How to use a tyre repair kit

A tyre repair kit is one of the most important pieces of emergency equipment you can carry in your car – offering a quick and safe-to-use alternative to a space-saving or full-sized spare tyre.

See also:
Toyota Touch & Go, Touch & Go+ and Toyota Touch Pro FAQs
How to use the Toyota Touch and Touch & Go multimedia systems
Toyota Touch 2: Introduction

It’s reckoned that on average, UK motorists suffer a puncture once every five years. Tyre repair kits reduce road-side risk by a factor of five and more than halve the time a car is immobilised (source: Tyre manufacturer Continental).

Using a Tyre Repair Kit can be quicker, easier and safer than jacking up your car to change wheels, which means you’ll spend less time in a potentially dangerous situation at the roadside.

The kits also reduce a car’s overall weight, and therefore improve fuel economy.

In this short video, we show you the simple steps you should follow to use a tyre repair kit correctly, and describe the situations in which you should use it.

Finally, it’s important to remember that  all new Toyotas come with 12 months free AA roadside cover. If you can’t use the Tyre Repair Kit, or don’t feel confident then contact the AA to arrange roadside recovery.

See also:
Toyota Touch & Go, Touch & Go+ and Toyota Touch Pro FAQs
How to use the Toyota Touch and Touch & Go multimedia systems
Toyota Touch 2: Introduction

By Dan Strong

159 comments

  1. Have just watched video regarding the PRK and had a good laugh. Come on Toyota this is just not on .
    He had to drive the car into the ‘Workshop’ to do the repair. If you are out in the countryside or on a Motorway how far can you safely drive on a flat tyre before you completely ruin the wheel.
    He goes onto say that removing the spare wheel is saving on fuel and efficiency – this is ludicrous, the ‘dummy’ spare wheel is in no way heavier than the normal wheel and I find this a poor excuse for changing to the PRK solution.
    Once again I reiterate I shall be buying my next car from either Volkswagon or Skoda.
    Shame because I am really taken with the new Yaris.
    A disappointed ex customer.
    Mrs. T. Holdway

    1. It can only be assumed that for the purpose of filming a workshop was used.A temp repair kit is exactly the same as having a temp spare wheel.In that its purpose is to transport the Car to the nearest Tyre centre and have a new tyre fitted.The cost of a Premium tyre For the Rav would be around £200.

      But surely this would apply to all makes of cars other than those fitted with a full size spare wheel.I do agree that Toyota have not clean on these issues and putting a strain on future buyers.On testing at lengh the Rav it could be said that it is a clone of the Lexus RX and in many areas better.

  2. this becomes useless when the damage is to the wall of tyre!!! the wheel was hit off a kerb resulting in a flat, the kit supplied couldn’t cope with damage, therefore left high and dry unable to get car to garage to get replacement tyre!

  3. You must clean on this issue and say that a tyre repair on a road wheel is not acceptable.That Toyota did not supply a temp spare or tools because of emissions ad MPG tests.Although from July a Temp spare (without mention of tools) will be supplied as a no cost option.Will you confirm or deny that owners with existing New Rav 4s will also get this facility in July with tools..

    I am about to rder the top of the range Rav costing more than £32000 and will totally depend on your assurances as mentioned.Otherwise it will be a Honda CRV at lesser cost a descision I will make this coming week.

    Thank You

    Paul

  4. This is absolute rubbish. There is no excuse for selling any car which doesn’t have at least a space-saver fitted as standard. The Auris Hybrid is now beyond consideration because it has no spare. If, in a couple of years, there isn’t a Prius with a spare to replace my current one then I’ll be switching to a car like the Skoda which at least offers a full-size/space-saver wheel/tyre as an option. How any manufacturer can look its customers in the eye when offering a car which by design threatens its user with hours or even days stuck in the wilds is beyond me. I’ve been a Toyota customer for over 20 years but won’t be for long if this attitude persists.

