Day-long episode with flat tyre shows need to demand spare wheel with new car

Getting a puncture in heavy morning fog at minus three degrees on the motorway shouldn’t cloud my judgement of the Ford Mondeo Hybrid, but it does highlight the absolute need for a spare wheel in a car, something that a lot of modern cars don’t have.

It happened to me on Monday morning last as I was returning the car after a solid week in a car that otherwise impressed.

Between Ballinasloe and Athlone the tyre pressure gauge on the dash indicated that the left rear wheel was deflating fast. Finding a safe place to pull up was a difficulty in itself, and I found myself having to use the Garda only ramp for safety. Then the process of using the puncture repair kit in the boot was my only option.

Out came the unit, a bottle of sealant to seal the tyre in the hope that it would re-inflate the wheel. That worked initially, but another few kilometres down the road the dreaded warning light was on again.

Nothing left to do before it became completely flat but to make my way gingerly to Joe Duffy Motors – formerly Motorpark – in Athlone, the main Ford Dealer in the Midlands for help. Arriving there at 9am, just as the place was opening, I told my tale and they were quick to offer help.

However, that wasn’t the end of it. A new tyre was required to be ordered to match the Continental tyres already on the car, but it wouldn’t be delivered by courier until 3pm.

To say that I was somewhat unhappy is an understatement but there was no other option at the time. So, I waited and waited until the courier arrived at 3.30pm.

The job was complete by 4.30pm and I was on my way back to Galway when – you guessed it – the new tyre started to lose pressure again. I got as far as Ballinasloe and after pumping the wheel again and fiddling around with a leaking valve nozzle all seemed well again and I headed back to Galway.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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