Spare wheel size

[Elroy Blue]

I'm picking up a 2023 I4 in a few days and want to get a spare wheel for it. (The tyre gunk being useless). Is the stud pattern of a 4 series the same as an I4. When I select an I4 on an online site, the only option I get is a 20" spacesaver. My car will have 19" wheels. The 4 series option gives a choice of a 19" spacesaver. As they are the 'same', is there any reason the 19" shouldn't be used.

[Pica-Pica]

Elroy Blue said:

I'm picking up a 2023 I4 in a few days and want to get a spare wheel for it. (The tyre gunk being useless). Is the stud pattern of a 4 series the same as an I4. When I select an I4 on an online site, the only option I get is a 20" spacesaver. My car will have 19" wheels. The 4 series option gives a choice of a 19" spacesaver. As they are the 'same', is there any reason the 19" shouldn't be used.

What I have done, albeit on cheaper cars, is just buy a wheel that is the same as on the car, and put the same tyre type on it. Then you have a fully usable spare that can be used in rotation with the supplied road wheels. Also, dare I say it, you have a presentable wheel for when one of the others is being repaired after ‘kerbing’.

[E-bmw]

Of course you could just phone the dealer rather than wait ages just in case someone on here knows what size your tyres are.

Just sayin'.

[Elroy Blue]

I like your optimism in expecting a BMW dealer to know the answer

[mmm-five]

Do the wheels look something like this...
https://shop.bmw.co.uk/7877/genuine-19-disc-wheel-...

If so, it's a 8.5x19et35 PCD 5x112 (p/n 36118089227)

Used one here...https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267095172339

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 27th January 14:52

[Elroy Blue]

Just had a reply from the wheel shop.
It needs a 20" spacesaver in order to fit over the brake caliper.
So all good.

[E-bmw]

Elroy Blue said:

I like your optimism in expecting a BMW dealer to know the answer

No, I was just expecting them to have eyes.

[Pica-Pica]

Elroy Blue said:

Just had a reply from the wheel shop.
It needs a 20" spacesaver in order to fit over the brake caliper.
So all good.

You said your car will have 19” wheels.

[Elroy Blue]

The car is fitted with 19" wheels. The spacesaver spare needs to be 20" to clear the calipers.

[E-bmw]

Pica-Pica said:

Elroy Blue said:

Just had a reply from the wheel shop.
It needs a 20" spacesaver in order to fit over the brake caliper.
So all good.

You said your car will have 19” wheels.

And a 20" space saver to fit over the brake calliper.

Just because the size is the same doesn't mean the wheel/tyre profile is the same.

Space saver - steel
Normal wheel - alloy

Also needs to be the same overall rolling radius for ABS/TC/Speedo etc to work correctly, and space savers are a VERY different profile to normal tyres.

[Pica-Pica]

E-bmw said:

Pica-Pica said:

Elroy Blue said:

Just had a reply from the wheel shop.
It needs a 20" spacesaver in order to fit over the brake caliper.
So all good.

You said your car will have 19” wheels.

And a 20" space saver to fit over the brake calliper.

Just because the size is the same doesn't mean the wheel/tyre profile is the same.

Space saver - steel
Normal wheel - alloy

Also needs to be the same overall rolling radius for ABS/TC/Speedo etc to work correctly, and space savers are a VERY different profile to normal tyres.

I understand all that (of course!). In fact the 20” space saver is probably nothing to do with fitting over the brake caliper, just a ‘one size fits all’ to suit all variations of tyre and wheel options on that model, and keep the same rolling circumference (the preferred measurement) in all cases.
My suggestion is still to buy a spare and a tyre that matches the existing wheel/tyre combination, subject to ability to store. They are not really ‘space savers’ they are ‘cost savers’, but only for the car maker.

[E-bmw]

Pica-Pica said:

E-bmw said:

Pica-Pica said:

Elroy Blue said:

Just had a reply from the wheel shop.
It needs a 20" spacesaver in order to fit over the brake caliper.
So all good.

You said your car will have 19” wheels.

And a 20" space saver to fit over the brake calliper.

Just because the size is the same doesn't mean the wheel/tyre profile is the same.

Space saver - steel
Normal wheel - alloy

Also needs to be the same overall rolling radius for ABS/TC/Speedo etc to work correctly, and space savers are a VERY different profile to normal tyres.

My suggestion is still to buy a spare and a tyre that matches the existing wheel/tyre combination, subject to ability to store.

That would always be my preference, and I currently do exactly this with both mine & Mrs E's car.

Pica-Pica said:

They are not really ‘space savers’ they are ‘cost savers’, but only for the car maker.

Well, actually they fulfil more than one function.

Space saver, cost saver (both owner & manufacturer ultimately) weight saver (possibly helping economy/emissions) amongst other things probably.