[Bradscott]

I'm going to be travelling quite a way across Australia and I would dread to get a flat with no spare tire. So.. I've bought a front rim but I'm stuck on what tire size to fit so it can go on both the front AND the back?

My front tires are 225/40/18 and the back is 255/35/18.

I was thinking of putting a 225/35/18 for the spare? Or can I just use a standard front tire 225/40/18 or will it throw something out on the car?

Oh and what jacks do you all use while on the road?

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks
Brad

[tadaska]

I would just get the front size. I believe that's what they have all round in a square set up? Not sure I would want a rear tyre in the front on a staggered setup.

[Bradscott]

I mean it will mostly be on motorways so if I did get a flat it would simply be a spare tire for a short distance to a tire shop/repair shop.

And I'm guessing if i got a rear tire I would have to get a rear rim which will not fit on the front?

If I was to fit a 40 ratio on the back won't it be touching something while turning etc?

And yes I have a 320d RWD

[Tambohamilton]

Just get a front tyre on your spare. It's close enough in dia (0.1") that it won't matter if you put it on the rear

[toy4two]

tire "goop" puncture sealant, 12V tire pump, and a tire plug kit. Use goop for minor flats that you can drive to a tire shop. Use tire plug kit if I need to go hundreds of miles for help. Carry a rescue beacon for ultimate safety (iPhone 14 includes this).

[StradaRedlands]

An E60 spare kit works great, and takes up a lot less space.
Oh look, here's an example for a great price: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1955396

[Bradscott]

Thanks for the help guys, really appreciate all the info!

And for the jack I was tempted to go find a scrap x5 and get the jack as I think it had the same jack points and fitting as the e90?

[ctuna]

No spare since I bought it.
A few slow leaks and the TPMS caught it and one what appeared
to be a tire slashing in my driveway . 12 years not worried at this point.
If you notice most new cars don't have spares anymore and where I am
I so rarely see a car on the side of the road for a flat.
There are some self sealing tires out now that seems kind of interesting.
Guess they have pre installed goop.

[tcphoto]

I've owned mine since August '16 and it came with run flats. Two years later, a tire went flat and upon inspection there were a couple that showed the wear bar. I replaced them with PS4S' and bought a mini tire compressor and Tire Goop. I haven't been stranded and have been thinking about a space saver spare but the pandemic has eliminated me traveling far for work.

[Suvorovo]

I'm going to get a full size spare for long trips. You can pick up a curbed up/poor condition rim for like $60 at the salvage yard. A regular donut kit for your diameter wheel would run you like $300.

The tire I'll just use a less worn out/patched during my next set.

Hopefully AAA is helpful with tows on the usual 50 miles range. Patching a non-run flat tires voids the costco warranty.

car-parts.com sort by distance from you and pick the cheapest one.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

I'm going to get a full size spare for long trips. You can pick up a curbed up/poor condition rim for like $60 at the salvage yard. A regular donut kit for your diameter wheel would run you like $300.

The tire I'll just use a less worn out/patched during my next set.

Hopefully AAA is helpful with tows on the usual 50 miles range. Patching a non-run flat tires voids the costco warranty.

car-parts.com sort by distance from you and pick the cheapest one.

Yeah I’m on this same plan. I kept my best run flat when I replaced all four recently (with non run flats) and snagged a used 285 rim on car-part.com for $65. I’ll cart it along for longer trips, and use my towing and service insurance locally or shorter trips.

[The Nightman]

I've pieced together a kit consisting of a scissor jack, tire wrench, tire plug kit with pliers, and a "mobility kit" (air compressor + tire sealant) like those found on newer vehicles:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-...ack-66907.html
https://slime.com/collections/patche...-kit-glue-11pc
https://slime.com/collections/all-in...ire-repair-kit

It drives me insane that BMW didn't include a spare tire when they easily could've, and owners can't even retrofit a spare tire kit like on other vehicles. Carrying a spare in the trunk is an option, but the truck space is usually a premium for longer road trips where a spare would be good to have.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by Guy Fieri

I've pieced together a kit consisting of a scissor jack, tire wrench, tire plug kit with pliers, and a "mobility kit" (air compressor + tire sealant) like those found on newer vehicles...

I like the RSC Conti Runflats. No complaints about traction, cornering, ride or noise, and can go 50 miles without repair if needed. Personally, I'd plug/inflate it rather than trashing a $200 tire.

Like Guy, I carry a 12V Pump, Plug Kit with needle-nose pliers, WorkLight and warning lights/ tools. NO JACK. RSC's will get you off highway to parking lot or such where you can put towel down and remove screw/nail, plug puncture, inflate & be on your way WITHOUT removing wheel.

Can't be prepared for EVERYTHING! What if someone who REALLY DISLIKES you slashes TWO tires (or all 4 ;-). Do you carry spare coolant hoses & tools to change? Coolant Pump?

