After struggling to remove the spare wheel with that strap thing when wiring in my fag lighter charge socket in the boot, I realised that having a puncture anywhere apart from home would be a nightmare. The struggle to remove/replace the spare is a nightmare (suggest you try it) unless you phone the AA etc. So I bought a compressor/sealant kit (Ebay or Amazon is your friend. They are all the same so a generic one or one for another car will be fine unless you have a big hole, then its struggle with the wheel time.
Why didn't they keep to the previous method of winding down the spare wheel. Obviously cost, but they could have had a proper design study done instead of giving it to the tea lady (oops sexist) tea person to design.

agree they are Heavy

but

I would rather have a full size spare, gives you chance to go where You want for the repair if possible,
if you fill it with the Gloop "most" tyre places will not clean the gloop out to fix a puncture its a new tyre each time
so a £25 repair has just cost £200
yes you can take your old tyre home, clean it yourself, then get it repaired and you have a spare in the garage.

like everything in life compromise/risk/chance its a balancing act

ps. I also carry sticky strings as well

 Porsche Cayenne 2022
gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
gone Corris Grey HSE Dynamic 2016
gone Ipanema HSE lux 2010
gone Rimini HSE 2005
!!

Sticky string ????????????????????????????

No choice for me, no space for a spare wheel. So it will be Mayday.

Ian 2018 Indus Silver SDV6 Autobiography normally towing a Buccaneer Cruiser.

I know ... they are heavy. I had a full size 21" spare in there and had to take it out a few times. Not to replace a punctured tyre/wheel but for other reasons. I didn't even have the helper strap thing as it was missing in the beginning and I got it from the dealer later so it was all by hand.

To answer this:

Lindab wrote:

Why didn't they keep to the previous method of winding down the spare wheel. Obviously cost, but they could have had a proper design study done

The inside spare wheel well also allowed LR to design in a clean dry location inside the boot for the suspension compressor that in the previous generation cars was outside under the car 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Lindab wrote:

Sticky string ????????????????????????????

The underslung wheel was a rubbish design because it was easily stolen, it was also a pain to get out from under the back, unhook the cable, drag it the rest of the way out. Then you have to hook the removed wheel back on and winch it back up whilst easing it back in to place under the back end. Tension required on the cable at all times or it would go wrong and leave you unable to winch in. You get dirty every time. Pig of a job. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

And you have to do most of that just to check the tyre pressure.

I had a flat last week and got the spare out and it was down to 16 psi - ok to drive on to go and get more air but if I hadn't got the flat this time, next time the spare may have been flat.

Noted for service time - drop the spare and top up with air.

Garry 07MY RRS TDV6
Arctic Frost
Aspen Interior

That's why I carry a tyre compressor in the RRS under the back seat (along with jump leads, tow rope, strop, fire extinguisher and a few other odds and ends). At least then, if the worst happens and the spare is low I can pump it up before driving away. Also useful if there is a slow puncture - had that before where the tyre looked low, checked and it was down and I saw the screw in the tread. Inflated to suitable pressure and then gentle mile drive to get it fixed. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Yes having a compressor is a good idea - when I had my flat I was going to just put the strings in but without a means of pumping up there was no point - noting the strings are for emergency use only and you will have to get the tyre repaired properly anyway but I would prefer to do that at my leisure rather than as an urgent action.

Garry 07MY RRS TDV6
Arctic Frost
Aspen Interior

Always carry this in the boot just in case.



Cheers
Col

We had our external spare wheel stolen twice on our 2012 RRS (they even took the ‘anti theft’ plate on the second occasion). I wouldn’t want to go back to the external arrangement - but then I’ve never yet had to remove the full size wheel from the internal well on the current one. Carrying a sealant kit for emergencies sounds like a sensible plan. Current: 2020 P400e HSE Dynamic

Gone: 2016 SDV6 HSE
2012 SDV6 SE