No Space for "Space Saver" Spare?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Orange County, California
I am (almost) too embarrassed to post this since I consider myself both knowledgeable about the E60 and somewhat handy.
But, I recently took my "Space Saver" spare wheel out of its hiding space to check the air pressure. It was a bit low, so I inflated it back up to the recommended 60 PSI. When I removed the top (loose) black Styrofoam spacer I made a point of noting that the arrows on top pointed forward. This piece of Styrofoam is slightly "pie-shaped" (thicker forward).
Here is the problem: My Space Saver tire no longer fits! The tire is simply too large to go all the way down into the space. It rubs against the forward/rear sides of the well and it does not seat firmly against the bottom Styrofoam piece (which holds some electronic box). Since the tire is resting too high, the top Styrofoam spacer is about 1 1/2 inch above the trunk floor level! In fact, things almost line up WITHOUT the top spacer.
The car is due for 30,000 mile check next month and I will of course have the dealer look at this. Meantime, has anyone had this issue of their Space Saver spare no longer fitting? Any ideas/thoughts?
But, I recently took my "Space Saver" spare wheel out of its hiding space to check the air pressure. It was a bit low, so I inflated it back up to the recommended 60 PSI. When I removed the top (loose) black Styrofoam spacer I made a point of noting that the arrows on top pointed forward. This piece of Styrofoam is slightly "pie-shaped" (thicker forward).
Here is the problem: My Space Saver tire no longer fits! The tire is simply too large to go all the way down into the space. It rubs against the forward/rear sides of the well and it does not seat firmly against the bottom Styrofoam piece (which holds some electronic box). Since the tire is resting too high, the top Styrofoam spacer is about 1 1/2 inch above the trunk floor level! In fact, things almost line up WITHOUT the top spacer.
The car is due for 30,000 mile check next month and I will of course have the dealer look at this. Meantime, has anyone had this issue of their Space Saver spare no longer fitting? Any ideas/thoughts?
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From: Thousand Oaks, California
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I'm guessing the 60PSI is too much pressure for your spare, and consequently it is larger in diameter than before and thats why it won't fit! 
I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain....is it possible that 60PSI is the MAXIMUM PSI for the tire and say 35-40PSI more like it??? 
It would DEFINITELY make the tire smaller and more likely to fit! 
I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain....is it possible that 60PSI is the MAXIMUM PSI for the tire and say 35-40PSI more like it??? It would DEFINITELY make the tire smaller and more likely to fit!
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: The State of Southern NJ!
I doubt that the higher pressure has caused your space saver to swell and take up more space. I suspect you need to flip it over so it sits in the well as was originally intended. BTW, it is supposed to be inflated at a fairly high PSI - as a smaller tire, the high PSI provides the load capacity to support one corner of your car when needed.
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