Went to the dealership today and while I was waiting for my car I was wondering around the lot. I was looking at a 09 convertable and a salesman came up and we started to chat. Looking at the sticker I notice a "tire repair kit" in lieu of a spare. He told me there was no room for a spare and they put this kit in the car instead. I got to thinking. Good idea. If I get rid of my spare and put a nice piece of foam in the hole I can make cut outs for my tools , first aid kit etc, and get rid of some weight. The parts dept said the kit was $253. Basically is a elec pump and a bottle of flat liquid fixer. But not for $253. I can put the same thing together for under $50 at Harbor Freight tools. Your thoughts. I'm running 245 in front and 275 rear, so the spare would be useless anyway.

 

I'd rather have a spare.

 

I don't know how you figure the spare it useless, it can still take you home or to a tire shop.

But if you don't feel like you don't need or want it there it, yes it will reduce a little weight and give yo some nifty storage space for tool and other stuff.

I'd rather the spare personally but go for it.

 

Will the repair kit repair a blown tire?

 

Well, the BMW models that come with the Factory RFT's don't even come with a spare. They figure the RFT's will compensate for the spare and get you to the nearest tire shop.

 

I'm not an engineer, but I pose the question- If I'm running 275-35-19 on the rear and have a flat, and put on the small spare, will the difference in diameter and rotation affect the rear end at all?

 

Yes, that's one of the reasons they tell you to limit your speeds and the distance you drive on a temporary spare.

 

The aftermarket sizes you are running are significantly closer in circumference to the spare than the OEM sizes are. If anything, they will work better than the OEM tires with the spare tire.

But keep in mind that they still aren't exactly the same circumference so they are designed as a low speed short term solution only until you can get home or to a shop for repair or a new tire.

 

why didn't infinity or nissan for that matter offer RFT's at least as an option is beyond me.

 

Bridgestone RFTs are possibly the worst tires ever, my friends with BMWs complain about them all the time

 

what model and what sort of complains?

they offer 050A 3rd as gen RFT. Saw them and test drove at dealer, didn't have a problem with them.

 

no way to repair a tire if damage occurs and constant bubbles in the sidewall

 

I hadn't even thought about this, but if you are running 20's isn't the spare truly useless? (not the OP, just a hypothetical)

 

As I posted earlier, the donut spare will work perfectly fine with 20" wheels. I have used it.

My 20" wheel/tire combination is closer in circumference to the spare than the 19" OE sizes. The don't have to be the exact size for emergency use which is all a donut spare is designed for anyway.

 

Thanks BB, sorry for the repost, I thought you were talking about 19" wheels