What do you carry for spare tire?

[rmousir]

Hi All,

My car does not have run flats.

No Jack. No tool set. No tire slime.

What do you all put in your cars in case of tire failure?

Thanks
Richard.

[Twixboy]

Fix-a-flat and roadside assitance.

http://www.amazon.com/-Flat-S50073-U...dp/B00PRJI9O8/

[StickMon]

^WHS
BMW "Mobility Kit" for what good it is, and Prudential insurance 24/7 roadside assistance.
But even with that, after having been stuck on the side of a freeway at night, I went to run-flats out of self preservation.
IMHO the ContiSportContact SSRs aren't all that bad.
They grip like buttered eels, but the ride is comfortable.

[Z4Bh]

Originally Posted by Twixboy

Fix-a-flat and roadside assitance.

http://www.amazon.com/-Flat-S50073-U...dp/B00PRJI9O8/

amazing..... ordering it now, thanks

[Nate4641]

If anyone wasn't aware, tire shops will usually make you get a new tire if you fix a flat type products. Something about the slime not allowing them to repair or plug the tire. I'm not a tire expert so I don't know the details, but it has happened a few times to me and my family/friends.

[3798j]

Slime Smart Spair. Keep one in each of my vehicles. $20.

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by Nate4641

If anyone wasn't aware, tire shops will usually make you get a new tire if you fix a flat type products. Something about the slime not allowing them to repair or plug the tire. I'm not a tire expert so I don't know the details, but it has happened a few times to me and my family/friends.

Really? I had no idea. The instructions on mine said to "let your tire shop know you repaired the tire using this product" so you are probably right. I'm glad I didn't use this product when my TPMS got tripped during my last family vacation (not in the Z4 obviously). I determined it was a slow leak so I put more air in my tires a couple times on my way from DC to Boston and paid $30 to get it plugged when I got home. If I used the slime I would've been out $500 for 2 new tires!

[koruptor]

I have run flats and roadside assistance.

It's almost time for me to get new tires, and I've thought about switching away from run flats. To those with "regular" tires, how significant is the difference in comfort? And if I stick with run flats, are there recommended brands?

[KozyZ4]

Originally Posted by koruptor

how significant is the difference in comfort?

Night and day difference. So much better.

[3798j]

From Slime's website:

Can a Slime treated tire be professionally repaired?

Yes. Passenger vehicle tires treated with Slime should be professionally repaired with an RMA approved patch/plug at your earliest convenience. Inform the shop technician that Slime is in the tire.
TPMS friendly (Note: May not install easily into tires with direct or valve mounted devices).
Tires treated with SLiME can be cleaned out with water allowing for the installation of a proper plug/patch.

http://slime.com/faq/#generalinformation

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by koruptor

I have run flats and roadside assistance.

It's almost time for me to get new tires, and I've thought about switching away from run flats. To those with "regular" tires, how significant is the difference in comfort? And if I stick with run flats, are there recommended brands?

Like I said above, I didn't feel any significant increase in harshness going from Michelin PSS to ContiSportContact SSRs, but they don't have near the grip as the PSS.
And you have to open your wallet pretty wide.
For me using the car as a DD on CA freeways, it's a fair compromise.
If my car were weekend only, I would probably go a different way.

[David70]

I replaced my tires on my daily driver from run flats to standard and a far better ride with them, also much less expensive (I think it was buy 4 runflats or 5 standard tires with the standard tires still leaving money left over). So now my daily and weekend cars have standard tires and no runflats.

Daily driver I have tire inflation/"goo" kit and even worst case scenario isn't the end of the world. I mostly do long distance trips (travel for work) and see the choice as runflat - drive 50 miles and am stuck at a tire store or non run flats, try the goo, then see me continuing on with the trip or if the goo doesn't work getting AAA to take me to the same tire store as above.