  5. Re TRK, I’m pleased to see that for some reason the Toyota Yaris has got a spare dummy wheel.
    If they can do this with this model why not all the range!
    Beats me.

  6. I tow a caravan and often tow several hundred miles. I will not buy a car that does not have the option of a full size spare.

  7. Re Pauls comment – May 22nd. How long would it take to locate the puncture and then decide if you could use the TRK, I agree you have to take the car into a garage if you have a puncture
    having put the dummy wheel on which takes roughly 15/20 minutes, How the hell do you find where your puncture is if it happens at night-time!!!

  8. Tyre Repair Kits are USELESS !!! I have been in the motor trade some 40 years, 19 of them in the RAC and I am convinced these kits should be banned. Trying to repair on a motorway, 0300 hrs pouring with rain and freezing cold, it is down right dangerous. Furthermore, when you get your wheel to your garage or tyre centre for a repair you are almost always required to have a new tyre, sometimes a new wheel and facing very high repair bills.

    As for calling out the AA, RAC etc, you first of all have the waiting time before they arrive, anything up to an hour if you are lucky, then in 80% they find the repair kit is not suitable so a further delay is involved while they arrange recovery to a local tyre dealer, garage etc plus all the additional costs involved.

    The excuse the manufactures use of the weight saving is not really correct, a minute weight and fuel saving is involved but the costs involved in sorting out the results of the use of a tyre repair kit far outweigh their argument.

    My advice, buy a car with a spare wheel or at least a “Space Saver” you will not regret it should the worse happen. If your new car has no spare wheel DO NOT BUY IT !!!! Car manufactures will then get the message when they start loosing sales!

    1. Dear Mr Dowell,
      Thank you for taking the time to write to us. Along with most other manufacturers the decision to supply a Tyre Replacement Kit (TRK) as a solution are best highlighted in this short video. Apologies if you’ve already seen it but we feel it covers the points you raise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWF8TwpHB0o.
      All that said, we take note that a repair kit may not be the desired standard option for each and every customer. With this in mind, space saver tyres are now available for most models if required.
      Thanks for getting in touch.

      1. Now Toyota are back peddling on all they said prior to and after launch of the RAV.In spite of this you now have a legal obligation to supply a spare and tools at no cost to owners of 2wd vehicles with 17 wheels.

        But don’t try and patronise me anymore I am one of the straight and honest owners who have for many years being changing models twice every year.The Rav cost me just short of 28K and at you perel will underestimate me……..A very annoyed long time faithful Toyota user.

  9. Toyota now agree what I put to them 3 months ago that the spare and tools were omitted to save weight therefore cutting down on emmisions and save fuel.rather strange that 4wd cars have the spare fitted.The New Rav I have is a 2wd with 17 wheels and can assure all the kit is entirely different to that used in the Video by the man with 2 diff names.

    Are Toyota now saying the wheel and tools will be availableFOC or will they be in violation on the prev gov test without it form your own opinions and I will form mine.Or will I have to spend in excess of a further £170 on a vehicle that was grossly overpriced against the competition.As probably the most frequent buyer of new Toyotas in the North I intend to pursue the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

  10. I was informed that the space-saver wheel for my New Auris would be available in July, it is now well into August and still no wheel. I was sold this vehicle on the proviso that the wheel was imminent. I am now feeling that I was sold my vehicle on a false promise.

    When will I get my wheel?

    1. Hi Alan,
      Thank you for your message.
      We’re sorry to hear this, we advise contacting your local Toyota Dealer as they’ll have an update on this for you. The space saver option for Auris is still available to order, our notes show that availability in our logistics centre started on the 1st August with a delivery lead time of 8-10 days, please contact your Dealer to see when yours will be arriving.
      Hope this helps!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

To be the first to hear about all of our latest news, offers and events, check the box below, we’ll send these communications by email, phone, SMS or post. Be assured that Toyota will only share your personal information with companies that are an integral part of fulfilling the services we deliver. If you would like to find out more about how we process your data please visit our privacy policy for details.

I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time.