I think I've worked out the 18" SUMMER run flats issue with my dealer. They agreed that Mini left them and me in a crappy situation by mandating summer HP run flats on the sport package in Mini CM's being delivered to snow country. I told them I would not drive it off the lot if it was unsafe and considered summer HP run flats as unsafe in NE this time of year. Initially, they told me I could "opt" for the Mini winter tire package of 4 premounted winter tires on 17" rims to the tune of $2100. What a deal, right? I refused.
They then told me I could buy 4 new 18" all seasons and they would mount for $160. Plus, I would have to sell the removed tires on my own. What a deal, right? I argued that this really sucked and as a first time Mini owner, I was reconsidering my decision.
They agreed to mount, balance and install the new tires and split the cost of the new tires - I get the proceeds from selling the 18" HP summers on my own. I think this is fair considering the circumstances: the dealer finally stepped up to the plate and I may get out of this cost neutral with safe tires.
Thoughts?

 

Did they tell you that you would be getting summer tires when you ordered?

 

No. I was unaware that these HP tires were useless below 40 degrees.

 

I am in the same boat. May ask my dealer if they will do the same for me. Are the run flats really pretty much useless below 40 degrees? Ours is scheduled for delivery sometime in February and it will still be winter here in Ohio.

 

That is my understanding. The dealer agreed and are pretty miffed at Mini for putting them in this position and refusing to make things right for their customers.

 

NO manufacturer is going to substitute tires for you. The tires your car will come with are laid out in the lit, the website, and it's up to you to get the car home.

My M3 came with UHP Summer tires. I made sure my winter wheel/tire setup arrived in time and I brought them with me to the delivery and I had them swapped before I drove home.

They're NOT going to bend over backwards on this. Every car that comes with summers, comes with summers. BMW, Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari, Ford, Chevy, everyone, hell, even the A4 Avant S-Line I ordered will show up with summers. The sports package is just that, a sports package. Just think how many people would be pissed off if their "sports" package equipped car showed up with all-seasons in it? Then you'd have owners ranting about how Mini cheaped out (AS are much less expensive than summers) and screwed the customer leaving them to fork out the money for the more expensive summer tires.

Can't have it both ways.

 

You don't have to get the sports package to get stuck with RF summer tires. If you choose any of the 18" rims you can only get RF tires so the fact that my wife wanted the anthracite turbo fan rims means we can't get all seasons from the factory. Nothing to do with whether we select a sports package. Sad that if you like some of the other rim options you can't get all seasons as an option.

 

As the owner of 4 new MINIs over the past 8 years, I can tell you that the factory summer run-flats STINK below 40 degrees. Here in central VA, most of the winters since 2002 have been mild with the exception of last year when we had 3 large snowstorms so I can't say I genuinely needed winter tires and this year we've gotten some 'little' storms so far. However, I am now considering a second set of wheels/tires for my JCW (or getting a CM All4 ) as we seem to be getting more snow than usual lately.

Definitely recommend getting a (preferably used) winter set if you have the means!

 

This situation isn't unique to MINI. Like the individual stated above, it does spell it out! I agree, I would get 18s with all-seasons if offered and I am having to piece meal the Sport package to stay with 17s which is increasing my cost! This was the same situation with my Porsche and Audi. If you opt for the sportier wheel and has it happens, the better looking wheels, you get stuck with Summer performance tires. If you opt for the all seasons, you get the smaller wheel. In the case of my wife's Audi TTS, you had no choice but 18s with summer performance tires when you bought the car.

Just wanted to point out that this is becoming common place in the industry and so is the deletion of Spare Tires!

 

It's a gimmick, plain and simple. Don't make excuses - Mini is out of line here. Why does it make sense to equip an AWD vehicle with summer tires when they are being delivered in the middle of winter - it's unsafe and they know it. They are just ripping buyers off an I will remember next time I consider buying from them. Bad business plan Mini....BAD!

 

Well, this is good news for my waist. Time to retire all my Sansabelt slacks.

As for the tires on the Countryman - - - Didn't we already establish that there are no RF all-seasons in the right size? Are you going with regular tires and a squirter kit in the boot?

 

It is not a gimmick. Mini, like EVERY manufacturer, assumes that if you're going with a sportier combo, and larger wheels with smaller sidewall tires IS a sportier combo, that you want a sportier tire. You don't get to pick the tires because Mini contracts certain tires and giving people the option to pick and choose their tires would be prohibitively expensive.

If Mini is out of line, the so is every other manufacturer that offers a sport package with anything but summer tires. In fact, I dare you to find a company that DOESN'T give you summer tires with a sport package option (not just plus sized-wheels). And if you think Mini is bad, BMW goes a step further and foists run-flats on your for everything but M-cars which get no spare, summer tires no matter what, and no run-flats.

