While spare tyres have undoubtedly helped a fair few drivers out of sticky situations in the past, they are not an ideal back up for all car owners. Quite often, vehicle owners don't have the tools, strength or understanding required to change a wheel. This renders the carrying of a bulky spare in the boot entirely useless. So what other puncture technologies are there?

Seal inside tyres

Self-sealing technology in tyres has been around for a couple of years now and tyres that use it have become a popular alternative to driving with spare wheels. 'Seal inside' tyres fix themselves from the inside when they get a puncture.

Seal inside tyres have a layer of sealant behind the tread of the tyre which prevents air escaping when the tyre is punctured. It does this regardless of whether the object that pierced the tyre is still embedded or not. This protection is activated immediately so the tyre's performance remains uncompromised and continued driving is still safe.

According to various manufactures of self sealing tyres, drivers who have them fitted will not even notice that they have a puncture. While this means that indeed the tyres do continue to work at full capacity, it could be slightly dangerous as the fix will not hold forever. Drivers who use such tyres therefore, should remember to regularly check their tyres for punctures and go to a professional if they find anything wrong.

Run flat tyres

Run flat tyres have been designed to allow a driver to continue for approximately 50 miles at a reduced speed after getting a flat. The idea is that with these tyres fitted, drivers can buy enough time to get off a motorway or make their way to a garage.

These tyres, also known as 'self-supporting tyres' have thicker sidewalls which can hold the weight of the car ever when the air pressure inside the tyre is reduced. A car fitted with run flat tyres will have a pressure monitoring system in place so that drivers are alerted to a significant pressure drop and can adjust their speed to the recommended 50 mph until they can get the tyre properly replaced.

Compressors

Compressor kits have also become a puncture quick fix. They can be used in conjunction with space saving tyres which are much less cumbersome than regular spare wheels and can be inflated using an air compressor. Otherwise, for drivers keen to do away with spare tyres altogether, a compressor can be used with sealant to re-inflate the punctured tyre. The driver simply injects foam to seal the puncture and then inflates the tyre to the correct pressure again.

Compressor kits can only offer a temporary repair although some manufacturers claim their kits can fix a tyre for up to 400 miles. In terms of what they can fix, for the most part they are only really suited to small punctures and drivers who fix a puncture using a compressor kit will have to visit a professional tyre repair or replacement service for a more long term solution.

It would seem that for drivers who are not keen to carry round a bulky spare wheel or who have no idea or inclination regarding replacing a tyre with a spare, there are plenty of alternatives.

Tim Machin runs Car suspension Weavering Medics, a mail order website where you can buy tyres online. Use the Tyre Medics mobile tyre fitting services at home or work to save time and money. Tyre Medics's also run a 24/7 emergency call out service for roadside tyre repair in the Leicester, Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton and Hinckley areas.