Thought it would be nice to hear some MINI flat tire stories, now that most of us don't have a spare. njp

 

Mine was less than 300 miles after owning the car on the 4th of July returning back from San Diego. The sensor went off, and I pulled into a gas station to add air. Fortunately I had a spare so I threw on the donut. 2 weeks later I was finally able to purchase the 300 dollar tire replacement. Gotta love runflat prices.

 

Two weeks ago. Came out after dinner and noticed my driver's side was completely flat (non runflat, 175/65/15 for winter). Used a Slime kit and compressor to fill it up in less than 15 minutes and get back home without incident. Been fine since.

 

I totally lucked out with my experience. Ran over something and heard the tire going flat just as I was passing the garage I use to do all my tire work. Pulled in and parked, got out and watched the rest of the air leak out. Was able to get it fixed for free, even though I didn't buy my tires from them, they are great.

I have a fix a flat in the back of my car, along with a spare wheel and tire that I have for long trips, but this was the first full flat I have had without the runflats.

 

About a month ago...the sensor went on and I thought maybe it was just low (I'm terrible about checking)...nope, the next morning the light was back on. Took the tire off and it had a fat chunk of metal in the sidewall!

I was looking to ditch my RFs anyway so I got a new set of non-RF tires and now it's like having a new suspension! Ha...

 

Runflat vs. Concrete Block

Less than 4000 miles old

Concrete Block won

 

I have a spare but have never had to use it...the flat tire sensor always has given me amply warning. It's kicked in about five times...who are these buggers dropping nails everywhere??!?!?!?!

p.s....for clarification, this is my second MINI. I've been motoring since 1/03.

 

I was actually on my way to the dealer to have a windshield replaced when the tire monitor went off! how convenient for me. Turns out I had a nail in the tire, so I had the runflat replaced under my tire and wheel insurance.

 

does the 07 tires go under warranty? because i have replaced my run flat tire(s), about 4 times within four months due to pot holes and nails...

and it cost me a fortune..didn't know if it was under warranty...

 

I had two flats on my runflats within 9 months of owning my MINI. After number 2, I dumped the runflats and I haven't had a flat since in almost 2 1/2 years. Now its time for a new set come spring.

 

Tires and wheels aren't covered by the standard warranty... you may have had the opportunity to purchase tire/wheel insurance when you bought your car.

 

1st flat on my run-flats last week. A 1/2" sheet metal screw thru the tread. TPS worked great. Was able to repair it with a plug kit from Napa.

 

November of 2006, my girlfriend's dad died, it was sudden and at home, he was only 57 and died in his sleep. A few days after he passed was the viewing, it was going to be a big public thing, and I wanted to be there for support. I left work and had about 30 minutes to get there, about 12 miles away. About a mile into my trip my flat tire light comes on, so I stop at gas station and check my tires, sure enough the drivers side rear is almost out of air. I feel around and there is a screw sticking out of my tire and I feel the air rushing out. I drive up the street to a Pep Boys and run in to see if they stock runflat tires for a MINI, of course not, but the guy at the counter says maybe I could try a plug kit. I say, no I heard that runflats can't be patched, and he says that's only partially true, if the hole is in the tread then it can be plugged. Well I go & buy a plug kit, run out to the parking lot, pull the screw out and plug it, then drove around to the back of the garage and they filled it with air. I got there about 15-20 minutes late, but I made it, and drove on that patched tire for the rest of the winter until I bought a new set of wheels & proper tires online.

 

[jahmills, That's great info. I'll tuck that one away. Nice DS. Great pics in the gallery.

quote=Jahmills;2022076]November of 2006, my girlfriend's dad died, it was sudden and at home, he was only 57 and died in his sleep. A few days after he passed was the viewing, it was going to be a big public thing, and I wanted to be there for support. I left work and had about 30 minutes to get there, about 12 miles away. About a mile into my trip my flat tire light comes on, so I stop at gas station and check my tires, sure enough the drivers side rear is almost out of air. I feel around and there is a screw sticking out of my tire and I feel the air rushing out. I drive up the street to a Pep Boys and run in to see if they stock runflat tires for a MINI, of course not, but the guy at the counter says maybe I could try a plug kit. I say, no I heard that runflats can't be patched, and he says that's only partially true, if the hole is in the tread then it can be plugged. Well I go & buy a plug kit, run out to the parking lot, pull the screw out and plug it, then drove around to the back of the garage and they filled it with air. I got there about 15-20 minutes late, but I made it, and drove on that patched tire for the rest of the winter until I bought a new set of wheels & proper tires online.[/quote]

 

Do you mean that you never looked for the cause of the flat--nail, screw, whatever???

 

that's exactly what I did. The cost will vary by dealership, mine cost me $350 if I remeber correctly.

 

I was on the way to work. I pulled out of my street and went down a road for about 1 km or so then heard a tapping noise. Pulled over and saw a lil nail head, so out comes the screwdriver and popped the nail out. To my disappointment the second i did so I heard a "pshhhh" sound. I spent the next one and a half hours sitting in a tyre shop getting it fixed and patched. Stupid cue to get my car fixed. Luckily I had runflats and the tyre shop was 5 min away.

 

^ Good lesson for all. Leave the nail in !

Get it to a tire shop and see if the tire can be repaired. If the nail is close to the edge of the tread, no go.

Leaving the nail in place gives you ample time to order a new tire at a low price off the internet. And even if there is a very slow leak around the tire, just fill it every three or four days (by then, your new tire has arrived anyway).

Happened to me back in September. I left the nail in there for about three weeks, never lost a pound of air. And within about two days, the head of the nail wore off and no more ticking sounds.

 

Boy, you got lucky--or did some nifty negotiating! As I recall, the number was about $800, and we weren't in the slightest bit interested, even in asking for a lower number.

We'd planned to replace them with non-runflats anyway, when the time came. It's coming soon.

 

Quick and simple. after 2.75 years of ownership and approximately 37,000 miles. I ran over what looked like a horseshoe nail. (I don't live near horses lol) I was driving on my holies for winter so I had to call my dad with his hummer to come a fill me up. (the H2 has a pump in the back that came in very handy that night) We filled her up...took her home..took the tire off and had it fixed....

thankfully it was a relatively painless experience

 

What's a "holie?"

I don't have my non-runflats yet, but I already have my Slime and compressor in the boot.

 

Holies are the 15" MC wheel that looks like holes were stamped out:

 

No negotiating here!

 

just had a slow leak (screw) fixed, i was loosing 2 pounds a day. dealer took care of the fix. all is well.