Does anyone run with non runflat tyres but no spare wheel?

[Spanky Deluxe]

I'm looking at buying a second hand E70 pretty soon and am completely sold on the look of the 20" Y-spoke wheels. Problem is, we're really after a 7 seater which I'm pretty sure means you lose the spare wheel.

I'm thinking of buying a second set of second hand alloys off eBay and putting some winter tyres on those to switch over in the winter months and for when we drive to the alps skiing. That's quite a cheap option though until the requirement becomes winter runflat tyres.

So does anyone run without run flat tyres and no spare wheel? I guess I could always buy a space saver spare wheel and take it in the boot on long journeys but you lose enough luggage space with seven seats as is (but we would have a 500 odd litre roof box in those instances). I guess it's mainly just a case of luck.

[JCL]

You can always rely on the BMW Mobility Kit, quite a few do. It has a 12V compressor, sealant/goop, and a carrying case. Not for runflats. Doesn't take up much room. Dealers carry them, as well as internet sellers.

[Weasel]

That would work out okay if it were a small leak type situation, but if you hit a pothole and blow out a tire you'd be calling for a tow truck...

[blue dragon]

I use the sealant kit. If the puncture is too big, there's always a tow truck.

[IndyRon]

I run the BMW 214's (the Y-spoke 20" wheels you are referring to) on Dunlop runflats in the summer and I have a set of factory 18" BMW wheels with all season bridgestone tires that are not run flats that I use in the winter. I drive the car 23 miles each way to and from work and don't really worry about the non runflat tires. My insurance offers free roadside assistance with my policy so I'll rely on that if I need service while driving. It's never a bad idea to take along a spare if you are going on a road trip and are outside major metropolitan areas though.

[ard]

My M5 had no spare. I went about 9 months they broke a wheel on a pothole when I was 90 miles from home. The inflator kit and sealant were of zero value.

This would have resulted in me spending 3-4 days at a hotel (while they ordered a wheel), getting a mismatched tire (they didn't stock PS2s) or renting a car for the trip and coming back for the car when repaired.

(As luck would have it a total stranger on M5Board lent me a spare OE wheel he had...)

I now carry a spare.

I will NEVER rely on roadside assistance as they CANNOT fix destroyed tires nor wheels.

What will take 20 minutes with a spare and jack turns into hours or days.

Feeling lucky?



A

[ChuckG]

I just carry a small compressor with me. I have not used the spare at all on the last two cars that I have had. They were driven a total of about 385,00 miles and both had a few punctures. The were all slow leaks I drove one tire with a nail in it over 2,000 miles just filling it up with air a few times. Tires today are very good and usually only get slow leaks. I have never have broken a wheel.

Chuck

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ard

I will NEVER rely on roadside assistance as they CANNOT fix destroyed tires nor wheels.

What will take 20 minutes with a spare and jack turns into hours or days.

Feeling lucky?



A

I had a '97 Morgan +4 in the UK. Came around a corner (at speed) and hit a chunk of concrete. Cut the sidewalls in two curb side tires, and damaged one of those rims. Waited 90 minutes for a flatdeck (at least it was free, included in my insurance).

I didn't start carrying two spares though. Sometimes s**t just happens.

[Spanky Deluxe]

Thanks all for your views. I had a tyre blow out on my X3 a few months after we bought it whilst going pretty fast on the motorway but that was with tyres that were clearly dodgy (had to top up the pressure every couple of weeks). It turned out to be because the previous owner had bought second hand tyres which although being a good make and having loads of tread on, were about ten years old. The garage that I went to (I was on my way to the garage to get the car serviced when it went pop) said that the rubber was old and showing all kinds of weaknesses. Obviously I'd be buying new tyres for our car.

I'll have to think about it for the winter tyres. I'd likely keep the winter tyres for quite a few years since temperatures here that warrant such tyres only last for a couple of months anyway and we don't do many miles. Chances are the only car we'd replace the X5 with would be another X5 anyway so they'd likely last me a long time if stored right.

We've got RAC recovery throughout Europe with our bank but it does look like the rear 20" wheels aren't a standard size so getting replacements in the middle of nowhere might be quite tricky.

[ard]

My point is even if the tire and/or wheel is in stock at the local dealer, a simple tyre damage can talk half a day out of your life for want of a spare... it is really insane that the public has been hoodwinked into giving up spares!



A