..... Dad's has been fine 6 months in and tested to 140 mph+. 😬 Seems a better option than cans of foam to me ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 You could try some tyre sealant that you put in before the puncture happens. This will minimise the risk, but may be messy when it is time to change the tyres. Only dead fish go with the flow....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanns Per Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Hello, I only take as a repair kit a cartouche with sealant and gas in it. So far I was lucky I had no puncture during the last 6 years and 80.000 km travelling also in Italy and France. From a philosophical point of view I rather travel with the challange of having a or no puncture or beeing able to manage it with the repair kit than carrying a spare wheel etc. whith me. I think the risk of having a puncture is part of it and I see it different from a normal car I use every day. rgds Hanns Per my CSR homepage blatting the alps my lotussevenclub gallery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Beyond simply suggesting "a great little tyre size calculator", I am indicating a number of ways that one can mitigate against the already low risk of an un-sealable puncture becoming an major inconvenience. Obtaining front tyres to the same size should be easy. For the rear tyres, 225/50x15 is very close to same rolling diameter and would not be excessively "stretched". It should also be available although some smaller depots may have to order them, probably arriving same or next day. The fitting of a different tyre would then allow the touring holiday to be completed or continued whilst a CR500 is been dispatched to a point further along the trail. Simon's portable puncture kit sounds like another very compact, light item which could provide another avenue to keeping motoring. It's when one starts looking in detail at all the various alternative solutions and different ways they could be deployed that the requirement to carry a large piece of excess baggage around Europe becomes very much diminished. Peter BRAWNGP green SUPERLIGHT FCITW 2009 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dignity Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hi Jim, I posted a similar thread up a while back and this was recommended here I have only just ordered one so not sure as to suitabilty but I would have thought it would work well with a can of tyre weld Regards Dignity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimh Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Thanks everyone for the replies, I really appreciate the advice. I think I will give up on the idea of a spare wheel and rely on a variety of puncture repair options and roadside assistance. I have ordered a new front and rear tyre from CC which I will store at home so I know I can get a tyre sent quickly should the worst happen. The tyre size calculator is great and shows there maybe some other options available locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 edited as i spoke rubbish Edited by - RD on 9 Jan 2011 14:18:23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeman Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 My most recent CSR puncture experience here . I'm starting to think that the Spare wheel rack is going back on the car and staying on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 What wheel/tyre size came with, and fits onto your rack Martin? Peter, I appreciate what you are saying, and didn't mean to demean the info. you offered in any way, and there are indeed ways to mitigate the problem of punctures, but nothing is as good as having a servicable spare, and some of us need the peace of mind more than others, especially when touring far from home, this is a problem with the CSR in particular, and I'm not sure there is an answer. We'll see if anyone can come up with something in Martins other thread on C.Chat. Maybe carrying two wheels would do it, like those old trials Dellows? No, maybe that really is going over the top. Paul J. Edited by - Paul Jacobs on 10 Jan 2011 18:20:57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 This repair Kit was recommended to me by tyre man and GT40 rep owner. Also when on euro blat last year I made sure I had the addresses and phone numbers of all the European Dealers and folk like joachim westermann at MOG, and local BC members close to route. You will always be fairly close to someone who can help , where ever you are in Germany, France, Italy, Austria. Tim CSR 200 Aztec and Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 That's ok Paul. No worries 😶🌫️ I too apologise if my counter-post was a little pointed. I take the view that there's usually a way out of a jamb. A little prep, imagination and lateral thinking always beats the "Oh shoot, the conventional solution is not available therefore we are all boogered and don't know what to do now" approach. BRAWNGP green SUPERLIGHT FCITW 2009 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydragon Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 If this is such a concern, Why not buy a spare tyre, leave at a friends/relatives and if you have a problem get them to DHL it to you in france by 24hr courier. Simples! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimh Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 That is exactly what I am planning as contingency plan B if I can't repair the flat or get a replacement locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Is that not what your European breakdown cover is for, to source such parts as are needed to get you going if you break down Tim CSR 200 Aztec and Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yep, and in the meantime you are sitting by the side of the road for hours or even days waiting for that tyre to arrive, it's an option but for something so simple as being able to carry a spare, is it worth it? Maybe if a spare is unable to be carried it is the next best thing, but more than a little inconvenient! Paul J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yeh I know that's true, but I don't think you can feasibly carry two spares and still carry touring luggage, and is it that difficult to source CSR tyres, as I said I had a load of contact numbers with me for local Caterham dealers and local Members along the way, I was amazed i was rarely more than 150K from an agent. Now maybe they would not all have CSR tyres but it gives some confidence, If we worry about Flats, Clutch cables, overheating, accelerator cables et al we would never tour, I think that 2 or 3 cans of weld, and a repair kit certainly give me enough peace of mind to tour. If enough people are concerned why dont all of us who tour organise with someone like MOG to have a few common sized tyres stashed there, although I would be surprised if he doesn't have a good selection anyway, we could club together and buy them up front and then we would at least know there was a good chance of tyres a quick courier journey away from most of the touring areas, and maybe a set somewhere in mid France. Tim CSR 200 Aztec and Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Have just realised that it was probably really silly to even contribute to this thread, any offers on how many punctures and where I will now get on this years tour ☹️ 😬 Tim CSR 200 Aztec and Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Ah ha, has realism set in Tim? Actually it's all academic really, if any of us wanted to tour and we do, 'cause the CSR is such a dam fine touring car, we would do it anyway and to hell with the consequences. It's just a case of worst case scenario, if we've thought about it first, it won't be so bad when/if it actually happens and if it doesn't, then the tour is even better 😬 Paul J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Ah ha, has realism set in Tim? Probably not, have always been a Glass 1/2 full kinda guy, and as you say "damn fine touring cars", so I will just get on with what I fancy and see what life brings 😬. Tim CSR 200 Aztec and Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo bee Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Hi Paul J Martin is away at the moment. Martin has had the spare wheel rack adapted so it's extendible and will carry either wheel but we do carry a front wheel. We know this isn't ideal because of the different rolling diameter with a LSD. Jo (Solent Se7ens) Edited by - 'Jo' bee on 11 Jan 2011 22:53:07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 with a 195 50 15 the RR is near identical Not sure it would fit under the arch on the front though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimh Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 So if you carry a spare front wheel fitted with a 195x50 15 then you could fit this front or rear (using spacers at rear) and providing that it clears the front mudguard. Perhaps this is an option worth persuing. Edited by - jimh on 12 Jan 2011 10:37:17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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