Those without runflats, show me your spare tire.

[JimD]

You need a jack and wheel wrench too. For the wrench, I carry an extendable 3/8 ratchet from HF. I think they are on sale for $15 right now. It has enough leverage if the wheel is properly tightened.

[XAMI]

Questions, going on a road trip soon.
Current setup is stock wheels/tires.
I have a winter set of 17's and would like to bring one as a spare:
1. is it ok if I use a 17 as a spare, when the rest are 18's?
2. the winter set is directional, if i get unlucky and have to use the spare on the wrong side/direction, would that be ok?

[jdt10768]

Originally Posted by XAMI

Questions, going on a road trip soon.
Current setup is stock wheels/tires.
I have a winter set of 17's and would like to bring one as a spare:
1. is it ok if I use a 17 as a spare, when the rest are 18's?
2. the winter set is directional, if i get unlucky and have to use the spare on the wrong side/direction, would that be ok?

Some cars use that tiny donut, so the 17" is fine until you get the flat plugged or replaced. Why not?
I don't even carry a spare, just AAA or insurance
Now i've jinxed myself

[________]

Originally Posted by XAMI

Questions, going on a road trip soon.
Current setup is stock wheels/tires.
I have a winter set of 17's and would like to bring one as a spare:
1. is it ok if I use a 17 as a spare, when the rest are 18's?
2. the winter set is directional, if i get unlucky and have to use the spare on the wrong side/direction, would that be ok?

No problem using a 17” as a spare as long as the overall diameter is close to the other ones. Which means the 17” tire will be taller than the 18” tires. Which is not an issue as a spare.

Your struggle will be finding 17” wheels that clear the front brakes. Not all will.

[________]

Originally Posted by JimD

You need a jack and wheel wrench too. For the wrench, I carry an extendable 3/8 ratchet from HF. I think they are on sale for $15 right now. It has enough leverage if the wheel is improperly tightened.

FTFY

[blue135]

I use a 205/70-17 all season (runflat) as a spare. It was the stock wheel on my 135i. Currently run 313s in 18" with 225 & 255 Continental DW06. So much better than the run flats. Counting on AAA to bring the Jack.

[bobowar135]

I got this 17inch wheel from a 318i in a wrecking yard. The wheel size is 17x7.5. The tyre size is 225/45 17. I did a quick fit on the front to ensure brake clearance, all good. I had the wheel on the back for a morning due to a puncture, all good too.

[WeryPert1]

AAA Card, but my 128i is mostly driven around town so a tow wouldn't be too bad. IF I decided to go on a roadtrip I do have an extra (stock) wheel and tire that I could throw in the trunk.... guess I'd need a jack as well. That's a good idea; I'll pick one up.

[fotontom]

I've had two experiences, once with my E88-runflats and once with my E82 non-runflats. Both were solved by AAA and a nearby tire store. The runflat had to be replaced and the non-runflat was repaired.

So, seems to me that the best solution is non-runflats + AAA if you are in any kind of a populated area. These cars don't have a huge amount of trunk space and chances are you will need it if going on a trip.

[Eyeman]

Just noticed this thread. I'm sure there is an older thread where I linked pics of my donut spare with cover, etc.

I'm with the others here. I've went out in the morning, etc and had a very low tire. A pump is needed to get the car to a shop in those cases. I keep cool drill looking pumps in my cars.

But unfortunately sometimes a shop will not have a tire in stock in our type sizes. Also as others have mentioned, sometimes the wheel is damaged, etc. AAA is great to get you home, but I need a spare, especially if on a road trip.

[Donkeyshins]

Here ya go:



(the bag on the left contains a hacked-together version of the BMW toolkit)

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by bobowar135

I got this 17inch wheel from a 318i in a wrecking yard. The wheel size is 17x7.5. The tyre size is 225/45 17. I did a quick fit on the front to ensure brake clearance, all good. I had the wheel on the back for a morning due to a puncture, all good too.

Damn, that Style 68 wheel looks really good on an E82!

[10"]

on my 1M—-for the past 8 years I keep a full size winter tire and wheel back there in the summer and a full size summer tire and wheel in there in the winter.

Just to help me get somewhere safe at least.

I refuse to be towed again like what happened on a disastrous flat I had on the freeway. Never again.

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by 10"

on my 1M—-for the past 8 years I keep a full size winter tire and wheel back there in the summer and a full size summer tire and wheel in there in the winter.

Just to help me get somewhere safe at least.

I refuse to be towed again like what happened on a disastrous flat I had on the freeway. Never again.

+1 in alternating the off season as spare. No tire shop by me is open on sundays not to mention I’d have the tire changed and well on my way before aaa or any other aid in road side assistance would get to where ever I’m at. In MI pot holes are everywhere so you can’t count your wheel won’t be dented/bent/cracked beyond being able to just inflate with tire patch and good to go. Toasted a rim on a 99 avenger that way on an unavoidable pot hole.

[JimD]

If you can afford the trunk space for the spare and jack it is a more reliable option than what I do. I have been towed twice and one of those times was when the sidewall of an inexpensive tire blew out. I carry a plugging kit and a compressor but they were useless for this and a spare would have gotten me home. I was on my way home from choir practice and AAA was there fairly quickly and towed me to my house. I also have a pickup so I used that to get a new tire on that rim and then drove the 128 to the tire store to get the other 3 replaced. Shouldn't have bought cheap tires in the first place.

I've never plugged a tire on my bimmer but I plugged one on my old SUV my son drives now and one on my pickup. I was pleasantly surprised that my plugs held great. For slow leak nail holes, just putting a plug in it yourself will also work fine. It has been a life of the tire repair for me. I bought a fairly decent plugging kit, I think it was made by ARB. The tools have aluminum handles and are sturdy. I would be hessitant to use a cheap kit from Walmart. A plugging kit and compressor take up a lot less space than a spare - but don't solve all problems.

[Fishee]

Factory E60 pieces.

[gjm120]

I have a full size spare for around town and a compressor & plug kit for traveling. I know that's backwards, but I usually need the trunk space when traveling.

For a jack I bought and Mercedes C class jack (~2005-09) off of ebay long ago. It was nearly new, not pricey and works perfectly. Here's one on ebay now that I think will work..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17542501282...kAAOSwmMZjLOuk