Help with Spare Tire!
 

Hi, I have a 2008 X5 4.8i w/3rd row seats and 20" wheels. My RF tires were dead and I opted to replace them with all season tires. I got Toyo Proxes ST II and they're great. Unfortunately, this means that I do not have run flats or a spare tire anymore.

My question is: Is there space for a spare tire in the car w/ the 3rd row? I've heard there isn't one.

If not, I can always put the spare in a wheel bag and leave it in the trunk. But what size spare will fit? Will a 17" wheel fit it?

Is this a size that'd fit?

BRAND NEW X5 Spare Tire/Wheel with Tool Kit - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

Thanks!

No, that wheel/tire won't fit. If you want a full size spare you'll need an 18in wheels and tire. The smallest size is huge and will eat up most of your cargo area.

The space saver spare is smaller but will still take up a good amount of room.

If you do a lot of long road trip to remote areas, it might be worth while to buy a space saver.

I have two cans of Slime Aerosol SUV size in the trunk along with an air compressor.

You could always get this. Not sure it is available in the US though.

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5881/carrierr.jpg

Keep a mobile phone with you and get a AAA membership. Just resign to the fact that you made a good tire decision and with that decision comes the realization that paitence will have to be demonstrated when a flat occurs.

And yeah get some slime, that may get you by for most flat issues. I have done this with my wife's e93 and we just have slime in the trunk. I know if I get a flat that may work or I will have to get a tow, no big deal.

Will the slime affect the TPMS?

Slime is water based so it can be cleaned out of the TPMS but it will probably plug up them until you get the tire fixed and cleaned out. I carry a small compressor in my X5 so that I can pump up slow leaks now and them without the use of slime. Slime wold be good to carry if the leak was bigger and needed to plugged.

Chuck

Not to hijack but, in what country is that offered in? OZ? I found one similar to it in OZ but I kinda like this one better.

Thanks for the great response! Yup, I already have AAA, but the issue is once they get here now what? It would have to be towed and I would have to wait for a tire to come in. I do sometimes take long trips (1000 miles+) so i will look into a spare solution.

For now, as you recommended I got the slime aerosol for large tires and have that handy. Perhaps I can buy a spare and leave it in the trunk for longer trips..

Imo, the non-RFTs are only a considered, but slight risk; how many flats does one get in a year or...most that I've had are discovered as a slow leaker, in my garage, and can be patched.

If you are travelling, a RFT only gets you to the dlr, for a $600 tire, if they are open and have one, or a tire joint that probably does not. So, the RFT is just a security blanket, but one still has the 'replace tire problem'.

For the wives/GFs here, a RFT may allow them to get home or somewhere, but same problem on replacing that giant tire.

I have only used a tire inflator product once, on a motorcycle, and it wasn't Slime, so no opin on that product. I suspect you might need more than one can to fill/seal/inflate the large tires on Xs.

A plug kit and a small compressor can get you down the road, too.
GL, mD

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