Fitting your spare 265 65 18

I have 265/70R17 on my D3 using BMW X5 wheels and needed to remove the dust/heat shield and deflate the tyre to fit in the spare wheel well.

I was able to wind it up with the spare wheel winch and didn't have to use a jack, just required a bit of gentle persuasion with the foot while you raise it up.

Having noticed the exhaust does not get particularly warm near the back of the car, even being petrol powered, I am not worried about the lack of plastic shield.

Attachment 136870

Not the clearest of photos, but you can see the spare fits well enough and does not hang down too much.

Now put the heat shield back in...

It’s does get quite hot there under load - you know, when you can’t get under there to feel it..

That extra heat is age hardening patches on that spare...

I certainly wouldn’t trust it after a while..


The second benefit is it stops frontal staking of that tyre.
Doesn’t protect the bottom (sidewall) but stops the leading edge getting caught.

After my big trip recently and towing a van, I rotated my tyres what I have found is that the rear KO tyre that is now the spare, fit in the spare cavity without deflating. It is still a "snug" fit but at least I now dont need to carry the air compressor around with me all the time.

Just wish to chime in. I also have the BFG 265 18 with the GOE rims which by the way has been my best investment. I found it a bit of a challenge to fit the spare however if I removed the cast hitch block which was no real trouble and then angle the wheel slightly forward it would fit snuggly but without a problem. That was with the tyre inflated.

So from my my own experience the spare does fit.
i hope this helps
regards
derick

Has anyone had trouble getting new 265/60r18 into the spare tyre well (cos I am), with the towbar on? I don't want to take off the plastic shield if I can help it, even if logic suggests it can't get very hot if the shield is plastic.... (and also take Tombie's earlier point about potential staking...)

Aaaand of course the '**** tow bar is jammed on...

Stuart02 - I found the same with the 245/70R17 which is more or less the same diameter as your 265/60R18. Have to remove my D4 tow hitch receiver to fit and remove spare.

I regularly remove my receiver so not an issue.

Needs to be deflated to fit, once I swap to this size I'll investigate ways to fit it inflated.

As I posted before once the tyre wears down it does fit ok without deflation. The real pain in the neck is the OEM tow hitch gets in the way. I have also solved that with a mitch hitch.