In 60 years of maintaining my own vehicles, worst I've ever had to do was change a Starter on V-12 XJ-S at a gas station parking lot, at night, in cold. Once (50+ years ago) changed a broken valve spring on 427 'Vette in less than an hour at an Exxon off I-81 at 10PM on a Sunday night. Then continued to FL

I WAS prepared for that with replacement spring, Spring Compressor, Rocker Cover Gasket, tools & Plug air hose adapter, 'cuz one had previously broken. Station Attendant let me use compressor air to hold valve closed while changing spring. 427 V-8 was NOT OHC, so just remove Rocker, keepers & spring.

I haven't had a flat tire MYSELF in at least 30 years, and can't remember EVER changing tire roadside. I've plugged screw/nail holes for others ~ 3 times in last 5 years. My LUCK will probably change tomorrow.
George

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Some people do a spare and tie it down which works well. I went with a scissor jack, tire plugs, and some side cutters. I used the tire plugs once. They came in a lot of handy. I was at home when I discovered the flat so it was easy to deal with. Most importantly, keep a tire inflator in your car. If you have a slow leak, fill it up to the max and you'll more than likely get home where you can use your tools to do a quick repair. If you plug a tire, always go get it patched.

Don't use slime. It'll destroy the inside of the tire tire, create a mess on the rim and potentially ruin the TPMS sensor. I'd rather get a tow than use slime.

[Serf27]

E60 spare tire kit is a good one. Otherwise, use the same size tire as your front tires. It won’t throw anything off on the car.

They sell these 12v scissor jacks that plug into the cars cigarette lighter. Pretty neat, but I guess their electronics could fail too.

[Suvorovo]

I’ve had to deal with many flat tires over the last few years. (Family members and twice myself). I always used a plug kit and nobody ever had an issue or complains from anyone.

Is slime the same as a plug and patch kit? The little rubber rods that you twist into the hole + some rubber glue. I’ve been using those and never had an issue. Given I just bought new tires, I’m trying to leverage the warranty and AAA as much as possible for my car.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

I’ve had to deal with many flat tires over the last few years. (Family members and twice myself). I always used a plug kit and nobody ever had an issue or complains from anyone.

Is slime the same as a plug and patch kit? The little rubber rods that you twist into the hole + some rubber glue. I’ve been using those and never had an issue. Given I just bought new tires, I’m trying to leverage the warranty and AAA as much as possible for my car.

Slime is literally a slime you inject into the tire through the valve. It coats anything and everything inside the tire and plugs up any leaks, but makes quite the mess.

[sabino56]

Originally Posted by Guy Fieri

It drives me insane that BMW didn't include a spare tire when they easily could've, and owners can't even retrofit a spare tire kit like on other vehicles.

Ditto. I can understand not putting a space saver in new cars to save weight/cost but to eliminate the place to put one if desired has always frustrated.

That said, with ~150k on the odometer now I rent something for long trips/driving vacations.

I decided to try non-run flats when I bought new tires thinking I hadn’t had a flat in 20+ years on anything I own and would rely on a tow if I did flat. Of course, later that month I had two flats on a 100mile trip in the Suburban…

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by sabino56

... later that month I had two flats on a 100mile trip in the Suburban…

"Honest Officer: I didn't see the Spike Strip"

[Limpdick]

Has anybody looked at modifying the plastic underfloor 'bucket' to take a spare wheel? Maybe angled upwards at the rear?
Personally i think it should be against the law for manufacturers to be able to sell a car without a spare wheel!
They only get away with it because WE let them...

[Brian86]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Strap a spare on a rack on the boot lid. Will totally look Mad Max.

I think this would be cool on a wagon.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Guy Fieri

I've pieced together a kit consisting of a scissor jack, tire wrench, tire plug kit with pliers, and a "mobility kit" (air compressor + tire sealant) like those found on newer vehicles:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-...ack-66907.html
https://slime.com/collections/patche...-kit-glue-11pc
https://slime.com/collections/all-in...ire-repair-kit

It drives me insane that BMW didn't include a spare tire when they easily could've, and owners can't even retrofit a spare tire kit like on other vehicles. Carrying a spare in the trunk is an option, but the truck space is usually a premium for longer road trips where a spare would be good to have.

It really isn't insane - a spare tire takes up a bunch of space (which is at a premium in these fairly small cars that take rather large wheels) and the whole kit weighs a decent amount, plus the cost of it. For something the majority of people NEVER use. The last time I had to change a tire on the road was in *1989*. Even without runflats on my car, I am just not worrying about it, and I have driven my 128i back and forth from Florida to Maine twice.

I carry an air compressor w/goo, a AAA card, and a credit card. I've had to use the compressor once - tire went flat over a week at the airport. Pumped it up without goo and I made it 50 miles home with no issues. Had it plugged the next day, had picked up a nail. Only issue since 1989.

Not having spares is getting more and more common across the industry.