This is the basic concept / prototype to a Cooper S spare tire mount that I have been dreaming up over the past few weeks. It mounts to the rear strut brace and takes up VERY little room. What I eventually plan on doing is having a strut brace made that is triangulated for extra strength with a spare tire mount incorporated into the design. This one cost me about $8.00 for the materials but the finished product will look stock. Plus I plan to make a spare tire cover that will have pockets to utilize the lost space.

 

Awesome idea!!!

Do you plan on producing and selling them yourself, or finding a distributor?

 

No, I am not in the MINI business although I might have a few made to sell.

 

Rick,
I work for a titanium bike manufacturing company, and by the end of the year I will show you guys all kinds of cool titanium upgrades including a spare tire mount. I have been playing with some ideas after work. :-)
H

 

Great job Rick!! I love it! Quick start mass producing it before someone else takes the idea!!! I'd almost get an S just because of this.

 

great idea!
is the rear deck lid still usable?

 

The rear deck lid fits but cannot be lifted up, so I unhooked the ropes. Two solutions for this - cut a half moon on the back of the deck lid or make the bracket so it tilts toward the back. I am not 100% crazy about either one.

Moskito, I would be very interested in what you come up with. The problem with the current generation of rear tie bars is that the design does absolutely NOTHING for the MINI. Look at a REAL bar from Neuspeed for the VW GTI. I had one of these on my GTI and the quality is absolutely top notch. Make something like this for a MINI and incorporate an optional spare tire holder and you have quite a product. Go for it. Just put me on the customer list!





http://www.neuspeed.com/products/product_details.asp?app=23|G2&type=12&ltype=ns_eur o&p_id=263

 

Run with it !!!

Meet you someday soon...

- Charlie

 

And for the cabriolet group I'll throw in a request to test fit it on one. I am seriously interested in this as I'll be throwing off the run flats in no time flat.

 

I'm in if you start producing them! I've got nonrunflat winter tires, so this would definitely come in handy!

vin.

 

hummm...looks good but that thin bracket might not be able to
hold the weight of the donut if you encounter a serious
accident.. just wondering.

id recommend latching the seatbelts on the rear seats even
if there is no passenger.

 

Great idea (also kenchan's safety caution for those contemplating manufacture) for everyday peace of mind. Thanks for the innovation.

 

Rick,
My rear strut idea is actually a bit different and would not allow to use the rear current deck as is either. It would actually make the Cooper look a bit more like a "race car." The tire would mount higher too and would thus allow to still use a good bit of the rear storage. Other ideas are a titanium shift **** and a front strut brace. Hopefully before year's end I'll have some images. But really not so much to start a new business, more so to make my MCS unique. Currently bicycle trade shows are what keeps me really busy. :-)
Herbert
www.litespeed.com

 

That is a nice design, but am I missing something here. My spare fits in the boot and the deck lid lowers over it. I just wedge it in with a pouch of sundries so that the bottom of the spare is tight to the rear of the boot and the top leans against the seats. It doesn't move around, with the seats locked in position I don't think it should be a safety hazard. Am I wrong?

On long trips I put it behind the driver seat and tighen the seat back onto it. Now this might be unsafe so I suppose I should safety strap it to the seat undercarriage or something.

Feel free to clue me in if this is totally unsafe.

 

may i ask are those seat covers you have on your mcs? where do you get them? they look nice.

van

 

do you have a spare solution on the market now? I'm thinking on how to solve the problem, but if you have one let me know. Superfun

 

can you make one to fit a 17 inch rim?

 

very cool! i think i would invest in this.. i would have to make a wheel cover or something though.
really great work!

 

OK I finally did it, removed the rear seat in a bout 10 minutes or less.... then figured out how to /where to fit the spare Two obvous spots stood out so i picked the one with lowest center of gravity, rigged a hold down for the tire/wheel using the center seat belt bolt point and after looking at it, i think I will not need the RSD, because you have room for storage on either side of the FULL SIZE SPARE ...will try to take some picks this weekend, but thinking about just putting down a coat ofDANPLIFIER PRO and then some high end black vinyl or carpet... Time for a test drive to the world record event this weekend in VA! YAAA HOOO.

 

I have a rear brace that I bought before MOTD so I could use rubber straps to attach my 17" spare tire to it. Had no problems with it moving around in the mountains going and coming to the Dragon.

Great idea, the only problem is if you brace it underneath it will hurt your storage.

I have left my brace on and just slide items under it if I need the room.

I would add something to attach the tire to that is removable from the brace if case someone needs the storage.

 

Where did your space saver spare tire come from? Other make/model car? I tried a 4x100 from my Miata, and it won't clear the brakes on my S.
Thanks,
Chris

 

Great idea! I run 15" tires in the winter, and it would be great to have a spare sitting securely in the boot AND still have some space for other things.

I'm interested!

 

no pics yet?