Compact Spare Tires

[Diamondpilot]

As many of you know I have a BMW 335I and the factory Run Flats never impressed me. They were Bridgestone and seemed to not have a good ride and made some road noise. Anyway I was getting new tires put on my Nissan Titan last Monday, a week ago, and was talking with my tire guy who recommended some Falken Azenis 722's for the BMW. I had them put on last Friday and wow, what a difference. This is now my 3rd set of Falken tires. Both previous sets were on both my Saturns which are now sold but I loved the tires on them also.

Here is the rub. They are not Run Flats. To replace the Bridgestones was $1500 in 225/45/17 and the Falkens were $650 in the same size. This was a no brainer but now the issue is I do not have a spare. I went today to my local junk yard looking for a Compact Spare with no luck. A few phone calls also did not give me any leads. I called the dealer and they wanted $400. Heck, I can just have it towed for $75 if I have a flat so spending $400 is not a option.

I have a spare Scissor Jack and I bought a folding 4 Way Lug Wrench at HF for $8 today so that is covered. I just need to now source a Compact Spare. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Code54]

I would get on a BMW forum and post asking if another make/model has the same bolt pattern (rim). Those specialized forums have a lot of knowledge and some of the guys live to figure stuff like that out. Maybe able to find something "common" (say like a Toyota, VW, Ford, rim etc) you could pick up at a junk yard.
Good luck

 

[bcp]

When you find one with the same pattern, try it on both the rear and front(straight and turned) for brake, tie rod, and fender clearance.

Bruce

 

[CNC Dan]

Check the spare well to see if a full size tire will fit. If that body style is available with AWD (X-Drive?), then it should fit. If so, then see if you can find a matching rim at a salvage yard. If you do, rotate it with the other four so it will wear the same as the the rest. You need to have them all the same size for the ABS to work right.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would get on a BMW forum and post asking if another make/model has the same bolt pattern (rim). Those specialized forums have a lot of knowledge and some of the guys live to figure stuff like that out. Maybe able to find something "common" (say like a Toyota, VW, Ford, rim etc) you could pick up at a junk yard.
Good luck

Good idea. I do know that its a 5 on 120mm lug pattern and it needs to be a high positive offset. It also has to be a 17" wheel or larger. This 335I has huge brakes.

Chris

 

[murphy1244]

do you have a spot for a spare? everybody knows bimmers no get no flats anywho.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check the spare well to see if a full size tire will fit. If that body style is available with AWD (X-Drive?), then it should fit. If so, then see if you can find a matching rim at a salvage yard. If you do, rotate it with the other four so it will wear the same as the the rest. You need to have them all the same size for the ABS to work right.

It is not big enough to fit a full size spare. I actually saved the best run-flat with just over 5/32nd tread to make into a spare but now I am going to go a different route with the compact spare.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

do you have a spot for a spare? everybody knows bimmers no get no flats anywho.

I get flats on everything and its rubbed off to my kids. I swear I fix a bike tire every month. I keep spare tubes on the shelf.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

When you find one with the same pattern, try it on both the rear and front(straight and turned) for brake, tie rod, and fender clearance.

Bruce

I will do this. I had thought of it already but its a good tip.

Chris

 

[Bird]

As far back as 21 years ago, in a tire dealership, we'd get requests for compact spare tires; sometimes including a wheel and sometimes not, and the only place we could get them was from the car dealers. I wondered whether that had changed or not, and apparently not. I consider myself lucky that both of our old Fords have full size spares.

 

[kensnelling]

Check a late modelChrysler/Dodge mini van. Those should be your 5 on 120mm bolt pattern, plus should be fairly inexpensive at the salvage yard.

Ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check a late modelChrysler/Dodge mini van. Those should be your 5 on 120mm bolt pattern, plus should be fairly inexpensive at the salvage yard.

Ken

Thanks. I will check the lug pattern.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check a late modelChrysler/Dodge mini van. Those should be your 5 on 120mm bolt pattern, plus should be fairly inexpensive at the salvage yard.

Ken

I called my tire guy then the local Dodge dealer. They both confirmed that late model mini vans (08 to current) are 5x127mm and prior to 08 they were 5x114.3mm. Again my BMW is 5x120mm. Thanks for the lead but its a dead end.

Chris

 

[zzvyb6]

I called my tire guy then the local Dodge dealer. They both confirmed that late model mini vans (08 to current) are 5x127mm and prior to 08 they were 5x114.3mm. Again my BMW is 5x120mm. Thanks for the lead but its a dead end.

Chris

Minivan is FWD, Your BMW is rear drive, eh? Offset is very different. Wheel won't turn after you tighten it up and the brake caliper will be trashed, maybe the wheelhouse, too.

