I have been looking at Coopers and plan on ordering one soon. I would like to avoid run-flats if possible. I see that the 15" wheels come with a spare held under the boot, the models and packages with 16" wheels come with run-flats.

If I get a Cooper, I will just order the 15" wheels along with the 16" V-spoke wheels as an accessory. I'll stash the 15" wheels with the AS tires away for winter use, and have the dealership put a set of Toyo T1-S tires (great on my Miata!) on my V-Spokes before I take the car home. Then I will have the best of all worlds: narrow 15" tires for winter, a hot set of summer performance tires, no run-flats, and best of all, a spare.

Which brings us to the Cooper S, or the Cooper with the Sport Package. Suppose I go that route... does the S have a place to put a spare tire? I test drove one with 17" sport package and thought the ride was too rough. Maybe smaller 16" wheels, combined with elimination of the run-flats, would make it more hospitable.

 

No spare for the S. Fix A Flat or a plug kit and an electric compressor.

 

Is there a place to fit the spare? Is it filled, or just left empty because there is no spare?

Just found out the T1-S does not come in 195/55-16... GRRRR... can you use a 205/50-16 on the car? Rolling radius is extremely close, only .9 mph speedometer error at 60 MPH. (Indicates 60, actual 59.1)

 

In the MCS, when they put the suprrcharger in the airbox gets shifted to the battery location and the battery gets moved to the back where the spare was. So there is no longer room to put a spare.
Bran

 

MINIBRG is exactly right.

To expand on that a little there are two major issues that preclude a spare on the Cooper S.

Issue 1: the locations of the battery. As MINIBRG pointed out, the battery is in the back on the S. It's in a similar location to where the COOPER jack/tool kit are.

Issue 2: The exhaust routing. On the Cooper there is only one muffler and the exhaust exits out one side of the rear. The spare tire is mounted to the bottom of the car and is under the jack location. The Cooper S exhuast comes straight back from the cat, then goes to the right side of the battery box stamping into the first muffler, THEN it comes back toward the front of the car, around the battery box and into a second muffler on the opposite side of the battery box stamping, before exiting the center rear of the car.

Thus, in the S, the battery is where the Cooper Jack is, and the Exhaust prevents you from mounting a spare tire.


A 205/50 R16 will work just fine on the MINI. I ran a set of 205/50 R16 Yokohama AVS ES100 tires on my MINI before switching to the 215/45 R16 Falken Azenis tires.

Also, welcome to MCO (to both DonPitt and MINIBRG). I look forward to seeing you around on the site. :smile:

Dave

 

Thanks! So, get an S, no spare under the car.

FINAL question...

What about a Cooper with the Sport package? It comes with 16s, but is there a place for a spare under there?

 

Oops. I missed that one.

Yes the COOPER with the sport package comes with a spare and the jack even though it has the 16" run-flats.

 

Whew!! You had me worried. I specifically ordered the MC with SP because I wanted 16s with a spare. I intend to wear out the run flats fast and get something lighter and easier riding.

 

>>Oops. I missed that one.
>>
>>Yes the COOPER with the sport package comes with a spare and the jack even though it has the 16" run-flats.
KICK@$$ ! Now I know what to order.

Does it have the fixflat goo and the compressor too?

 

no. no MINI comes with fix-a-flat or a compressor. Anyone who has those has purchased those items on their own.

 

>>no. no MINI comes with fix-a-flat or a compressor. Anyone who has those has purchased those items on their own.

What is the going rate for one of those kits? Doesn't BMW sell something like that?

 

BMW sells an ///M mobility kit that is similar. I'm not sure of the price.

Fix-a-flat and a small compressor that plugs into the 12v outlet (the one in your boot if you're lucky ) should run about $40 total. That seems to be my recollection anyway from when I purchased those items about 8 months ago.

 

>>KICK@$$ ! Now I know what to order.

I hope you are not making your decision on which model to order based solely on the spare tire issue. The chances of getting stuck because of a flat that you cannot temporarily fix until you get to a tire place is not that great. You would have to get to a tire place quickly with a donut anyway. The "S" now does come with a jack/lug wrench. If you are still nervous about longer trips without a spare, then get an extra wheel to carry with you in the boot. It will fit in there standing up but you need to remove the cover. I bought an extra set of 16" wheels on ebay for under
$500. Eventually, when all 8 run-flats wear out, I will be going with traditional winter/summer tires keeping one of the "off season" wheels for a spare. I am also trying to come up with a mod that will keep the wheel tethered in the back so that it won't bounce around back there. Anyway, good luck with your decision.

 

>>
>>>>KICK@$$ ! Now I know what to order.
>>
>>I hope you are not making your decision on which model to order based solely on the spare tire issue. The chances of getting stuck because of a flat that you cannot temporarily fix until you get to a tire place is not that great. You would have to get to a tire place quickly with a donut anyway. The "S" now does come with a jack/lug wrench. If you are still nervous about longer trips without a spare, then get an extra wheel to carry with you in the boot. It will fit in there standing up but you need to remove the cover. I bought an extra set of 16" wheels on ebay for under
>>$500. Eventually, when all 8 run-flats wear out, I will be going with traditional winter/summer tires keeping one of the "off season" wheels for a spare. I am also trying to come up with a mod that will keep the wheel tethered in the back so that it won't bounce around back there. Anyway, good luck with your decision.

Besides, ask Mini (no pun intended) about their roadside assistance.

 

>>>>no. no MINI comes with fix-a-flat or a compressor. Anyone who has those has purchased those items on their own.
>>
>>What is the going rate for one of those kits? Doesn't BMW sell something like that?
>>
>>
Compressor and tire guages
Safety Seal Kit
Tire Repair Products

 

Badminiparts is going to be selling a kit to let you bolt a full-size wheel to the back hatch--SUV-style. It is going to include sturdier hatch struts.






Really, someone somewhere must be working on it.