I posted this on the "other" thread the OP started, but for the record:

There are some great advantages to the 3rd row seat. But (to me at least) the "fatal" disadvantage is that getting the 3rd row negates your ability to have a spare tire (unless you want one riding in the luggage compartment, pretty much unrestrained). And that in turn forces you into over-priced, over-weight, rough-riding and bubble-prone RFT's for as long as you have the vehicle.

Some folks like the RFT's and that's fine. Personally I hate them. The snow tires on both our X5's are non-RFT, and I will shortly be replacing the X5D's 20" Dunlop "Summer Performance" tires with non-RFT Conti DWS's. So not having a spare would be a deal killer for me.

As always, YMMV.

__________________
2011 X5 35D Deep Sea Blue / Oyster
2008 M3 Vert Silverstone II / Black Novillo, 6MT
2008 X5 3.0 Platinum Bronze / Sand Beige Dakota
2007 X5 3.0 Space Gray / Gray Dakota (Retired)