Get a can of fix-a flat. Your Falkens are plastic. Wet traction will be pretty bad. If you have a wreck and hurt someone and their lawyer finds out, issue a Quit-Claim deed for your house to a friend. Its called 'forseeable misuse'.

I've used the compact spares on my hay elevator, but they go soft after a couple of years... Make great signpost bases, though.

 

[Soundguy]

As far back as 21 years ago, in a tire dealership, we'd get requests for compact spare tires; sometimes including a wheel and sometimes not, and the only place we could get them was from the car dealers. I wondered whether that had changed or not, and apparently not. I consider myself lucky that both of our old Fords have full size spares.

i know they are difficult to get used as well.

I have a farmall C, and the fronts are not regualr tri ribs, but compact car maypops.. probably 12 er.. 13"

i had one let go last year and had a heckuva time getting a used maypop for it...

 

[Soundguy]

Get a can of fix-a flat. Your Falkens are plastic. Wet traction will be pretty bad. If you have a wreck and hurt someone and their lawyer finds out, issue a Quit-Claim deed for your house to a friend. Its called 'forseeable misuse'.

I've used the compact spares on my hay elevator, but they go soft after a couple of years... Make great signpost bases, though.

i'll ask the dumb question.

what's a falken.. and what part is plastic? the rim?

I'm not familiar with them

 

[zzvyb6]

Falkens are a high performance specialty tire popular with 'drifters'. Drifting is a racing/driving style that utilizes very high sideslip angles when maneuvering on a flat track. Sort of like dirt track racing. Drifters don't have as much power available, though.

The plastic refers to tread compounds used to get very high grip as the tread melts/ablates. Great for burnouts, too. (the kind that make a LOT of smoke. Well I suppose that could be the description of the driver, too, now that I see it in print).

If you want the best (summer) tires for that car get the O.E. Continentals (non-runflats). Real BMW O.E. tires have a special symbol on them that your dealer may not even know about. Best winter tire is a Bridgestone Blizzak IMHO. Ride is awsome, wet road is fantastic, snow grip is pretty darn good. Wear is not so great. I get mine at COSTCO (coupon sale). Wear them on all my vehicles, now.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Minivan is FWD, Your BMW is rear drive, eh? Offset is very different. Wheel won't turn after you tighten it up and the brake caliper will be trashed, maybe the wheelhouse, too.

Get a can of fix-a flat. Your Falkens are plastic. Wet traction will be pretty bad. If you have a wreck and hurt someone and their lawyer finds out, issue a Quit-Claim deed for your house to a friend. Its called 'forseeable misuse'.

I've used the compact spares on my hay elevator, but they go soft after a couple of years... Make great signpost bases, though.

Good point about the RWD vs FWD. I will just continue to search for a BMW spare. I have 2 trips to fly this week. Tomorrow I am going to Raleigh and Friday to DC. I will call some junk yards.

As for the Plastic and wet traction comment I have no idea what you are talking about. We are getting rain and freezing sleet here all day in North Eastern Indiana brought to us via the Hurricane. I drove the car about 80 miles today. Its way better in the wet then the Bridgestones were.

I will never use Fix A Flat. I would pay the $75 tow fee before I did that or just go get the tire with one of my trucks and run it to a tire store. Kicker is I am getting ready in two weeks to drive this BMW to Charleston and would feel much better even with brand new tire having a spare on board.

You could not give me a set of Continentals. I had a set on my New F-350 and they were horrible. Wore out in under 25,000 miles and would get you stuck in 4 low on wet grass. They loaded up and turned to slicks. As I said before this is now my 3rd set of Falkens and I put these 722's right up there with the best of the best tires on the market. The Blizzak's are good but not really need having 2 4x4 trucks at my disposal.

The 722's are a all season radial with great specs. Here is a link. http://www.falkentire.com/tires/car-tires/azenis-pt722-a-s

I am familiar along with my tire guy about the BMW symbol on tires but that does not mean that is what is the best for a particular application.


Chris

 

[mvwicker]

Honda Ridgeline trucks have 17" or 18" wheels with a 5-hole pattern that may fit your car. This may help you because the truck comes with a compact spare, but some owners buy a full-size spare for towing and then sell the compact. One such offer is on the St Louis Craigslist:

Honda Ridgeline Spare Tire

He wants $20. It may be worth it to drive West, out of the way of Sandy's remnants.

EDIT: It seems BMW and Ridgeline wheels do indeed have the same bolt pattern, 5x120, and should be interchangeable:
Looks like Honda stole BMW's exclusive 5x120 bolt pattern... - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

 

[Soundguy]

heck.. if this was a tractor.. just find one close and drill it out and use washers..