DONUT SPARE TIRE
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From: NJ (EXIT 4), SUMMERS IN GREECE
My Ride: 2006 550 SMG
I got a flat tire yesterday 100 miles from home. I hit a pot hole coming off the Goerg Washington Bridge. As soon as it happened I felt the front tire go thump-thump-thump. The I-Drive display also said Flat-Tire!. I drove slowly in the snowy traffic to the nearest rest stop to have a look. When I looked closely at the front tire, I saw a 3inch rip where the tire meets the rim. So I decided to call BMW assist. They told me to wait at the rest stop for someone to come change it with the spare in my trunk. One hour later the tire was changed with the stupid donut that comes with the car. Problem is that you can only go 50 miles per hour with that tire, and I had to go down the turnpike for 100 miles in the right lane going 50mph with my hazards on. Not a very good experience. I cant understand why a $70,000.oo car comes with a donut spare. Anyone know how much a new bridgestone run-flat will cost me. I originally thought I would be able to finish my trip in the run-flat, but when I asked the BMW-assist man, he said yea but what if the tire falls apart, your better off with the spare. 
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Originally Posted by katheikia' post='207919' date='Dec 6 2005, 11:19 AM
I got a flat tire yesterday 100 miles from home. I hit a pot hole coming off the Goerg Washington Bridge. As soon as it happened I felt the front tire go thump-thump-thump. The I-Drive display also said Flat-Tire!. I drove slowly in the snowy traffic to the nearest rest stop to have a look. When I looked closely at the front tire, I saw a 3inch rip where the tire meets the rim. So I decided to call BMW assist. They told me to wait at the rest stop for someone to come change it with the spare in my trunk. One hour later the tire was changed with the stupid donut that comes with the car. Problem is that you can only go 50 miles per hour with that tire, and I had to go down the turnpike for 100 miles in the right lane going 50mph with my hazards on. Not a very good experience. I cant understand why a $70,000.oo car comes with a donut spare. Anyone know how much a new bridgestone run-flat will cost me. I originally thought I would be able to finish my trip in the run-flat, but when I asked the BMW-assist man, he said yea but what if the tire falls apart, your better off with the spare.
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It's 50 mph max on either, and why risk the wheel?
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
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Originally Posted by Ray Hull' post='207932' date='Dec 6 2005, 11:55 AM
It's 50 mph max on either, and why risk the wheel?
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
So no room for a full size spare even if you wanted it.
I got a flat on my wifes Acura MDX today. same thing. donut stinks
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Feel sorry for you about your experience.
If you are driving a 550, your car must be less than 2 months old. But on positive side, you only need to replace 1 tire, for someone that has 10000 miles on their tires, they have to replace 2 or 4 at the same time.
If you are driving a 550, your car must be less than 2 months old. But on positive side, you only need to replace 1 tire, for someone that has 10000 miles on their tires, they have to replace 2 or 4 at the same time.
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Originally Posted by Ray Hull' post='207932' date='Dec 6 2005, 11:55 AM
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
Cheers,
Ray Hull
Cheers,
Ray Hull
cheers
vern
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From: San Jose, CA
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If you have a 3 inch rip where the tire meets the rim, that tire is gone, even if it's RF. I believe RFs are designed to withstand punctures on the contact patch of the tires, not on the side walls. Even so, a 3 inch gash anywhere means your tires are shot.
So no room for a full size spare even if you wanted it.
I got a flat on my wifes Acura MDX today. same thing. donut stinks
[/quote]
Coincidentally, my wife also drives an MDX. I think you can put full size tires in the MDX's spare wheel compartment...just as an FYI. Oh and if you're interested, check out www.acuramdx.org.
It's 50 mph max on either, and why risk the wheel?
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
But to answer your question of why bother with a donut, take a look at your trunk floor, and figure out where they are going to put an 8+ inch wide wheel and its fatter tire? And while you are there, you might want to decide whether you want a front or rear-sized tire?
The donut may be modest, but at least we get one in the US, and one size fits all.
The RF (what a deceptive advertising name) will likely cost you $300+.
Sorry, but I'll likely have a flat too. The best thing I can say about that eventuality is that I run regular snows 5 months a year, and maybe I'll get lucky and catch that waiting nail with one of them.
Cheers,
Ray Hull
So no room for a full size spare even if you wanted it.
I got a flat on my wifes Acura MDX today. same thing. donut stinks
[/quote]
Coincidentally, my wife also drives an MDX. I think you can put full size tires in the MDX's spare wheel compartment...just as an FYI. Oh and if you're interested, check out www.acuramdx.org.
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Originally Posted by EuroCarFan' post='207944' date='Dec 6 2005, 12:12 PM
If you have a 3 inch rip where the tire meets the rim, that tire is gone, even if it's RF. I believe RFs are designed to withstand punctures on the contact patch of the tires, not on the side walls. Even so, a 3 inch gash anywhere means your tires are shot.
Exactly, to me this is common sense. Nothing will survive a gash that large.
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From: L.A., California
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I thought about taking my spare tire out to save few lbs on the car. I changed my mind now.