What's the penalty for a car to have an unfit spare wheel?

[monkey]

My girlfriend's wheel has had it due to her hitting a kerb. One on the way from fleabay but coppers randomly checking cars near her work. Is there a penalty or will she get away with it? Knackered wheel is still in the car.

[bad-sv650]

you can't get done for it, only advised to get it replaced, aslong as your tread is legal.

If it's a steal wheel, then you'll get one cheap enough from your local breakers. or ebay.

[Well Oiled]

If it's knackered just leave it out. It's not against the law to have no spare. Not sure about an unusable one due to wheel damage. They could take the view that, like a spare with a bald tyre, it could be fitted and make the car dangerous.

[DarrenSV650S]

New civics don't even come with a spare wheel, so I doubt its illegal

[Ch00]

If you have one then it must be legal and usable. If you dont have one then there is no probs. Just leave it out until its fixed and you will have no probs. Unless you get another flat !!

Ch00

[simesb]

If you have one then it must be legal and usable.

So your car is illegal as soon as you change the wheel at the roadside after a puncture?

[Ch00]

So your car is illegal as soon as you change the wheel at the roadside after a puncture?

I must say I didnt think that far ahead. I dont know anyone that has stuck anybody on for it. I would imagain that a friendly reminder would be all that is needed. If its just happened and had just been changed it would be fairly noticeable.

Ch00

[phil24_7]

It would technically be worthy of a rectification notice and a trip to the mot station but it would have to be am extremely uptight copper on a power trip who would make you in that far.

A little common sense usually prevails in there cases. If you wanna be on the safe side them leave it out cuz as said, you don't need to carry a spare.

[metalmonkey]

Its not a requirement under construction and use, far as I am aware to have a spare tyre, however if something is fitted to the car it should be in good working order. I wouldn't bother with a PG9 for something like that anyway I'm far too busy with other things. I know my dad's car doesn't have one. My next question why would they be looking at the spare tyre in the first place?

However if you worn tyres on the car, it would useful to have. That is all people.

[Daimo]

WEll I had my spare wheel arch cut out of my car and welded over :lol: So no you don't need a spare wheel.

But im usure if you HAVE got one you may be able to be done for having an illegal tyre.

Bin it, get a can of tyre weld :)

[monkey]

Tyre weld aint gonna help. She hit a kerb apparently going very slowly. Drove on a little bit and by the time I was there the tyre was floping around in the middle of the rim! THe rim is knackered and the tyre has an axe wound.

[embee]

So your car is illegal as soon as you change the wheel at the roadside after a puncture?

I don't know, this is pure guess work.

It could be argued that the legally regulated aspects, basically tread depth, must be within limits for a spare in the boot, but things which are not regulated (e.g. pressure) only become significant once it is fitted and in use, which then brings it into the realms of using a vehicle in a dangerous/unroadworthy condition (whatever the legal term might be).

As far as I know having tyres under-inflated is not an offence per se, but using them might well make you guilty of something. Inflation pressure couldn't be regulated in any practical way for a whole host of reasons (temperature, before/after driving, loading of vehicle, tolerances etc etc, not to mention "run-flat" tyres)

..............am I bovvered??

[simesb]

I guess I was trying to show that the law can be an ass when too rigorously applied.

If you are a chav with bling wheels on each corner and a scabby spare, then you deserve everything you get. If your a chav with 3 bling wheels, a spare on one corner, and a damaged alloy in the boot, then chances are it is a recent occurance and some slack needs to be cut.....