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LONDON, England - New research shows many drivers are ill-prepared for a puncture: an astonishing 1.3-million (four percent) in the UK admitted they didn't even know if they had a spare wheel.
The study, carried out for Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest automotive repair company, found that a million (3%) drivers confessed to not having any provision whatsoever for a flat tyre. With an estimated 8.8-million (26%) having suffering a puncture each year this could lead to a quarter-million cars stranded at the roadside in the next 12 months.
And it’s not just the rubber that’s missing in some cars -10% (2.9 million) of drivers who do carry a spare say they don’t have the jack or spanner to change a wheel; 36% (11.6 million) have the tools but don’t know what to do with them; 6% (1.8 million) are short on both fronts - no tools and no knowledge.
NO SPARE AT ALL
There also seems to be confusion as a result of automakers no longer offering full-size spares wheels. One in 10 people (3.3 million) who have a spare don’t know whether it’s full-size or a low-speed space-saver, which could prove hazardous if a blow-out happens on a long motorway journey.
Some manufacturers offer neither a full size spare nor a space saver, instead providing a puncture repair kit. More than four-million drivers (11%) have such a kit but the vast majority of them (3 million) don’t rely on the kit alone and also carry a spare.
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The recent trend among car manufacturers to offer a space-saver or repair kit instead of a proper wheel could be the cause of this confusion. It’s worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.
“For those who've recently bought a second-hand car it’s also important that they assess the condition of the spare - there could be damage that isn’t obvious at a glance and if it hasn’t been checked in a while it’s likely to be underinflated.
“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre. Changing a wheel is a skill that all drivers should have and if anyone isn’t confident enough to do so they can visit their local Kwik Fit centre and the team will happily show them.”
The study, carried out for Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest automotive repair company, found that a million (3%) drivers confessed to not having any provision whatsoever for a flat tyre. With an estimated 8.8-million (26%) having suffering a puncture each year this could lead to a quarter-million cars stranded at the roadside in the next 12 months.
And it’s not just the rubber that’s missing in some cars -10% (2.9 million) of drivers who do carry a spare say they don’t have the jack or spanner to change a wheel; 36% (11.6 million) have the tools but don’t know what to do with them; 6% (1.8 million) are short on both fronts - no tools and no knowledge.
NO SPARE AT ALL
There also seems to be confusion as a result of automakers no longer offering full-size spares wheels. One in 10 people (3.3 million) who have a spare don’t know whether it’s full-size or a low-speed space-saver, which could prove hazardous if a blow-out happens on a long motorway journey.
Some manufacturers offer neither a full size spare nor a space saver, instead providing a puncture repair kit. More than four-million drivers (11%) have such a kit but the vast majority of them (3 million) don’t rely on the kit alone and also carry a spare.
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The recent trend among car manufacturers to offer a space-saver or repair kit instead of a proper wheel could be the cause of this confusion. It’s worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.
“For those who've recently bought a second-hand car it’s also important that they assess the condition of the spare - there could be damage that isn’t obvious at a glance and if it hasn’t been checked in a while it’s likely to be underinflated.
“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre. Changing a wheel is a skill that all drivers should have and if anyone isn’t confident enough to do so they can visit their local Kwik Fit centre and the team will happily show them.”
