[ashkanvafaee2]

I'm thinking about buying an OEM wheel/tire and keeping it as a spare in my trunk for long roadtrips.

I have a RWD 340i with OEM 19's. When looking up wheel sizes I see:

• Front: 8JX19 ET:36
• Rear: 8,5JX19 ET:47

If I buy a rear wheel and tire (255/35/R19) and get a flat on one of the front tires, would I have any fitment issues using this wheel as a temporary spare for the front?

[im_an_alien]

The 47 offset on that wheel is gonna be too much for the front, but you can do the opposite, ie use the front tire at the rear as a temporary measure..

[Billfitz]

Get a compact spare, unless you plan on taking long road trips without luggage.

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Get a compact spare, unless you plan on taking long road trips without luggage.

Yeah that too, a full size tire will eat up all you trunk space. I picked up a set of new tires recently in the 340 and one tire in the trunk and it was full lol. The other 3 had to go in the back seat. Personally I carry the OEM compact spare plus a patch/fill kit in the trunk bin.

[Billfitz]

+1 on the patch kit. That way if you're far from home you can put on the temporary spare, drive to a rest area and fix the punctured tire, so long as it's not a sidewall.

[Wires]

I'd do the compact spare. Reality is I haven't had a tire issue in 15 years with modern tires (knock on wood), but I wouldn't discredit having a piece of mind compact in the trunk for long drives.

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by Wires

I'd do the compact spare. Reality is I haven't had a tire issue in 15 years with modern tires (knock on wood), but I wouldn't discredit having a piece of mind compact in the trunk for long drives.

So true, the last time I had a tire go flat was over 10 years ago driving from TX to GA in an E46 which thankfully came standard with a full sized spare. Changing a tire on a dark stretch of highway in the middle of the night is not fun, considering how many people simply refuse to move over and whizz a couple of feet past you at 80mph+. I also carry a reflective vest and one of those blinking emergency lights in the trunk bin as well.
At the time though I was more worried about being dragged off into the woods by country folk than bring run over🤣....

[Billfitz]

I hadn't had a flat for decades but in the space of a few months I picked up two nails with my previous run flats. Thanks to the TPMS I became aware of it before they suffered sidewall damage and was able to plug them. And yes, you can plug run flats, so long as you do so before sidewall separation occurs.

[WDE82]

I can't recommend a plug kit and compressor enough. If you hit a pothole and have a huge blowout or puncture the sidewall you're boned, but a plug can get you home in most situations. Even without a plug, you can often limp home or to a shop by refilling with the compressor multiple times if you need to.

I've actually been driving on a plug for a week because TireRack fucked up shipping my shaved replacement! Surface streets only of course since I don't totally trust it at speed. It hasn't lost a single pound of pressure in that time. That said on a trip I would use this plug on an interstate. The only reason I don't is I'm not tempting fate in LA on the interstate on my daily commute. But outside some major city or even just to get to a shop, no problem!

I have these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-10...tor-63745.html

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The plug kit is way overkill. A basic kit with the reamer, insertion tool, and strings is enough most likely, though a pair of needle nose pliers REALLY helps pull the plug string through the install tool hole and to pull out whatever may have caused the puncture.

[ADHD]

In my Experience "RUN FLATS" have saved me over a handful of times. 4-5am flying down the 405 south to LA and bam TPMS pops up and i watch it drain from 30psi to 0psi. All i did was slow down to 80mph cruise control for the next 30miles Still got there EARLY..
Drove Home 60miles on the Flat to my local tire dealer paid em 10$ had it plugged in 15min and went home like it never really happened...

That Said any of you have your Wife and kids driving the car without you I highly recommend these for I do NOT want my wife getting out in a bad area and having to deal with a flat tire...She has had a few nails in the tire in LA and am very grateful she was able to drive home.

[ashkanvafaee2]

Thanks for all the responses. I too had a long streak of never getting a flat. But in the past 2 road trips within a year, I got flats both times. The first time wasn't much of an issue because it was a very slow leak and I had a air compressor on me.

But the second time was more problematic. I ran over some random metal object which resulted in a side puncture with instant loss in pressure. I had roadside assistance through insurance so was able to get it towed to a nearby tire shop without much hassle. But then I learned that most tire shops don't carry 19's on hand and need to order them. On top of that it was memorial day weekend so they said it would take 2 days for them to order the tire.

