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17 Jun 2007
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second spare wheel?
i'm looking for opinons on taking a second spare wheel with me on a trip to iceland. i have michelin xzy's on landrover wolf rims (vehicle is landrover 110)
looking through the web, i've noticed that VASS in the u.k do tyre and rim for £40+vat upwards. this doesn't seem too much for peace of mind plus i believe that the XZY is a pig to try and remove from the rim. it took my local truck tyre fitters an age to fit them and i won't repeat what they said!
what do you think?
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17 Jun 2007
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the tyres from VASS are certainly cheap. remember though, that the ones they advertise are on 6.5" rims, whereas the wolf ones are 6 or 5.5" IIRC. although it shouldn't make too much difference in the handling.
The XZY's are quite a tough tyre, and the sidewalls are more truck like than car link, but i've managed to swap one on a rim using a couple of crowbars, no problem.
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18 Jun 2007
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Check that you are getting a wolf rim as well as I believe the offset is different (I am sure someone will correct me here if I am wrong!!) The wolfs (Wolves??!)run on XZYs so should be no problems there, although Vass advised me that in their opinion the XCL was a better tyre, the XZY can have problems with the tread pulling out of the carcass if they are getting on a bit, not sure how the XCL will fit on your rims though.
I have had loads of tyres off Vass. As well as being very well priced and nice guys they are knowledgable and willing to show you a few tricks (like getting tyres off wolf rims!) they showed me how to do my split rims. May be of limited use given where you live but you may be able to squeeze a bit of info out of them.
I would definately advocate taking a second spare on an expedition. multiple punctures do happen, and it easier to change a wheel in the field than a tyre. It's unlikely you'll irrepairably damage one of your rims, given what wolf rims are like your more likely to shift the earths orbit! take a couple of tubes as well, in case you rip a sidewall on all that rock! It won't be safe on the road but could get you out of a fix.
Andy
TLC H60
Mitsibitsi L200
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18 Jun 2007
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wolf rims are 6.5"
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20 Jun 2007
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The environment is different, I suppose the roads are alot harsher than Iceland plus you have to deal with the heat, but whenever I travel out of town I take two complete spares on the roofrack.
On average I do about 600km per day which usualy means about 8 hours driving a day and although changing a flat can be a good excuse for a brew up - I like to leave repairing tubes until after dinner in the evening.
My next trip is about 7000km to Zim and then Angola and I am now using a locally made Firestone Stallion (MT) which is 12 ply. I've changed alot of tyres here in Africa (my old 10 ply XZL's averaged 1 punture per day on safari) and I swear by the Ozzie Tyrepliers and tyre irons - sorry to say the ones I bought from Matt Savage just were not up to the job.
BTW: all the safari ops here carry two spares - usually on HD rear double wheel carriers. Make sure you remove the tyre from the rim and clean it up before you leave on expedition.
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20 Jun 2007
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Hi Jeremy, in my defence, you had the 51cm (£7) tyre levers (back in April '03!!).
The big macho 77cm ones (£16) are about half as thick again, and more for every day use on big tyres.
I think you'd have been better off with them.
Have a good trip to Angola.
All the best,
Matt Savage
.... just found some cheap Prosecco white wine at Lidl, £2.39 a bottle, REALLY nice on a hot day! bye..
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VIAIR - 12 & 24 volt compressors and systems. Tyre levers, Land Rover parts, Sand Tracks, Allisport Intercoolers, Overland Prep, and much more...
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21 Jun 2007
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Got me! Sorry Matt - no disrespect meant, it's just that the first set tyres I started working on were abit past it - somehow the rust had welded/vulcanised the tyres/rims together and I didn't have alot of joy getting the split rims apart.
Got them both still though, laying alongside the drivers and passengers seats, as they make good blunt objects for craniums- the denting of.
I don't know if you can get them in the UK but some of the better tyre places use "flat" Gedore tyre irons - they also seem pretty handy.
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21 Jun 2007
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Morning! My tyre lever supplier does have tyre levers like that. Maybe I should sell a wider range of tyre levers?
Anyway, have a good day.
Cheers,
Matt
...Just about to have a big bowl of Jordans Country Crisp Four Nut Combo breakfast cerial, absolutely delicious with loads of milk...
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21 Jun 2007
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Matt - I'm not taking a poke at you but more choice does not necessarily lead to your clients' satisfaction, selling them the right solution to their problems does.
In Europe and N. Africa loads of people now use tubeless tyres and so taking a trye off the rim is usually the result of a fairly catastrophic tyre/bead failure that requires the application of a gaiter and a tube. Folk in the UK hardly ever get their tyre irons out in anger and the last thing you'll need is to find out. when your battling in 40 degrees of heat, that your tools are not fit for purpose.
Sorry, I may sound like an old fart but on safari I like the belt and braces approach: split rims, 2 x complete spares, 6 spare tubes, and tyrepliers and tyre irons.
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21 Jun 2007
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Hi. Sorry, we're drifting off the point of Jaspers110's first question!
But, a choice is always best for a guy like me to offer, to cater for peoples different needs and budgets. If you're going overland in a 2CV or some other small vehicle you might not want 2 x big heavy tyre levers with you. Also, you might only plan to use them on one small trip so it's perhaps not worth the investment is big fancy ones.
But I can see your point, you are saying it's pointless in selling something that is not up to the job. I agree, but that's why there is a choice. What you find no good, someone else will find to be perfect for there vehicle/needs!
Anyway, enough of this. Yes, 2 spare wheels are the way to go!
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21 Jun 2007
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My truck's gearbox is getting a service, plus I am having some new jacking points and a safe welded in, so I'm stuck around the house today watching the painters redecorate (though even in Africa they seem to spend most of there time gassing) and so maybe I'm a bit itchy.
I actually do not think we are getting (too far) off the point. The OP's question about a second spare is ALL about being well prepared and, therefore, being fit for purpose. I mean, if you check the toolkit on most Toyota's they have a poor excuse for a wheel spanner & bottle jack, which is OK around town, whereas what you need in the bush is a nice big 4 way Gedore wheel spanner and some version of a hi-lift.
So part of preparation for a trip like the OP proposes is to get the best kit available - however, once he gets to Iceland and starts seeing all those tasty Icelandic Trucks then I am sure he'll come home with some new ideas and an upgraded wishlist.
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21 Jun 2007
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off on a tangent a little perhaps but still interesting reading. i'm going to go for the second spare option. i wouldn't know how to use tyre pliers even if i had some plus i'd still need something to blow the tyres up with! (not semtex) perhaps a tutorial section for eedjits like me would be useful?
thanks to all.
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21 Jun 2007
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21 Jun 2007
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Hi Jeremy, I'm sorry but I totally missed your point, what has to do a drive on safaris in Africa with taking two wheels to Iceland...? They're completely two different countries, nature, infrastructure, etc, etc.
That's why nobody write, for ex., "...The environment is different, I suppose, but when I do the Dakar Rally I always take 14 spare wheels..."
-----
(just a joke...!, truth is I can't help envying you when you write about you driving in Kenya...!, my adventurous drive today was a 1 mile rally to Lidl here in Denmark trying to find that infamous Prosecco Matt recommended)
cheers
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21 Jun 2007
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Lidl
Matt
I'm more worried about the Prosecco at 2.99 a pop. If they're flogging it at that price it is probably costing them less than 50p which means if push comes to shove you could always use it as emergency anti-freeze.
Just a thought
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