Space saver tyres, correctness.

[sapphireblack]

A short while ago i bought a complete rim and tyre from an E70 owner, who iirc had only ever used the wheel to support the car (tread noddles would confim this) when lifted at one corner and i never thought about the tyre size or to query it.

It transpires the 145 80 18 I bought is in fact not suited for use on an X6 after all, the optimum tyre size being 155 90 18 or 155 80 19 if on an alloy temporary rim.

The question is with a diameter difference of 39mm, I imagine even for temporary use the uber sensitive BMW transmission may complain?

Changing just the tyre is over £100 fitted and simply not cost effective, so it looks like I'll need to buy another complete wheel and sell what i have.

What a bu££er.

[X5Sport]

Absolutely the car will complain and you are very likely to annoy (or worse) the transmission. The X6 has a special electronic torque distribution rear axle (only fitted to the X6 and X5/6M) which is likely to be megabucks if you break it.

I was surprised at just how expensive ‘space saver’ tyres are having just replaced the 14-year old one in the boot of our E46. That was about £96 too. I don’t use tyres older than 8-years on a car and 5-years on a trailer due to deterioration of the rubber.

[sapphireblack]

Hmm, sold in good faith I'm sure and certainly bought by me in the same way. £150 won't break me but doubtless it will "cost me money" on a re-sale. Just a tad pee'd off if I'm honest

[Leslie]

I was trying to buy a used one recently and they assured me it was " bought for an x5 e70" but when I asked a pic of the tyre size it was narrower , I think a lot of people assume any bmw space saver will do !

[gmc15]

How do you know which space saver will fit an X6? I have a 2016 F16 X6 50d and have a space saver from my previous X5 which is a 155/90/18. Does anyone know if this would be suitable as a spare?

Thanks.

[X5Sport]

I got the wheel part number from Realoem and then looked at Alloywheelsdirect to find the tyre. I don’t have one on my X6 but I believe that the E70 and E71 use the same size.

[sapphireblack]

Rolling radius is the principal criteria. 155 90 18 is the correct size from my enquiries. There is also a 19" (tyre 155 80 19) alloy space saver available for the F15/16 and curiously the E53, but not the E70/71. That has an offset of 40 though over the steel wheels 14!

[gmc15]

Thanks everyone, I will just keep the space saver now. I tend to only carry it when I go to France.

[Leslie]

id say the brakes on a 50d are bigger and an 18 wheel was a very tight fit on an e70 so I doubt it will still fit over so Id try it on the front before you need it

[gmc15]

id say the brakes on a 50d are bigger and an 18 wheel was a very tight fit on an e70 so I doubt it will still fit over so Id try it on the front before you need it

Cheers, probably a good idea rather than get caught out