XSeries-forum

Hi Folks

Skinflint Steve here again, with another money saving scheme (very few of which ever save me money!)

I have just shelled out £240 for a replacement Michelin Touranza rear tyre for the X5, and was wondering whether it is feasible (ie safe etc) to run the car with the 7.5j x 17 5 spoke alloys that they supply as the spare.  The replacement tyres for those are much cheaper.  Am I right and thinking the spare is exactly the same wheel as was the stock OEM alloy on the non-sport model?

Any views on how this would change the ride, the handling, the performance etc.  Mine is the 184 bhp version of the 3.0d Sport and it is not exactly a flying machine.

What d'ya reckon?

Yeah this is fine - most run winters on that spec. You'll be fine with whatever (correct) 17 inch tread you pick. Better ride, less grip round a corner perhaps but nothing that isn't safe.

Didn't BMW offer the 'base spec' X5 with 17" wheels at one time?  You only got staggered 19" rims if you ordered a 'Sport' or paid.

Richard

Yes - Lezmtaylor and pvr had this setup.

[quote="Sanj"]
Yes - pvr has this setup.
[/quote]

) ) )

I used BMW 17" original "daisy" alloys as winter rims when I had a 3.0i X5- they were apparently standard rims on some earlier X5s.  They may not be the best looking wheels, but the car handled really well on them, tyres were cheaper, and the rims were only £50 off ebay.  But now that everyone wants winter tyres, prices have increased somewhat.  There is a 17" star spoke BMW rim which is still available and very suitable and a tad more attractive visually.

[quote="X5Sport"]
Didn't BMW offer the 'base spec' X5 with 17" wheels at one time?  You only got staggered 19" rims if you ordered a 'Sport' or paid.

Richard
[/quote]

That's right. I often wonder why BMW sold so few of the base model compared with the Sport. You also go leather trim as standard on the Sport, which made the Sport a bit of a no brainer for me.

Steve.
Your a proper off roader, you need a LR defender, problem is they are too expensive