Also, even if the goo ruins the tire/TPMS (still think this is unlikely because tire inflation/goo kit was sold by car manufacturer), tire isn't brand new when it happens and I have already saved enough on the 4 standard tires to buy another standard tire.

I also have only had one flat in the last 25 years that required a change (many nails but always have been able to drive to get them repaired).

[Patrick Gent]

My M Coupe came with neither run flats nor spare--BMW Mobility Kit. First failure I had was a gash too big to seal, had to get towed to the tire shop and buy new tires. This car is my daily driver, fortunately the incident was at night so I wasn't killed missing an appointment or the like. I bought a donut spare, I think designated for some version of an M3, and I think I got it from BavAuto. They tell you which one, you have to buy a spacer and longer lug bolts for the one spare to fit front and rear on the staggered M.

My car is a coupe, the spare does fit down into the trunk so it lies on the floor. I bit the bullet and bought a full BMW jack, lug wrench, etc. kit with a tray to sit in the spare--was just easy and neat, though not cheap. Got it from the same source.

I also bought a nifty tool--a long chrome pin threaded to go into the lug threads on the wheel. Put that into one lug space, and you can hang the tire on the pin just like a car not built in Germany.


I have had 2 occasions where I pulled the spare out because I needed the room, but I do the grocery shopping and many other things with the space above the spare.

PS--at least years ago, the problem with the goo was that it either outgassed an explosive gas or its propellant was explosive. You had to tell your tire shop because some guys were killed when the took a tire rim tool to a steel wheel, caused a spark and blew themselves up.

[3002 tii]

The Continental repair kit sold by Tire Rack (which does NOT mess up TPMS once used).

[jdoublehcubed]

I carry a plug kit (from Harbor Freight, $5), and the OEM compressor. I wouldn't use slime, most shops won't repair a tire filled with it, even though its possible.

If I'm ever stuck in a dangerous place (like Skid Row dangerous, if its the highway I'll just sit there), I'll just drive on the rim and submit it to my comprehensive coverage or buy another rim.

In 10 years on the road I've never had an issue I couldn't solve with a portable compressor or a call to AAA. If I was really paranoid I would probably buy the OEM BMW spare kit, I think the e46 one is compatible. I think its like $180ish. But for the $100 a year it costs, I'd rather just stick with AA as my flat tire insurance.





https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ice_01.svg.png

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by Patrick Gent

... I bought a donut spare, I think designated for some version of an M3, and I think I got it from BavAuto. They tell you which one, you have to buy a spacer and longer lug bolts for the one spare to fit front and rear on the staggered M. ...

MMmmmm Donuts.

So with the spacer it fits over the front brakes?
You should post full details. I think it would be popular info.
I think a lot of us with ///Ms just figured "no donuts for you", just goo.

[Patrick Gent]

Stick Mon--

I need to get to my old BMW email folder for details, and right now my Outlook is dead. If I can find time this weekend to talk to Geek Squad and get it fixed, I will post up part numbers and sources. For what it is worth, I found the info searching the topic on Bimmerfest and Bimmer Forums (had not found zost then). And yes, I did test it and with the spacer (and longer bolts to be safe) it does fit over the caliper.)

[TennesseeZ4]

+1 on the Continental kit, from Tirerack.

[onthe3rdday]

E90 European spare is what I use. Fits perfectly front and rear

[NeilP]

I've got a 17" space saver from an e46 if I'm doing long distance.

Otherwise depending on location, someone to get me home to grab the spare of if not possible, a can of the tyre slime.

[Patrick Gent]

Stick Mon--

I was finally able to look it up, though I could not find any receipts; just my email exchange. Got it from Bimmerzone. When I first spoke with them, they suggested E46 donut. A year later, when I decided to spend the money, they said the E90 was actually closer in diameter, and my research told me I needed a 15mm spacer.

[StickMon]

Thanks!
Not that I could find room for it in the roadie, but it's a good addition to the communal knowledge base.