Tirerack spare tire questions

deletedelete · 01-11-2010, 11:11 AM

I was going to pm gary to ask tirerack about this but he doesnt seem to accept private messages.

So, Im forced into buying a spare tire kit for long trips. Instead of buying one of the premade kits, I was wondering if it was better to get a spare tire/rim from tirerack and buy a scissor jack elsewhere. Buying separately might be cheaper then buying one of the kits.

Also I was wondering if it was better to buy an 18in spare since I have 18in wheels on the xi. If im on a long trip and need to use the spare for a long distance, I was curious as to whether having a 17in wheel would be bad. Thanks.

(like I said I was gonna pm, but since I couldnt I made a thread. No I didnt search!)

I335 · 01-11-2010, 11:34 AM

I don't think it'll make much difference as long as the total diameter is the same. But don't quote me - I'm no expert on this stuff. Let us know what you come up with!

chromisdesigns · 01-11-2010, 12:03 PM

I don't think TireRack sells the donut rim for the 335i. A full-sized tire and rim, whether 17" or 18", is going to occupy most of the trunk. Even the donuts eat up a considerable amount of space.

Look at the Tischer kit, or the one from Bavarian Auto. Bavauto is more money, but it includes a much better tool kit and jack. On one of the forums, somebody priced out what the good tool kit plus donut plus rim cost, and it was about the same price.

As long as the OD of the spare is close to the other tires, it doesn't make a difference as to wheel diameter. I used a 16" winter tire and rim on my E36 M3 for a spare once when the "real" 17" spare was flat, and it worked fine.

richmalk · 01-11-2010, 05:15 PM

When I researched this, the problem was in acquiring the correct compact wheel- the only apparent source is BMW, and most dealers can't or won't get it. You could probably buy the tire (125/80/17) from a local tire dealer and have it mounted, if you can find the right wheel (it's 17" X 4" but I don't know the offset), but TireRack doesn't carry either. The 17" spare is the correct size for the E90.

Look under your car before you decide to buy any scissors jacks. They're designed to fit onto pinch welds, whereas the real BMW jack fits into the jacking blocks installed at the correct point. I didn't see any appropriate pinch weld to use for jacking on my car.

deletedelete · 01-11-2010, 07:34 PM

oh, it looks like im stuck with buying one of the premade kits. Thanks guys. Either way I hate having to take up my entire trunk with a spare.

Gary@TireRack · 01-12-2010, 10:17 AM

Correct, we do not have the spare sized wheels, sorry.

01-11-2010, 11:11 AM	#1
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	Tirerack spare tire questions I was going to pm gary to ask tirerack about this but he doesnt seem to accept private messages. So, Im forced into buying a spare tire kit for long trips. Instead of buying one of the premade kits, I was wondering if it was better to get a spare tire/rim from tirerack and buy a scissor jack elsewhere. Buying separately might be cheaper then buying one of the kits. Also I was wondering if it was better to buy an 18in spare since I have 18in wheels on the xi. If im on a long trip and need to use the spare for a long distance, I was curious as to whether having a 17in wheel would be bad. Thanks. (like I said I was gonna pm, but since I couldnt I made a thread. No I didnt search!) __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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01-11-2010, 11:34 AM	#2
I335 Brigadier General 123 Rep 4,249 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	I don't think it'll make much difference as long as the total diameter is the same. But don't quote me - I'm no expert on this stuff. Let us know what you come up with!
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01-11-2010, 12:03 PM	#3
chromisdesigns Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,754 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	I don't think TireRack sells the donut rim for the 335i. A full-sized tire and rim, whether 17" or 18", is going to occupy most of the trunk. Even the donuts eat up a considerable amount of space. Look at the Tischer kit, or the one from Bavarian Auto. Bavauto is more money, but it includes a much better tool kit and jack. On one of the forums, somebody priced out what the good tool kit plus donut plus rim cost, and it was about the same price. As long as the OD of the spare is close to the other tires, it doesn't make a difference as to wheel diameter. I used a 16" winter tire and rim on my E36 M3 for a spare once when the "real" 17" spare was flat, and it worked fine.
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01-11-2010, 05:15 PM	#4
richmalk Private 4 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2015 X1 35i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (0)	When I researched this, the problem was in acquiring the correct compact wheel- the only apparent source is BMW, and most dealers can't or won't get it. You could probably buy the tire (125/80/17) from a local tire dealer and have it mounted, if you can find the right wheel (it's 17" X 4" but I don't know the offset), but TireRack doesn't carry either. The 17" spare is the correct size for the E90. Look under your car before you decide to buy any scissors jacks. They're designed to fit onto pinch welds, whereas the real BMW jack fits into the jacking blocks installed at the correct point. I didn't see any appropriate pinch weld to use for jacking on my car.
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01-11-2010, 07:34 PM	#5
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	oh, it looks like im stuck with buying one of the premade kits. Thanks guys. Either way I hate having to take up my entire trunk with a spare. __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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01-12-2010, 10:17 AM	#6
Gary@TireRack Moderator 369 Rep 4,745 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	Correct, we do not have the spare sized wheels, sorry. __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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