Hi,
I am trying to find a space saver for my 03 Cooper S. Does anyone know if any other car spare might fit? No one around has anything for a Mini.
Thanks

John

 

This is what I found for an 06 MCS which should be the same for all 1st gen Minis:

VW Jetta-1995-98

Honda Accord-1982-89

Honda Civic-2001-02

You can google bolt pattern referecnce for these two brands and look for 4x100,56.1 mm hubsnout,H offset,12mm bolt and you may find other models that fit the bill. You may be able to purchase the donut spare at salvage yards and on the internet for prices ranging up to $30.00. OEM spares can be up to $200.00. Good luck.

 

I now carry a full size spare behind the back seats, yes I lose space and also the rear shelf,but after 2 blowouts I have learned my lesson. So I have the tire bungee corded in and I am still able to carry some other items. For me its just a matter of knowing I have it back there as I no longer have the run flats on, and to carry a donut spare and only able to drive at a slower rate of speed if i am far from home does not work for me.

 

Yipes! Do you drive on some really rough roads? Unusually low tire pressure combined with heavy loading can also cause this (i learned this the hard way in college, doh!).

Currently I'm back on runflats, but I too carry a spare when operating on standard tires.

Original Poster: Mini Mania sells the <a href="http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/nmw7610/invDetail.cfm">factory spare</a>. Pricey, but you know it's the right one!

 

txhs for this helpful inof...

 

I really dont drive on bad roads, well the cross bronx I guess you might consider rough. Reality is Once I hit a bad hole in Newark at 2 Am, blew the tire clear off the rim and did about 4 K in other damage during the winter.
Car had to be flatbeded home. the last time 3 weeks ago after a trip to NY and Citifield i came home right after a storm, they were cleaning the trees up about 2 miles from were I live, and I ran over a small branch and it went clear through the sidewall on a tire with less then 5 K on it. I made it home and just decided I have a spare factory wheel and a spare runflat, so i made the room behind the seat and now I dont worry when I take long trips which is a few times a month. Its just peace of mind for me.

 

Go to Car-Part.com and search under wheels. The compact spare will be listed and you can find the closest yard to you that has one. Then you can just go by an pick it up. Even if there's not one in you neighborhood, just plan a little road trip. Search again in a week or so if there's nothing within range and you don't want to pay shipping.

PS
Bring a large trash bag to store it in.

 

how do you fit the full size behind the back seats? i have an extra R90 and it just barely doesnt fit, my seats are folded down =( i'd love to be able to put my seats up if i could fit it behind the seats.

 

I bought a 2005 Cobalt 15" spare for both of my MINI's. It'll only work on the rear, however.

 

I have a 195 55 16 run flat mounted on a factory wheel, its tight and I cant use the factory shelf back there but it fits along with some tools, an air pump and some other small things I carry. I have it bungie corded in, so it does not roll around, and with my rear windows tinted you cant even see it.
Again for me it is peace of mind having it in there

 

That's the ONLY place you should use a compact on a front wheel drive car anyway!

If you have a front flat you need to move the rear wheel to the front, and put the compact spare on the rear.

 

Hmmm. Why? Won't the differential take care of the speed difference on the front wheels? Admittedly, handling will suck, but even with a donut on the rear it's not wise to drive aggressively with said donut.

Just curious!

 

So as far as the cobalt spare? Would 2006-2008 work as well for my R56? Can anyone confirm?

thanks

 

Here's a bolt pattern reference for the Cobalt.

 

I'd suggest using something more substantial than a bungie cord to hold that spare. In an accident it is going to come forward through the seats & possibly severely injure you. Maybe one of those nylon ratchet straps would hold better.