It used to be a hassle, but getting a flat tire while driving could be readily fixed. At least temporarily, using the car’s spare tire.
You made a quick change by the side of the road and got back in the driver’s seat. However, for a variety of reasons, spare tires are less typical in new cars today.
Run-flat tires are the only spare tires found on BMW vehicles. The company has eliminated spare tires from its lineup of vehicles due to weight savings advantages and the low frequency of punctures.
Unfortunately, you will have to accept the run-flat option if you’re looking to purchase a modern BMW. However, when did BMW stop including spare tires in all of its vehicles, and what happens if you get a flat tire without one?
In This Article...
Location of my BMW Serie 7’s spare wheel
Depending on the year of manufacturing, the location of the spare wheel on your BMW Serie 7 may change. Typically, you may access it from inside the boot of your BMW Serie 7 by unscrewing the bolts, or from the outside by looking under the trunk. It is frequently placed under the hood, but this is still uncommon.
Emergency spare tire for the BMW 7 Series G11 and G12 (2016+)
Why purchase a spare tire? Although it makes perfect sense to replace the run-flat tires with ordinary tires, this presents the problem of not having a spare tire. Many BMW owners loathe the run-flat tires that come with the automobile. Without thinking about driving without a spare, get the spare and switch to ordinary tires.
What is comprised? The standard spare tire is delivered installed and prepared for usage.
What is not required? You have the choice to add a jack kit (which typically comprises the jack and lug wrench; some versions additionally include a tool tray) and/or a tire tote when ordering the spare tire.
How quickly can I travel? The tire manufacturer advises against driving faster than 50 mph at any time.
What is my driving range? Although the tire manufacturer does not specify a particular distance, it is advised to utilize it to go to your home or a nearby tire shop. The space tire is not designed for long distance travel.
My automobile has 18″ (19″ or 20″ wheels, your spare tire is 18″/19″? This is also one of the most often asked queries. Many people are unclear about rim size and outside diameter. The outside diameter of the space tires we supply nearly matches the tires on your car. We have established this through testing that there is a specific minimum wheel size that must be used to clear your brakes.
Emergency spare tire for the 2008–2015 BMW 7 Series F01 and F02.
Pre-mounted tire sizes of 155/70-18 or 135/80-18 on BMW Space Saver Rims Regardless of whether you have the 18″ Rim or the 19″ Rim, this spare will fit. 20- or 21-inch rim
My automobile has 18″ wheels (19″ or 20″); your spare tire is 18″? This is also one of the most often asked queries. Many people are unclear about rim size and outside diameter. The outside diameter of the space tires we supply nearly matches the tires on your car. We have established this through testing that there is a specific minimum wheel size that must be used to clear your brakes.
Fuel efficiency and Run-Flats
There’s a good chance your new BMW doesn’t have a spare tire if you bought it within the last few years. That’s because run-flat tires, which have a firm sidewall or internal reinforcement, are frequently used on BMW vehicles. Run-flat tires are used by other automakers as well, although BMW has earned a reputation for being a pioneer. Run-flat tires are intended to function after being punctured for up to 50 miles (80.4 kilometers) at a speed below 50 mph (80.47 kph), or until the driver can reach a safe spot. Once damaged, they must be replaced, which costs more and is more difficult to do than with conventional tires.
It’s difficult to deny that offering run-flat tires helps automakers cut costs, but what if they install conventional tires on those vehicles while refusing to offer a spare? That might be nothing more than an attempt by the automaker to cut costs. This is why: A spare tire may be purchased for about $100 at a tire shop or a car dealership, and a quality jack and wrench would set you back a little more. It’s improbable that the automakers are saving more than $100 per vehicle given that they obtain these materials at a lower price.
Hyundai is frequently mentioned as one of the automakers driving this trend, although the company insists that weight reduction, not cost reduction, is the issue. Many of Hyundai’s vehicles come with a tire mobility kit in place of spare tires. A Hyundai spokesperson, Michele Tinson, provided an email explanation of the company’s approach.
The almost 25-pound weight savings is the key advantage of a tire repair kit versus a temporary spare tire, according to Tinson; cost was never a major deciding factor for Hyundai. “Automotive experts are always looking for ways to increase a vehicle’s efficiency, and weight reduction is a key component in assisting automobiles achieve higher fuel economy.”
