A warning - check what's in your boot.

[Jasper3.0]

Just staggared through the door after two hours on the side of the A19 with a puncture.

Tyre went down, no problem pop the space saver on......or so I thought.....

Except I could'nt get the plastic nut cap's off! The tool provided in the kit for removal was for the cap's with the hole in the middle - my 'fake' nut caps = no chance....

Had to call the RAC out after 20 minutes of trying (and managing to scratch my wheel in the process).

Even the RAC guy struggled - took him 10 minutes of trying before he gave up with pliers and various tools and ended up trying a 'grabber' to get them off.

So the moral of the story is: Check you can get your caps off.

I normally swap my tires round twice a year so I would have spotted this in the next few months! Rather than at the side of the road....

Oh and I need a new tyre as well......

[StevenJJ]

Upped, even the supplied tool is rubbish, needlenose pliers all the way.

[agent006]

Plastic nut caps? How pointless. Just bin them before you need to take them off.

[Vipers]

Dont forget to check the spare for pressure now and again either.

[andyuk911]

I take it this is the std tool, found in the boot of my RS4 ..

took me at least 30-45 seconds, however there would be 16 AND I am not at the side of the road. I have no spare wheel, but I keep one at home, and my plan has always to ask my wifey nicely to bring it out to me.

[Dr G]

Very good point, all well and good having a wheel but make sure you can actually fit it!

I keep as part of my 'emergency' stuff in the boot an adjustable spanner, philips and flat screwdrivers, a roll of gaffa, tin of WD40 and a pair of needle nose pliers!

[morebeanz]

I agree entirely! Had a nightmare swapping a wheel over on the A6 over the weekend. It was amazing just how many gadgets were required to do a simple thing - and the relevant pages from the handbook were missing!