My wife recently got a base Mini (non S) and I noticed the spare tire is beneath the car. Most trucks have their spares underneath and they often get their spares stolen as a result. Should I be worried that someone can remove the spare, or does removal require access from inside the trunk? Thanks.

 

This is the first time I have ever heard of under mounted spare tires getting stolen. I guess I live in a lower crime area

 

Only from an S owner! But if you place a return to address, we will be glad to make sure it is returned in a day or two!

 

I wouldnt think you would have an issue with keeping the spare underneath the mini (being much lower then a truck) but then again I can't imagine stealing someone's spare. If its that bad where you live, couldnt you lock the tire in place?

 

FTW!!!

 

Walk0080 Not to go off topic...but are you going to sleep tonight?

 

What year?
Didn't know any MINI's had externally mounted spare tires? The spare is inside on my Clubman.
Most cars with external mounted spares have a ratcheting mechanism that must be cranked down or up from inside the vehicle.
My '86 F150 has the old style tire holder that is locked with a paddle lock. Someone would have to want it very bad and have a bolt cutter. More worried about someone drilling the gas tanks.

 

My mini's spare is externally mounted too, but I don't think we have as much to worry about as pickup truck owners do. All thieves need to steal a spare from a pickup is the tool that lets them lower the cable that holds the tire up. If they don't have that, I'm guessing they could slide underneath the car and cut the cable.

However, the mechanism that lowers the tire on our minis is inside the car, and managing your way underneath it doesn't seem worth the effort for a 15 - 17" spare.

Just a thought.

 

The spare on a non-S is an emergency compact spare, not a full size wheel/tire. I don't think there's much demand for stealing one of those.

 

it looks like this is not a common issue for Minis, so I'm not going to worry about it. Do S models have a spare given the center exhaust tips?
My friend had his spare stolen off his Toyota Tacoma several years back. I didn't know this sort of thing happens until it happened to him. Toyota even makes a spare tire lock LOL.

 

If you don't have an owner's manual you can read or download one from Mini's owner lounge. Registration is free.

http://ol.miniusa.com

 

If I remember right, you have to get inside the car to drop the wheel down. If that happens, you have bigger things to worry about!

 

If someone were to go to all the trouble of removing the Justa spare, they deserve it. It's a pain in the neck to get it loose, and it takes a bit of time to accomplish it.

 

The one I downloaded seems to be a less detailed document than the manual that came with my car. It is certainly much shorter!

 

There are no 2012 manuals on line yet.

 

Nope, we get runflats and roadside assistance.

 

2012 non s here...undermounted spare.

 

I carry a can of Slime and a compressor. I didn't like the runflats and replaced them early on.

 

+1 to this.
Same here.

 

Also, I can't believe I forgot about this earlier. Most of those spare tires you see under trucks are full size spares. Mine was on my F150. So, if you are an unscrupulous type, when your tires start to wear down, go steal four spares and bam, you got a new set of tires!

Steal four justa spares and what do you have? Well, you are still 8 short of a dozen donuts.

 

You must have downloaded something different. Look in the menu [Your MINI] at https://ol.miniusa.com/

The printed and PDF manual for my '10 Clubman is word for word the same, however the PDF version is not formatted the same so the page numbers do not match up exactly.

Note that only the owners manuals for '02 - '11 are there. And it was many months into '10 before the '10 manual was put up. I used the '09 manual until I got the correct one. There were not any noticeable changes that I found.
Also the supplemental manuals for radio, warranty etc are not available.

 

I am flying to Cali and stealing your spare for no other reason but because. I have never heard this one before either.

 

well perhaps S owners are more likely to steal the spare since they don't have one LOL there's a DIY spare tire install for S owners: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-cooper-s.html

 

Having unfortunately had to use my spare recently, and as an owner of an '09 Justa, I can tell you that, yes, the spare is under the car, technically on the outside of the car, but you have to practically take apart the floor of the boot in order to unscrew it and release it. I had my dad do it and then had the dealership put it back when I had the flat tires replaced. (I am so not into getting dirty and the underside of a car is filthy) Also, I do not recommend picking up a nail in each of your rear tires.

Like drewster said, if they manage to get into your boot to release the tire (and it is a tiny donut) then you have bigger problems to worry about.

 

well its not meant to be a perm replacement, its just a donut to get to a dealer.