Pre trip anxieties: breakdowns and flat tyres

[colintfcolintf]

I’m on 18’s but the spare is a 17. But so long as the rolling circumference and load rating etc is pretty matched then should be ok I believe

 

[Maidment_Ocean]

Best to go for VW recovery I think. Changing a van wheel is not as easy as a car. I have a spare but tbh getting it out of the holder is almost impossible. Jack is wobbly, wheel can be difficult to get off, need a breaker bar to do it. All at the side of the road. No thanks…..

 

[Celia Vanchez]

Some do some don’t, depending on the wheel size. 17” tyres generally have a spare, 18” or larger tyres generally no spare (and gunk instead). If you have the ‘gunk’ then you likely have no spare - from the factory at least. Some people who had no spare from the factory have added in a spare wheel under the van at the back, held in a cradle. It can be a pig to get out from there and pretty heavy - ‘man’s work’ as they say.

I have 17” wheels and the cradle is a tight squeeze. Some members apparently have managed to get 18” wheels into a cradle added later, but there are so many wheel/tyre shapes and sizes that I think that 18” wheels must be tight where possible at all.

Optimum is to have spare wheel of course, as well as all the other options above. I only had one puncture on my last car of 17 years whilst one member here posted 5 punctures on one trip I recall. The California is pretty heavy which must make it slightly more vulnerable.

VW recovery may be your best bet though you must be the judge.

Thank you. I thought VW recovery finished after warranties lapsed as I was led to believe by our local dealer

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you. I thought VW recovery finished after warranties lapsed as I was led to believe by our local dealer

I think it is available thereafter, on a paid basis (no longer free) but a little pricier than alternatives. Call to check:

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/own...d-parts/accident-and-roadside-assistance.html

You may find that VIP or lifetime membership status will assist you research on the forum more effectively using ‘advanced search’. I use that all the time to drill down for example by a set time period, or a specific member’s posts: there are some very helpful and knowledgeable people here (far more so than me). There are also other advantages such as the resources section. You also support the ‘project’.

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you. I thought VW recovery finished after warranties lapsed as I was led to believe by our local dealer

All new VWs come with 3 yrs VW Assistance. Thereafter you can purchase annual membership. Administered by the AA with additional benefits for VW Owners compared with full AA membership.