Tyre worn through!!

[Max Headroom]

Very interesting Will!

I'll seriously look into these - though if I am brutally honest with myself I am always in the need of some form of exercise, and one of these would completely defeat that principle!

However... it would certainly make switching a set of summer/winter tyres over a far quicker job.

[Audax]

I just use a trolley jack, much quicker. 

[CitTone]

...and all the extra weight of the trolley jack is offset by the reduced weight of the space-saver spare that you have to carry because there's no room in the car for the trolley jack...

Nearly knackered a security wheel bolt with an extending brace recently because some monkey tyre fitter had torqued it up tighter than the other four.

Think I'll ditch the security bolts, as I don't fancy the fight if the next time I need to do it, it's at the side of the road, dark, cold, wet etc.

Alloy-nicking seems to have slumped since practically every car has alloys now.

[Audax]

...and all the extra weight of the trolley jack is offset by the reduced weight of the space-saver spare that you have to carry because there's no room in the car for the trolley jack...

I meant to change to winter tyres and that trolley jack lives in the shed, the Saab jack is more than enough for a quick change at the side of the road.

As for alloy wheel theft, it never happens. Out of the time working in the trade that people had wheels stolen = 0, the number of times people couldn't get a wheel off after a puncture as the locking key had been lost or had broken on them = dozens. On each of those times the car turned up at our place after having to be recovered, we didn't even sell that many tyres but one of local tyre fitters said it was a constant problem for them.

Ditch the locking key and replace with normal bolts!

[Max Headroom]

I'm inclined to completely agree about ditching the security bolts, and have done so on wifeys car.

I have bog standard wheels on my car but had them renovated at some expense - they're much brighter and shinier than new ones and do look very attractive, and while I am certain nobody is going to even get the opportunity to pinch mine, I'm not leaving it to chance; the key is kept hidden in the car along with a plastic-covered socket and some forceps for removing the chromed bolt-covers. I'm always careful to ensure it goes back after I have used it.

I do remember back in the 70's my father fitted/upgraded to some lightweight sports-wheels on a car he had, and was selling the old ones via a local newspaper. He was quite nonplussed when the fuzz pitched up asking if he' was selling stolen wheels!
I seem to have some vague recollection that wheel theft in the 70's was fairly prevalent, and that's possibly why many people still use wheel locks.

[collywobble]

I ditched the locking wheel bolts a couple of years ago after having had to pay to have a jammed on one removed.  I feel that as Saabs are not a common car and that mine is a Linear with 16" wheels the possibility of having them stolen is pretty remote! 

I also invested in a 2' breaker bar and a proper nylon sleeve 17mm wheel socket and am confident that if SWMBO ever had a puncture while using the car she could easily change the wheel.

[jmblack]

Now got a full size spare! Should have done so before. Even managed to get a matching one in reasonable condition off Gumtree.

Anyone want a useless space saver!!