JB74 3-Door — Lightweight OEM+ Build Feedback wanted

Snowbum wrote:

• mild off-road touring
• [...[
• Full-size matching spare

In my opinion you won't need a full spare. The punctures I have endured have all been caused by sharp metal objects (nails, screws etc.) caught on paved roads. Also, experimenting with different tyres can become addictive so you would save money by not having to replace the 5th each time. A weight saving there too.

I use HT tyres in summer time and so far the limitations I have experienced have been down to ground clearance of the vehicle.

The Coil Spring wrote:

In my opinion you won't need a full spare.

I don't know which country the discussion starter is in or where he plans to go touring, but, in my corner of the world, where "off road" means limited cellular coverage (and by the way, being "on road" doesn't guarantee cell service), I would strongly recommend, a full sized spare, a tyre repair kit, and some way to re-inflate the repaired tyre.

Your punctures might have been caused by sharp objects on paved roads, but the question needs to be asked, what did you do without a spare, call for road side assistance?  That's not always an option, and even when it is, what is the "lost time" like?  Now take yourself "off road", does road side assistance even come out to where you are, and how much longer will that take?

Based on my experience with rental cars in the US (the only time I've used road side assistance), I can change a flat tyre & be on my way, long before road side assistance arrives on the scene.  Even on paved roads, I'll take a full sized spare.

Someone's going to ask, why a spare and a repair kit, so here's the answer, have you ever tried to change a wheel with the vehicle not on level ground?  Punctures don't always happen where it's safe and/or convenient to change a wheel.

Fordem, let me clarify. I meant that the original Jimny spare will do. It is not essential to have a spare wheel full identical to the other four. One of the aims is to keep weight down and I assume that the suggested wheels will be heavier than the Jimny originals.

But, I agree with you that even the fanciest spare wheel in the world can be pointless if one has no repair kit and means to inflate.