In other words, fuel efficiency improves as the car’s overall weight is decreased. Tire retailer Tire Rack has found that reducing a car’s weight can reduce its fuel usage by up to 1%. This is also appealing for the automaker because average fuel consumption for the brand as a whole and marketing strategies for specific vehicle models both significantly rely on fuel efficiency ratings.
Details
All of the aforementioned is included in the Option 2 Kit, plus a retrofit solution for trunk storage that includes new flooring, a storage tray, a storage compartment, and other necessary parts. (If ordering, please specify the VIN)
Features of the Option 2 kit:
- After the spare wheel is mounted, the trunk floor will stay level.
- When additional storage space is needed, the spare wheel and all accompanying materials can be removed from the trunk, including parts from vehicles that already had a spare tire.
- Under the trunk floor, an additional storage area is made available for stowing safety and/or personal items.
- There is no need to visit a BMW shop other than to replace a full size tire because the necessary tools to remove the damaged wheel and install the spare are listed in the parts list.
Does a spare tire come with a BMW?
More and more brand-new BMW cars leave the factory with run-flat tires installed. Others prefer conventional tires, despite the fact that many owners appreciate the piece of mind that comes with tires that can extend your driving distance by 50 to 100 miles when flat. So, if a BMW arrived with run-flat tires, can it be used with ordinary tires?
You can use ordinary tires on your run-flat equipped BMW, if you’re searching for a quick and simple solution to that query. Both standard tires and run-flat tires have advantages and disadvantages, and we want to assist you in making the choice that best meets your requirements. One word of caution, though: due to the handling and performance variations between the two tire types, if you’re thinking about switching the run-flat tires on your BMW to standard tires, you must do so on all four of them.
Why should a BMW move from run-flat tires to conventional tires? New BMWs no longer come with spare tires in order to minimize overall weight. Some models come with BMW Mobility Kits in place of spare tires, particularly in performance-oriented M vehicles. The majority of other models have run-flat tires. These tires, also referred to as zero-pressure tires, give you the peace of mind that, even on a long-distance road trip, nothing other than a complete tire failure would keep you from reaching your destination or a repair facility. Run-flat tires have have advantages and disadvantages, though.
Do 2018 BMW 750i vehicles come with spare tires?
On a trip from Connecticut to New Hampshire last weekend, one of the run-flat tires on our 2011 BMW 750Li was gashed by a pothole. Replacing the tire turned out to be a far cry from being a pleasant experience.
The occurrence took place close to Springfield, Massachusetts. Fortunately, I was still able to limp to an exit and even reach a Sears tire shop. They didn’t have anything that was even close to the Pirelli P-Zero run-flat that I arrived in.
Calling the local BMW dealer, I learned that they didn’t have any suitable run-flat tires in store, but if I requested one right away, they might be able to acquire one by Monday. Does this imply that a brand-new $97,000 car with tires so superb that there isn’t room for a spare in the trunk is useless if you need one? It does, indeed. And the dealer didn’t have a loaner vehicle. Hey, the night is Friday. The best recommendation they had was to rent something from Enterprise. Well, thank you. Roadside assistance would also be available for a $2,000 junker. None.
And in doing so, my family and I were able to impress our New Hampshire friends with a Ford Escape rather than the rumored BMW.
A Town Fair tire merchant in Springfield had exactly one tire in stock in the size (275/40R19) that the BMW 750 uses in the rear on Saturday, so I drove my leased Escape the 130 miles from Concord, New Hampshire, back to Springfield. It wasn’t a run-flat tire; it was a regular tire. I thought it was appropriate to get me home because this was an out-of-town emergency. But the salespeople in the store were split. They finally gave in and sold me the $285 tire, but they adamantly refused to mount it.
I eventually convinced another auto repair shop to mount the new tire. They were also quite skeptical because the new tire’s speed rating, W, was only good for 168 mph as opposed to the other three original equipment tires’ Y-ratings of 186 mph. They put the replacement tire only after great resistance. Naturally, I drove back to New Hampshire with extreme caution. I never went faster than 168 mph.
Of course, to guarantee safe, dependable operation and lengthy, even wear, new tires should always adhere to original-equipment specifications and properly match the other tires on the vehicle. Returning to our Auto Test Center, we will now get the 750Li fitted with the appropriate tires.
Again, our staff’s misadventures have demonstrated some of the drawbacks of the tendency for cars to be supplied without spare tires that take up a lot of room. Due to our experiences, we now know how crucial it is to always have a fully charged cell phone with you while driving, as well as a roadside emergency kit, as even run-flat tires can leave you stranded.