Car Question, rearanging wheels!

[ZrByte]

yet again another car thread, this time Im guessing its an obvious one but I figured I would ask anyway (never hurts to be cautious).

I have low tread (still legal, got about 2mm) and a slow puncture in my front passenger side tyre and cant afford to have anything done about it for at least the next 3 weeks.
I was thinking for safety reasons swapping the tyre in question with one of my rear tyres, since the front wheels do all the work I'd rather not have a blowout there.
Does anybody think this is a bad idea?

also is there anything special I have to do when changing wheels around? or is it as simple as unlock 4 bolts, move wheel round to other hub relock 4 bolts?

Thanks in advance everybody.

[Jon M]

What sort of condition is your spare in?
Surely it's no worse than the troubled tyre?

One problem is tracking, you'll find big differences between right and left hand wheels as well as difference between front and back, you'll most likely get very different patterns of wear if you swap them.. plus you may find the car has vastly less grip.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by s1lv3r

What sort of condition is your spare in?
Surely it's no worse than the troubled tyre?

I was just about to suggest the same thing - I had a 6" screw through one of my front tyres and just put the spare on until I could afford to get it sorted. Definitely the best way to do it!

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by s1lv3r

What sort of condition is your spare in?
Surely it's no worse than the troubled tyre?

virtually no tread left sadly, Since getting the car I have had no spare money to sort out the spare or the troubled tyre

[jellybaby]

I would try your local scrapyard for a used tyre, will cost between 5 and 10 pounds, and will be alot safer than swapping tyres round

[bopdude]

If your a bit strapped for cash you could always try a scrap yard, get the tyre and rim for next to nowt better than getting 3 points and cheaper than the fine that goes with them, it'll last you till payday

EDIT: beaten to it, must type faster ... lol

[Nugget]

Sorry Zr, I can't remember what car you've got, but wouldn't it just be cheaper to replace your punctured tyre? It might be worth ringing round a few places to get a decent price (on my old car, I saved 15 quid just by ringing round) or, as some of the others have said, try a scrappies.

It might cost you a bit but, as bop said, it's defing a fine.

[punky]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

yet again another car thread, this time Im guessing its an obvious one but I figured I would ask anyway (never hurts to be cautious).

I have low tread (still legal, got about 2mm) and a slow puncture in my front passenger side tyre and cant afford to have anything done about it for at least the next 3 weeks.
I was thinking for safety reasons swapping the tyre in question with one of my rear tyres, since the front wheels do all the work I'd rather not have a blowout there.
Does anybody think this is a bad idea?

also is there anything special I have to do when changing wheels around? or is it as simple as unlock 4 bolts, move wheel round to other hub relock 4 bolts?

Thanks in advance everybody.

It is called a tyre rotation, and it is very common, especially out here. It is normally done like every 12,000 miles, I don't know about back home though. It would make sense to rotate them as a blowout on a rear wheel is OK, but on a front wheel can be real dangerous. Most wheels can be rotated fine, only some very high end tyres can't be. If you do have them rotated, you may need to pay for another balance though.

[ian@huth]

If I only had 2mm tread and a slow puncture to boot the car would stay on the drive. I have only one life and I want to hang on to it and don't want to put other lives at risk either by using the car.

[altis]

It won't pass an MOT with a bald spare!

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by altis

It won't pass an MOT with a bald spare!

Yes it will, they dont check the spare and it has just passed about 4 weeks ago check on the RAC site about Tyre conditions if you dont believe me
Personally I think it shouldnt have passed, a good condition spare really is a must IMO, if I had any money at all mine would have been replaced by now.

EDIT: ive just found £30 of wich I only need £10 for other things so I guess I'll get a new tyre tomorrow with the spare £20.
Is there anything special I need to do with it or do I just goto the scrappies and ask for a 13" vauxhall wheel & Tyre? or do I just ask for the Tyre?

[Nugget]

Depends on whether your wheel's cream crackered or just the tyre - will you be able to put the tyre on yourself, or would you need someone to do it for you?

[jellybaby]

Just ask for the tyre, most places will put it on your wheel either for free or for a couple of quid

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Nugget

Depends on whether your wheel's cream crackered or just the tyre - will you be able to put the tyre on yourself, or would you need someone to do it for you?

Well I dont know how to do it so I dont know if I can. Im a fast learner and Im quite good with this sort of thing but have never done it before so I really dont know
The wheel I have is fine but as you say it will save me putting the tyre on the rim myself if I buy the whole lot.

[MetaWraith]

I always thought no spare was not a failure
but if you had a spare, it had to be roadworthy.