I have been given a temporary spare for my MX5 Mk3.5, it is a 16" wheel that fits the hub but my wheels are 17". The tyre is a Pirelli T125/85 R16 99M will it be OK to use to get me to a garage? or must it be a 17" wheel. Thanks for any help in this matter.
I have just taken a wheel off to double check if it fit’s as previously only measured the hole spaceings, It’s a good job I did as the wheel doesn’t fit so back to the emergency kit!!!.
I am not familiar with this particular spare wheel but the Hyundai coupe spare(2002 on) is a 16 inch wheel and works as a spare for the MK3.
As long as it fits properly to the hub with five holes lining up and clears brakes as well as being approximately the same overall diameter as the wheel it is replacing, you should have no problem.
I would check the overall diameter first and then try it out on both front and rear axle. Go for a drive too to make sure fully useable if required.
It is possible it will work fine on one axle but not fit properly on the other because of brake clearance. Not the end of the world as no-one wants to really use their spare anyway and if you are unlucky enough to need to and it is the wrong axle, a little shuffle of tyres required to get spare on the axle it fits to.
One other thing to consider is how you will transport the original wheel in the event of a puncture - it will not fit straight into the boot.
Out of interest, does anyone use run flats on the MX5 ? I know they are supposedly the work of the devil but I don’t find they spoil the ride on my BMW X5, although that does have over a tonne advantage over the MX5.
I was wondering the same about the 14" spare in my NA with 15" wheels. It doesn’t look like it would be any use at all if I had a puncture.
Interesting Phil
I have just measured my standard 14" NA spare and it is a bit under 21 inches in total diameter.
Surprisingly, well to me anyway, the standard 14 inch wheels with 60 profile are nearer to 22 inches, so a considerable difference.
I can assure you that my spare works as have used it, so in terms of diameter you will have no issue, assuming 50 profile tyres.
Certainly worth leisurely checking out the brake caliper clearance on both of your axles though before you rely on it.
As you have already confirmed the bolt holes fit your hubs the website www.willtheyfit.com will do the raw maths for you, but the caveats re caliper clearance are very relevant.
Right enough Bob, the X5 is a mighty beast but…a local chap with a Bimmer saloon got rid as he detested the road noise & handling…he alleged.
I was never in the car so cannot comment on personal experience…but this guy “knows cars”
Edit:
Just remembered it is either 320d or 325d?
I have a BMW 330D M Sport, which has run-flats as standard fit (it has different wheel sizes front to rear; the diameter and width are both different which would possibly mean carrying two spares).
I had a rear puncture late one night, the TPS warning went off. I got the car home and rang a number of local tyre suppliers the next day. The quickest any of them could offer was ten working days to get a pair of new run-flat tyres of the correct size (non to be found in UK at that time), so I opted for non run-flats which were more readily available and bought a tyre repair kit (the type that uses a coated fabric strip and a tool kit, to repair a larger hole) and an electric tyre pump which is designed to insert bottles of “get you home” latex liquid puncture repair through the valve.
The non-run flats on the rear made the car handle slightly differently (a little more fidgety) but the ride improved quite a lot. I recently replaced the front tyres because one had developed a slow puncture and I opted for the correct run-flats because they don’t affect the ride so much anyway - but it still took three working days to get them!