Bring a full spare wheel on holidays???...even though RFT fitted

[Stinky]

I'm off to UK on holidays in June ….currently have G01 (2018) all Run Flat Tires. I'm thinking of bringing a complete spare wheel and RFT with me. I went before and brought nothing! Only recently I had a wheel alignment check as the outside shoulders on the front tires had completely worn away so I ordered 5 new tyres....why 5???... well local BMW outlet hadn't any suitable tyres and it took 18 DAYS to get them....YES 18 DAYS. I was stunned had I been punctured I was snookered. I'm pretty sure tyres are more available in UK than here in Ireland but going for ferries in both directions in the early hours of the morning leaves me very exposed to a puncture.

Enough said...three questions
1) Can a steel wheel (full size) be purchased readily?
2) Though expensive would it be wiser to purchase the correct alloy?....19" Y style 694
3) Could I pick up a wheel at a breakers?....If so and what model (s) BMW would it need to have come off in order to be correct for the X3

Thanks in advance

[X5Sport]

Realoem will give you the part numbers that you need and all options available. It will also indicate other cars the wheel might be fitted to. If you fit any size other than the matching rim you are limited to 50mph/80kph.

Correct alloy might be useful given the appalling state of some UK roads!

You might, but many yards no longer allow public access due to Health & Safety rules etc. Also the G01 is still quite rare and most may still get repaired (unless the air bags have deployed).

I have never had to wait that long for tyres, RFT or not, and don’t go near a BMW Dealer in the UK as they will charge the max for the rim and top dollar for a tyre to go with it. My local dealer charges 30% more per tyre than most local tyre shops - and are embarrassed about it!

[StuBeeDoo]

I recently had a similar debate, you can read it here

I've now stopped carrying one of my winter wheels as a spare, and I bought a Stop 'n' Go tyre plugger kit.

HTH. Stuart.

[alan996]

2 thoughts.

1.. your car is new enough to still have breakdown assistance with BMW so if the worst happened they will get you home...

2... I've never had any issues getting tyres here in Ireland. I've just ordered 2 * rated RFT tyres for my wife's car which I could have had the next day..

As I'm not in a rush they are coming from European wholesaler at 50 euro a corner cheaper rather than from an Irish/UK supplier..

There seems to be a bit of brexit stockpiling going on (sorry guys - I used the B word).

I've even hit a pothole and burst 2 tyres on a Porsche (meath roads) - driven to my tyre place and gotten all 4 replaced there and then.

Seriously - I barely let BMW check the air in my tyres - and certainly if they do an alignment I end up getting it done again at the tyre place on a proper Hunter machine.

You are better off checking with a few reputable tyre places and getting them there.. I'd be shocked if it was more than a few days to get them in...(and probably seriously cheaper too). I don't know where you are - but I can recommend a few good places in the greater Dublin area

[Stinky]

I recently had a similar debate, you can read it here

I've now stopped carrying one of my winter wheels as a spare, and I bought a Stop 'n' Go tyre plugger kit.

HTH. Stuart.

Thank you for your view...I would only ever carry the spare wheel or even tyre alone when going on a holiday....the last thing you want is no tyre available for even a day or so ruins everything. Plus travelling as I said early hours ( 4- 5am) for ferries etc no place open to get a fix.

[Stinky]

2 thoughts.

1.. your car is new enough to still have breakdown assistance with BMW so if the worst happened they will get you home...

2... I've never had any issues getting tyres here in Ireland. I've just ordered 2 * rated RFT tyres for my wife's car which I could have had the next day..

As I'm not in a rush they are coming from European wholesaler at 50 euro a corner cheaper rather than from an Irish/UK supplier..

There seems to be a bit of brexit stockpiling going on (sorry guys - I used the B word).

I've even hit a pothole and burst 2 tyres on a Porsche (meath roads) - driven to my tyre place and gotten all 4 replaced there and then.

Seriously - I barely let BMW check the air in my tyres - and certainly if they do an alignment I end up getting it done again at the tyre place on a proper Hunter machine.

You are better off checking with a few reputable tyre places and getting them there.. I'd be shocked if it was more than a few days to get them in...(and probably seriously cheaper too). I don't know where you are - but I can recommend a few good places in the greater Dublin area

Thank you for sharing your view on this topic....I'm in Galway. I don't mind getting a puncture so much because I'll have a tyre with me. BUT and here's my worry out of hours (4-5am) heading for a ferry not place open to fix. That's why I'm thinking "Full Monty" a complete wheel ….bring a Jack too. I have to say I was shocked by the length of time to get a tyre set so I purchased 5 tyres. I was not a happy camper I can tell you and told the main dealer who in response to my question at the time of purchase reported they always had tyres in stock so never a problem...tripping over them in fact....yeh right!!! Getting my new set fitted on Thursday and I'll enquire about a new wheel for piece of mind. I am covered by the BMW Assist but a bit of proactive action on my part may save all the hassle in the unlikely evet....but you never know.