Spare wheel selection - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

27th May 2003, 23:54

I am thinking about purchasing a front wheel and tire to use as a spare for those longer road trips that I want to take. The OEM wheels are pretty pricey and I am wonder what the group thinks about some of the after market replicas? Are they suitable for a spare tire only operation. I would not plan on any excessive hight speed driving after installation, but rather just the time and distance required to make an repair or replacement to the original tire.

Along the same lines I see some Dinan knock offs in EBay for significant savings over the original Dinan equipment. I suppose you would be opening a box of worms if you touched any of this stuff and wanted your dealer to install it, much less back it up in any way if it failed.

gimme an opinion, but I think I know the answer already,

Bob Poole
2003 Imola Red

DZeckhausen · 28th May 2003, 00:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Poole
I am thinking about purchasing a front wheel and tire to use as a spare for those longer road trips that I want to take. The OEM wheels are pretty pricey and I am wonder what the group thinks about some of the after market replicas? Are they suitable for a spare tire only operation. I would not plan on any excessive hight speed driving after installation, but rather just the time and distance required to make an repair or replacement to the original tire.

How about a 17" BMW Style 66M wheel?

It is designed to clear the bigger M5 brakes. (And just about any aftermarket brakes you could throw at it!)

You can buy it at Pacific BMW for a relatively reasonable price: http://www.pacificbmw.com/catalog/wh...0Series&pid=40

28th May 2003, 00:27

I guess that would be an alternative solution. Would like to keep it the same though just in case I had to keep it on for a week or so.

Regards,
Bob
2003 Imola Red

nlk10010 · 28th May 2003, 02:40

A possibility is a Borbet Type E 17X8 with a 245/45 R 17. I've been told the rolling radius is pretty close to stock and people use them for the track. Won't be much of a match, though.

I just bought a set of 4 with Dunlop Wintersports to use in the snow and I'll throw one in the trunk for a spare during the warm weather.

=NLK=

Noka · 28th May 2003, 03:11

Anybody done the calc on the style 66 with recommended Winter size (235/45-17 I believe) compared to the standard front/rear wheels? How far off can the rolling circumference be without damaging the LSD? I figure if I buy a set of style 66 for Winter, then I would have 4 spares for summer use.

Interestingly, the on-line '02 and '03 M5 owner's manuals no longer list the recommended size of Winter wheel/tire. I got the above size from '01 manual. Wonder why they removed the info.

Rgds,
Norm