I called around different tire shops and luckily one had a single 19 inch tire in stock that fit. They only had it because they accidentally ordered the wrong size for a different customer.

Long story short, I feel like I got pretty lucky in this case but don't want to take another chance next time. I'll probably go with the OEM front wheel/tire as a spare. I can always make luggage fit one way or another.

[Billfitz]

The two run flat tires that I plugged went another 10k miles before I replaced them. I wouldn't track with tires that were plugged, but otherwise there's no reason to be concerned.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

The two run flat tires that I plugged went another 10k miles before I replaced them. I wouldn't track with tires that were plugged, but otherwise there's no reason to be concerned.

Also can add its much more unlikely to get a Sidewall puncture on the run flats cause the Sidewalls are 3/4in compared to 1/8in.
When RFT first started making there rounds on the bmws 10-15 years ago Not alot of people liked em but after Having them completely eliminate the tow truck and hassle of a flat tire.. IM SOLD>> I think these days there only 1-2lb heavier.

[Billfitz]

OTOH when my RFT needed replacement I went with go flats, specifically Michelin Crossclimate 2. The RFT were noisy and rode hard.

[McGyv3r]

If you're going to go with a patch kit, make sure you have a mini air compressor to refill the tire!

The PO kept a full size spare in the trunk of my 335i and it took up a ton of space. I quickly replaced it with a patch kit that includes pliers and a knife. I also have a mini air compressor and an emergency bag with a space blanket, some water, cliff bars, rope, flashlight, first aid kit, sawyer squeeze-bag water filter, CPR mask, whistle, and some other random stuff. Everything fits in the little space under the trunk floor.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

OTOH when my RFT needed replacement I went with go flats, specifically Michelin Crossclimate 2. The RFT were noisy and rode hard.

Which ones did you have? I found the Bridgestones are def softer than the pirellis..

[Billfitz]

I had the Continentals. They also were toast after only 20k miles.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I had the Continentals. They also were toast after only 20k miles.

Ya i barely got 30k out of the Potenzas too. But I also drive like I stole the thing. Brings up another topic how miles is everyone getting off there tires?
Wonder if Goflat or Runflat last longer?

[WDE82]

Run Flats suck ass and completely ruin the car. Getting rid of my RFTs was the best mod I ever did for my car. Also they don't really work. IDK how ADHD drove home at a claimed 80 mph for 60 miles on his RFT. I felt like I barely made it across the parking lot when mine got a puncture one day. It was SUPER obvious the tire was flat and sounded awful. I wasn't convinced I could drive a mile even at 5 mph on that thing.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Run Flats suck ass and completely ruin the car. Getting rid of my RFTs was the best mod I ever did for my car. Also they don't really work. IDK how ADHD drove home at a claimed 80 mph for 60 miles on his RFT. I felt like I barely made it across the parking lot when mine got a puncture one day. It was SUPER obvious the tire was flat and sounded awful. I wasn't convinced I could drive a mile even at 5 mph on that thing.

There is a Few dif versions of RFT. Some brands are barely considered RFT and dont have true RFT capability. Could have the brand u had.. Like i said there not for everyone but when your putting alot of miles on the car and driving far for daily usage waiting on a tow can severly ruin your day.. And Yes Bridgestone Potenza came stock on my 540i 19'tires and I drove 80mph no problem not Once but Twice on a flat... First time i was def a bit wierded out i had to drive 45 miles at night. So i was kind of forced to. but the second time i just drove home no problem...Im forever sold.. now if i was to track my car id def be getting a dif set of tires though.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Run Flats suck ass and completely ruin the car. I felt like I barely made it across the parking lot when mine got a puncture one day.

I wouldn't go that far. My first puncture set off my TPMS a quarter mile from home, allowing me to drive home and fix it before I got sidewall damage, whereas with a go flat I'd have had to swap to my compact spare on the spot. Now consider the average person, who can't even change a tire, let alone fix one, and probably doesn't have either a spare or the tools to do it. With RFT they at least have a fighting chance to make it to a tire store. Horses for courses.