Has anyone been successful in placing an R60 order without run flats? My dealer (sales guy) told me the only way to get a Countryman is with these. Also, he said the only way to turn in the car at lease termination is if they are equipped with the same.

 

Every R60 from the factory is equipped with runflats. If you don't want runflats, that would be a private aftermarket arrangement between you and the dealer, completely separate from the car order.

 

Simple solution. Order a set of tires/wheels from TireRack. Have the dealer put them on for you (or do it yourself.) when your car comes in. Stack up the stock wheels/runflats in your garage. When it's time for the lease return, swap the stockers back on. They'll get brand new tires and wheels with no curb damage, etc, on them. You don't have to live with RF tires. Everyone wins! Except it costs you, of course.

 

Probably want to do it yourself.

When I was waiting for delivery of my R52, I already had aftermarket wheels/tires waiting to go on the car. I asked the dealer if I could drop them off and have them swapped in before I pick up the car (I was hoping for free, after all, it would take only about 10 minutes). Silly me. They told me they wouldn't do it without a $400 realignment, or it would "void the warranty". I did it myself.

 

I ordered non run flats from Tirerack and had my MINI dealer dismount the run flats and install the tires I brought. They did this before I drove car off the lot. I sold run flats. Guess I was fortunate as dealer worked with me and gave me no grief.

 

I tried to "trade in" my run flats when I bought my car, but the service dept. cannot reuse and sell it as a new set for the next customer. Sorta makes sense. Next thing you know it they lured me into buying their tire warranty for four years at $499 instead. FML.

 

I had to sell my run flats myself as dealer could not offer me anything for them for the reasons you list.

 

In the uk 17 inch wheels and below are standard with run flats a factory option

 

We should be jealous of UK MINIs. Had a friend with a JCW Clubman that teased me about switching to non run flats before delivery. He suffered through almost 30k miles on his run flats. Once he finally switched to the Michelin Pilot A/S sport Plus non run flat tires I have been running he was amazed how much the ride improved. No more tramlining and most all of the interior rattles went away.

 

this is a good point! It might actually be a Win Win Win (to quote Michael Scott!) What if we just by the tires? The cost of the NFRT + the cost of mounting/balancing of the NFRT + the cost of mounting/balancing the RFT day end of lease/trade in will probably be less than the cost of buying the same RFT down the road.

This assumes your miles driven are just enough to require exactly one tire swap anyway.

I just have to pull the trigger on getting rid of these RFTs before it's too late and it will actually cost me! I need to get my priorities in order, doesn't taking care of my CM come first?

 

If you're willing to go with the 17" wheels the all season tires are a no-cost option.

 

The all season tires are still run flats. All they are doing is "giving" you an all season tire instead of a performance tire.