Tyre Repair Kit (Foam)

A tyre repair kit is the modern alternative to a spare wheel: a can of sealant foam and a small electric compressor that together can plug and re-inflate a tyre with a small puncture, getting you moving again without jacking the car up.

It is lighter and takes less space than a spare, which is why carmakers increasingly fit it instead. The catch is that it only works for small holes in the tread; a big gash, a blowout or sidewall damage is beyond it, and then you need help.

Treat any repair it makes as temporary. The sealed tyre should be checked and properly fixed or replaced at a garage soon after, not driven on for the rest of a long trip.

If your rental has a kit rather than a spare, make sure the can is not expired and you know roughly how it works. On a remote stretch of road it is reassuring to have already glanced at the instructions.