Simply, Mini is not out of line. The season the car is delivered in makes NO difference in tires provided. All of the info is available to make an informed buying decision. If you didn't take the time to find out what comes on the car then you have no one to fault but yourself.

Mini isn't ripping anyone off. This is SOP in the auto industry.

 

I wasn't making up an excuse for MINI, just nicely informing you what is currently the trend in the auto industry, but since your tone has turned sour, let me be more direct!

Unfortunately, you didn't know what you were buying in the Sport package. Maybe the MINI Config. wasn't up?!?! When you were ordering?!?! If that was the case, your MA should have informed you! See now I am making excuses for you not knowing?!?!

Like I stated above, it is not a MINI only thing, it is many car makers! My Porsche and Audi are both AWD and came with Summer tires, so there goes that argument against MINI, So why not criticize the entire industry!!!!

You might be out of line!?

 

Since, I had the opportunity to drive the CM yesterday, 17s with sport suspension! 18s not needed. Actually when seeing the Anthracite 17s, they look the best in my opinion!

If I did go with 18s, yes! Squirter kit in the back.

Unfortunately, some spare tires may be lingering when consuming
the perfect Hoppy Beverages!

 

<Like the individual stated above, it does spell it out!>

That's just not true. As you know, the configurator was not up until Thanksgiving. My order was in before that.
You guys are a piece of work. How would you like to learn at the 11th hour that the 'fix' for this will cost you >$2100 courtesy of Mini! Come on, get real!

 

I agree with you 100%.

 

Move to south Texas and Mini can be your friend again.

 

Update: I asked my dealer if the removed tires would fit in my CM for the trip home. This was their reply: 'They may very well fit, but we won't put them in the back of your new CM...we will ship them to you, on us'. To note - they are 100 miles from me. The dealership's response to this is acknowledgement that they don't think the summer tire sport package issue was dealt with by Mini well.
Expect mediocrity and you get mediocrity.

 

MINI is not a fault. They made it abundantly clear as far back as the Aug 27 Order Guide that the Countryman, like all MINIs, will ship with sport tires and that all season tires must be specified even with the All4 configuration. Also noted was that all season tires are only available on the 17" wheels.

I will post the document tomorrow for your reference.

In my opinion, it is not MINI that let you down at all. Rather it is your MA and your dealer. They should have advised you about the tires.

 

Of course, if one knew about this, but still wanted the other items in the Sport Package he or she would have to buy them a la carte at a higher price point: Mini wins again. I'm sure they are ecstatic to have lots of gullible Mini fanatics who can't see thru their deceptive options/configurator game to help their bottom line.

 

I don't want to sound crass but what you are saying is that you could have ordered what you wanted but you didn't want to pay for it. I just don't understand your position. I have dissected this transaction more ways than probably reasonable and am in no way gullible nor a MINI fanatic. Sport Package includes Sport tires? What will they think of next?

 

To me, it sounds like an assumption was made without verification. The dealer is doing its best to make you happy - above and beyond, in my opinion.

 

<I don't want to sound crass but what you are saying is that you could have ordered what you wanted but you didn't want to pay for it.>

No,What I didn't want to do is have to pay Mini $2K to be safe which is what they were demanding originally. This is one tough crowd. I thought Mini owners were more hospitable than this. Oh, I forgot, Mini IS a BMW company. I just may be about to join the wrong crowd. Nice chatting with you all.

 

Some of the best fun I've ever had was by joining the wrong crowd. But, if that's the way you feel, take your crayons and juice box and head on out.

There is a certain amount of caveat emptor involved in any purchase. If I figured out that the tires were a problem, then, I'm figuring, a blind monkey banging on a keyboard could figure it out. If you go to Mini USA and drill through the Learn tabs to Winter Driving (general Mini stuff), you'll see that they mention everything except the tires. That's a major clue. You'll also notice that all advertising and reviews mention go cart handling, another major clue. Minis are all about fun, fun, fun and they're a division of BMW. Ergo, they get performance tires and they get RF tires - BMW loves them. They also give you a compromise if you go a little shorter on the wheels and read the fine print - that's actually a big concession for them.

Bottom line - you buy Mini and you buy Mini mystique and Mini persona. Try it on and if it doesn't fit, it may not be right for you. Or you may just need to wear it for a couple of days to get the feel for it. Either way, good luck and happy motoring in whatever you drive. After all, it is all about the drive.

 

Could not a similar argument be made for those who order the Cold Weather Package option too?

Maybe the correct solution is that the Cold Weather Package overrides the Sport Package, and changes the tire type from summer-only to all season, but keeps the size the same?

I know for my Jeep, the Limited package upgraded the tires to summer/highway tires, but the Off-road package overrode that, and changed the upgrade to all season/off-road tires. So, I ended up with the larger Limited wheels with all season tires (a rare factory combination).