Is the Spare Tire of BMW X3 Full-Size?
3 Answers
BMW X3's spare tire is not full-size. The tire specification for BMW X3 is 235/55R17, while the spare tire is slightly smaller. Below is some relevant information about BMW X3: 1. The BMW X3 is an SUV model with distinctive personality, introducing the new SUV Sports Activity Vehicle concept and equipped with BMW's patented xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system. 2. While designing the BMW X3, the designers created a compact yet powerful exterior while significantly expanding the interior space. The only drawback is that the car's sun visor is too conventional, lacking an intelligent Kamei filter screen, which cannot effectively prevent light damage to the driver. The second-generation BMW X3 features the longest wheelbase and largest body size in its class. 3. The rear seat backrest can be folded in a 40:20:40 ratio, providing high flexibility for the interior space, with the luggage compartment space expandable up to 1,600 liters. Optimized navigation, audio, and other electrical equipment and functions, such as the head-up display system and rearview camera with panoramic display, which are first in its class, significantly enhance driving comfort and safety.
I remember last time when I accompanied my friend to pick up the new BMW X3, I specifically paid attention to the spare tire issue. The salesperson said most X3 models now come with a tire repair kit and an air pump, and don’t include a spare tire at all. If you opt for one, they only provide a small-sized spare tire—the kind of narrow, black temporary tire. Run-flat tires are standard, though, so you can still drive up to 80 kilometers even with a nail puncture. The main reason is that automakers are focusing on lightweight design, and a full-size spare tire is too heavy and takes up half the trunk space. If you really want a full-size spare tire, you’d have to order the wheel and tire separately, but leaving it in the car unused for a long time can cause the rubber to deteriorate.
When I lifted the trunk floor panel of my 2018 X3, I found just a recessed storage compartment. After confirming with the customer service hotline 400, I learned that the domestic X3 models do not come with a full-size spare tire. BMW's strategy is to use run-flat tires instead of a spare, given the dense network of repair shops in urban areas. However, during my self-driving trip to Tibet, I was quite anxious and specifically bought a foldable spare tire to tuck in the corner. This compact spare has the same diameter as the original tire but is only 125mm wide, with a speed limit of 80 km/h. A full-size spare must match the original tire in both diameter and width. Considering the X3's weight exceeds 1.8 tons, the compact spare is actually a bit of a stretch in terms of load capacity.
