Spare tire solution for aftermarket rims

FStop7 · 12-06-2009, 06:08 PM

About a week ago I had a blowout which left me stranded because the tire was too messed up for the mobility kit to work.

Luckily I was in the city so it didn't take long for a flatbed to arrive and there was a BMW dealership nearby.

The problem is that:

A) my bumper got scratched coming off the the truck because it's lowered - could have been avoided if I had a spare

B) the tire I needed was on backorder, so my car was down for a full week - same

C) if my rim had been seriously damaged it would have taken up to 3 months to get a replacement from Japan - same

If this had happened far from home I would have really been screwed.

The most obvious solution is to start carrying a spare. But that in itself can be a problem: If you lose a rear, your spare must be the same overall diameter as your remaining tire, otherwise you risk burning out your limited slip diff.

The way I see it there are a few choices:

1. Find a mini space that is the same diameter as the rears

2. Buy a fifth aftermarket rim and tire, make sure it can fit either the front or the rear and is the same overall diameter as the rears

3. Keep your stock rims and tires (or buy a full set if you've sold them) and keep them on standby

4. Hire someone with a van full of spare parts follow you everywhere, like a Tour de France team

I'm looking at option #2 for now. I'll probably pick up an 18 or 19 inch VMR rim and find a cheap tire, if I can find one that is very close in diameter to my rears

GTM · 12-08-2009, 09:44 AM

I think #2 is good choice too.

Like you said, make sure to keep similar OD as rears or you will end up damaging the LSD.

Kyoshi71 · 12-08-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTM

I think #2 is good choice too.

Like you said, make sure to keep similar OD as rears or you will end up damaging the LSD.

You can damage your LSD but not in the distance usually needed to get home or to a shop. (Unless you dropped LSD for that matter...then it would take a lot longer to get home)

This will work for you:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...spare+solution

bunnn · 12-08-2009, 12:53 PM

I like option 4!

but I'm goign with option 3 at the moment

12-06-2009, 06:08 PM	#1
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	Spare tire solution for aftermarket rims About a week ago I had a blowout which left me stranded because the tire was too messed up for the mobility kit to work. Luckily I was in the city so it didn't take long for a flatbed to arrive and there was a BMW dealership nearby. The problem is that: A) my bumper got scratched coming off the the truck because it's lowered - could have been avoided if I had a spare B) the tire I needed was on backorder, so my car was down for a full week - same C) if my rim had been seriously damaged it would have taken up to 3 months to get a replacement from Japan - same If this had happened far from home I would have really been screwed. The most obvious solution is to start carrying a spare. But that in itself can be a problem: If you lose a rear, your spare must be the same overall diameter as your remaining tire, otherwise you risk burning out your limited slip diff. The way I see it there are a few choices: 1. Find a mini space that is the same diameter as the rears 2. Buy a fifth aftermarket rim and tire, make sure it can fit either the front or the rear and is the same overall diameter as the rears 3. Keep your stock rims and tires (or buy a full set if you've sold them) and keep them on standby 4. Hire someone with a van full of spare parts follow you everywhere, like a Tour de France team I'm looking at option #2 for now. I'll probably pick up an 18 or 19 inch VMR rim and find a cheap tire, if I can find one that is very close in diameter to my rears __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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12-08-2009, 12:53 PM	#4
bunnn Colonel 86 Rep 2,266 Posts Drives: like a grandma Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (12)	I like option 4! but I'm goign with option 3 at the moment __________________ Cheers Ben
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12-08-2009, 09:44 AM	#2
GTM 68 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Crystal Lake, IL iTrader: (2)	I think #2 is good choice too. Like you said, make sure to keep similar OD as rears or you will end up damaging the LSD.
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