My PW/B MCSa is somewhere between South Carolina and Bill Jacobs Mini (Naperville, Il). Before I walk into the dealer I'd like to have some facts straight in my mind. I have the "checklist" and will use it. I know car comes standard with run flats and I'm getting 17" alloy crown spoke wheels.

Down the road if I replace the run flats with regular tires do I also need to replace the wheels? This will help me decide on whether or not to consider tire insurance.

Configuration:
Pepper White/Black top
Auto trans
Tuscan Beige Leather
Cold Weather and Sport packages
Sports wood steering wheel
English Oak interior
HiFi sound, center armrest, auto air,
3m Clear bra, mudflaps

I'm in production week 36 and it seems I've been waiting years.

 

no need to replace wheels if you decide to change to non RFs.

 

The only reason to change wheels would be if you wanted something lighter than the 22.5 lb. Crown Spokes, or you wanted a different style. However, your new wheels would have to support the new tire pressure sensors.

These sensors make going to non-runflats a little more difficult because you cannot rely on liquid tire repair systems if you get a flat.

 

Great info... I had no idea. No of my first mods was going to be to dump the RFT and drop a can of liquid tire repair in the car. Many thanks.

 

Traditionally tire insurance is one of those high profit margin ripoffs from the dealer that i wouldnt suggest anyone get. Keeping with 17 inch runflats it could help since those can get pricy, but if you are thinking about replacing to normal tires its definately not worth the high cost. Even with expensive 17 inch runflats you would need at least two unrepairable tires (already not covered by the manufacture) to make their warenty worth it.

 

Aloha and Welcome to NAM.

Your option list sounds fantastic. Take some pictures and post it for us to envy.

Tire insurance? Probably not, unless you have really bad roads and lots of nails and screws to run over.

Runflats are fine for now but once you use them up you have a choice of keeping you stock wheels (low cost option) or moving to lighter wheels of your choice (design, finish, etc). You can go non runflats or runflats but you don't have a spare tire. Most of us don't bother with a spare but if you do go cross country then having a small spare or even a 15" stock rim with narrow but stock sized non runflat tire is good for the boot area covered with a plastic bag or cloth bag.

Other options- sell your Crown spoke wheels and runflats to another MINI owner that wants them and then buy any tires and wheels of your choice now. Keep the Crown spoke wheels to use a winter tires later once you use up the runflats. Keep the stock wheels for now for general use and get other tires and wheels for performance driving- driving school or other trips with the MINI clubs in your area (gotta find some clubs).

 

Sorry, started to explain that sensors were on hub and not in wheels, but it looks like there's a new design change. Ignore me.

 

Thanks for the info. The car is still on its way.

This site is a great source of info - lots people, lots of opinions, lots of facts.

 

"Facts are like cows. The longer you stare at them the more likely they are to run away." -- from a Lord Peter Whimsy mystery.