Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[aesfah]

full size winter tire spare in the trunk, along with air compressor, slime and tire repair kit. after being stranded at 2am 100 miles from home, i will never ever travel without a spare again.

[bkrM3]

Ive started taking a full size winter as a spare on long trips - much easier to borrow a jack and 17mm socket if you have to than it is to find a replacement tire and get it mounted. I recently picked up a nail in a nearly-new hankook v12 (), which I had to replace because they wont let you track a patched tire. I think I'll get a cheap wheel to put it on and have a permanent full-size summer spare. The blizzak RFT on my stock 189 is so heavy to lug around.

I have been considering the compact spare kit as an alternative though, which I'd leave in the car at all times. Seems like it could be easier as a practical matter but damn those things are expensive...

[chromisdesigns]

Donut kit from Bavarian auto. Tools (including the jack) will fit in the wells under the mat, and if you turn the tire over so the wheel well is on top, you can store your extra oil, compressor, gloves, and what not in the well.

I can still fit a regular-sized carryon on top of the donut spare in the trunk.

[blacknbean]

AAA is my spare. had to use it once already. its probably even quicker than having to spend time on the side of the road trying to change out a tire yourself

[smallseafishie]

I have AAA, slime kit, and a donut.

I'm paranoid about getting stranded...

[nycbr]

Originally Posted by chromisdesigns

Donut kit from Bavarian auto. Tools (including the jack) will fit in the wells under the mat.

I cant believe the donut fits in that space. Can you share some pics?

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by nycbr

I cant believe the donut fits in that space. Can you share some pics?

..agree...

I need to see pics of a spare in that space, because IMO, there is NO WAY you are getting a tire in that compartment under the truck mat...

you prob even couldnt get JUST the tire itself, let alone a rim...

[bucket328]

I got a bmw mobility kit. Little air pump and some sort of tire leak bs.

[iBoost]

I throw in a spare on road trips.

[Lincoln30]

I purchased the BavAuto spare kit with the bag.

[iBoost]

Originally Posted by blacknbean

AAA is my spare. had to use it once already. its probably even quicker than having to spend time on the side of the road trying to change out a tire yourself

it takes 3 minutes to swap out a wheel

[Kruz]

Nice form-fitting bag there.

[Lincoln30]

Originally Posted by Kruz

Nice form-fitting bag there.

The bag is large enough to carry a full size wheel/tire, the donut is only 5" tall so it doesn't fill the bag, but their is room in the bag to carry all the parts in the center of the wheel when facedown (lug wrench, jack, wheel chuck, etc). I used the bubble wrap that came with the shipment to wrap the loose parts so they don't rattle around and scratch the steel wheel. It's not heavy either, I'd say it's about 35lbs for everything.

If you do get an OEM jack be sure to see if your car has the jack pockets installed (under the rockers)...if not you need to order them too. They install in seconds with no tools.

[Wilhelm]

Driving 95 percent of the time in some part or another of California, I have no need for winter tires. Or a spare tire either, for that matter, since AAA and new or emergency used tires are pretty much available anywhere.

For my annual trip to Albuquerque/Santa Fe I pack an all season 205/50/ZR17 mounted on one of those steel rims obtained from Tischer usually used for "donut" or compact spare tires. Except it's pretty much a full sized spare, but lighter and slightly smaller overall than an OEM tire and rim set up. And way less expensive. Plus thrown in the back with the outside of the rim down and a blanket over it, the inside of the rim makes a cozy bed for a smaller size dog.


Now that I'm rolling on black wheels, the black still rim doesn't look that atrocious as a temporary measure. Even less so when I get around to painting it a matte black, mainly to cover up those yellow speed limit warning spots.

Virtually a full size tire, I don't have to keep the speed at under 50mph as the almost full contact patch means handling and braking performance are close enough to OEM tires that I can drive or brake normally as long as I'm not driving all crazy.

[boredsports]

conti comfort kit and AAA.

[Kuch335]

for long trips, take a plug kit & pump.. fix-a-flat just makes a mess.. otherwise just carry a cell phone with TPMS, you'll know well enough ahead of time if you have a problem to get into a gas station, full blowouts are pretty rare unless you let your tires wear down to the cords ..

[3me]

I carry a plug kit and on road trips, I sometimes put one of my old wheels in the trunk for road trips back home. Kind of a pain in the butt but, then again, so are run flats....literally though

[yakev724]

I have a $20 wal-mart plug kit + compressor, though BMW released a similar kit for the F30:

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ProductDet...&ProductId=342

I've definitely seen it cheaper on a dealer's website, but can't find the link. I'm sure Tischer/Husker will start featuring it shortly.

[zzzbullseye]

I'm carrying a spacesaver spare tire setup from Bimmerzone (see pic below). I picked up the netting from Autozone.

[chromisdesigns]

Originally Posted by nycbr

I cant believe the donut fits in that space. Can you share some pics?

I said the TOOLS fit under the mat, along with the jack, not the donut spare!

A lot of people don't realize those molded pockets under the mat fit the OEM tool set (that you don't get when you buy the car), including the jack.

[Tom K.]

The only punctures I've had in the past 10 years resulted in slow leaks which were easily pumped up as necessary to reach a repair facility.

So I carry a 12v compressor and Dyna-Plug kit for both non-RFT & RFT equipped cars.

Tom

[Bargamon]

Originally Posted by middleagedhippie

I don't get all of this runflat hysteria. I like my conti runflats, I like the stiffness of the ride, but most of all I like the security of knowing I can drive on a flat tire. If you are worried enough about wanting a spare tire, seems to me that is enough reason to stick with the run flats.

You live in florida where an all season tire might not matter.

I like having an all season tire and the sport package.

I have a donut in the trunk and love feel of not having the runflats.

$900 to change them out vs. $1500 is also a point to consider.