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I am buying a car that does not have space for a spare tyre.

The car came with run-flat tyres as standard however the car I am buying is now fitted with standard tyres.

Would I have to replace all four tyres to get a Warrant of Fitness?

Steve

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 2 July, 2010

It is not a legal requirement for a motor vehicle to have a spare wheel.

If one is fitted however, it must be securely attached by a device which is in good condition or stored in a closed compartment separate from the occupant space. This is checked at the time of a WoF inspection.

Puncture repair kits in an aerosol can are the other option which work OK on some tyres but not others depending on the cause of the flat. There are a small number of new cars on the market currently which are sold without a spare wheel and run standard tyres. The aerosol can is the only option provided for these vehicles.

And strange as it may sound in some cases a spare wheel can even be an option new car buyers can choose to have added.

Using the aerosol can method of repair should only ever be seen as temporary solution to get the driver home or to a place of safety. The tyre should always be checked for structural damage (from the inside) as soon as possible after the puncture.

Fitting a standard tyre to a space saver rim is not recommended by the new vehicle distributor we contacted. They were aware of it being done and had heard of no issues to date.