Many threads have addressed owners' desires to get rid of their RFs and the possibility of getting a space-saver spare. Mini Mania is now advertising one for all MINIs:

http://new.minimania.com/web/SUBTYPE..._Inventory.cfm


It's on sale now for $219.95.


BTW, I have no affiliation with them. Just passing along the info I received.

 

Wonder what is so special about that one..... you can pick them up on Ebay for under $50 shipped. It's easy to find them if you look for ones that fit other cars with the same 4x100 bolt patter as a MINI.... Miata's and Civics for example. I also saw them for sale at my local Discount Tire for about $60.

 

I have no idea. I haven't researched it at all. Just noticed thread where people were asking, so I passed the info along. This is what the website says:

"If you switched from run-flat tires to standard tires, here is the spare designed for your MINI. Beware of 'similar' space-saver tires from other brands since the hub diameter is most likely the wrong size. This 'space saver tire' set-up uses the factory spare wheel for guaranteed fitment.

Mounted, balanced, and ready-to-use. Remember, this is a 'temporary' spare tire to get you home or to the nearest tire repair center. Get your flat fixed and back on your car as soon as possible. If you have the Limited Slip Differential option on your MINI, we recommend that you put the spare on the rear."

 

Aren't there other car's space-saver spares that will fit? They're usually available from salvage yards really cheap. IIRC, a Cobalt or Civic spare will fit, anybody know? (Oh yeah, I'll do a search!)

edit: posts crossed in the mail...

 

Where the heck do you carry it in the car?

 

FWIW, I recently went the route of buying the wheel from Classic for $34 + $17 in shipping---$51 for the wheel. Then another $120 for the tire, mounting, balancing from Tire Warehouse--I PM'd Alex at Tire Rack and never got a response, and when I called them, I got a voice mail that so and so wasn't available-- so not a huge savings from MINI Mania, and not as cheap as looking for a junk yard one--though you won't get a deal from buying the wheel/tire from a salvaged MINIs as people know the value of them now. You will find old threads where people got amazing deals that way.

But of course, I've got a super clean, unused, wheel (the factory spare is underneath the MC, so it gets quite dirty) that's ready for use on long trips, or anywhere that I might be out of cell coverage.

I put the wheel in the boot or behind my drivers seat--in the passenger footwell. My seat is pushed back far enough that it holds the tire in place firmly. But I don't carry it with me all the time, only in situations say for example--going to the mountains with my son where a tire failure could be disastrous.

Richard

 

oh...so like a spare for your spare:impatient

 

??? Is this referring to me? I've got an MCS without runflats, but now I have a spare.

 

oops.....sorry...read your post and thought you had an MC...did you used to have a MC?

 

I'm not suggesting Mini Mania is a bargain, or that it's the only option. I was simply providing info that they have a spare that fits the 07. You're welcome.

 

Yep! See first post
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...03+MINI+Cooper

 

Neither was I, and I was just saying that going the route of buying a wheel and a tire isn't that much of a bargain either..as I discovered.

 

OG: I thought so....guess I''m living in the past

 

220.00!! Are you kiidding for a donut! For that kind of money you can get a rim and full sized tire.

 

Okay. I can take a hint. I will refrain from passing info I find on in the future.

 

LynnEl,

Try not to take these posts so personally. Everyone is free to respond how they see fit (as long as they keep within the site guidelines of course)--and nobody is putting you down or bashing you, or giving you any hints. The last post was in reference to Mini Mania's pricing. You didn't make that pricing, so why feel the post was directed at you?

You did a good thing by providing an alternative source for something that is often a complicated and not very well known. I certainly wouldn't recommend people buy the wheel and tire separately like I did. With shipping charges, time, and mounting, etc.. there really isn't much cost savings.

That's true, but a full size sure takes up a lot more space in the MINI!

 

I appreciate the information even though I'm perfectly confident with my plug kit, slime and compressor.

Although there are compact spares from many different car brand's whose bolt pattern fits (4 x 100 is it?) I doubt if all of them will fit over the front brakes. They will also come in different diameters. Their may even be different maximum tire loads.

Okay, respond any way you like because I know that all responses are about those making the response, and not about me at all.

 

Having seen what a rock can do to a tire--major gash that slime won't fix or can't be plugged--on a remote mountain run out of cell phone range--your confidence would certainly be put to the test. The other day I imagined what I would do if I had my 3 year old with me, and I had such a tire failure---I might have to walk for miles while be concerned for the safety of my son. Not like I can leave him behind while I go get help.

As for the front brakes---you really don't want a donut on a front wheel drive car. For the above example, we took a good back tire, and replaced the damaged front one, then put the donut on the rear tire. I believe the MINI manual cautions this as well.

Richard

 

I certainly agree with that . . . but of course the same circumstance applies to a runflat . . . they may also have a traumatic failure which negates their ability to run while flat (I could be wrong . . . but I certainly read this and it is one of the assumptions in my thinking). Then too is the fact that there are other more likely causes for stranding . . . hitting an animal, electrical failure . . . there is always a risk. I've been stranded so few times by tires . . . just doesn't scare me. Much more likely in my view to get caught by an ex-wife than a rock!

 

Well, the tire I was referring to was a run flat tire--and it happened on a canyon run--at the time I was driving my Cooper, so I loaned the driver my spare so she could get down safely. The rock was one of those things that didn't look deadly--was just one of several large rocks in the road--and the driver tried to steer around it, but the rear tire hit it instead.

I agree though, in the 3 years and 65,000 miles (46,000 miles without runflats) I had with my Cooper and having a spare tire--the only times I ever pulled it out was during autocrossing event to lighten my car!

Richard