I'm a newbie to Mini, this is for my wife's 2007 Mini (non-S). I would like to confirm the smallest rim/tire combo I can put on this car for a winter setup. Tirerack says 175/65-15 . I got a set of 15" steel rims off a guy who had a 2006 Mini. I'm wondering whether there is any offset change. I am assuming I can readily use this set of steel rims. Do I need a separate set of TPMS sensors as well?

thanks.

 

The offset between 2006 and 2007 is the same. What I am not sure of is if the diameter of the front rotors is the same. I think that the 2007 and newer use a slightly larger rotor. It was the same rotor that was used in the JCW brake kit on the 2002 - 2006 and will not allow the 15" wheels.

You will need a new set of TPMS sensors as the 2006 did not use them. Or you can buy a tire pressure gauge and check them yourself on a regular basis. Without the sensors I would assume that you will have an idiot light on the dash.

If you do get a new set of sensors, every change between wheel sets will require a trip to the dealer to have them reset the cars TPMS system to recognize the different TPMS sensors.

As far as tire size goes, narrower is is better for snow tires. I run the stock 15"x5.5" MINI Cooper wheels and 185/65R15 tires. I would run the 175s but they were not available in the brand of tire I use.

 

Yours is a base Cooper so 15" wheels are OK.

You can use 195/60-15 which fits rims 5-7" wide and choose from-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...20Valve%20Stem
This includes-
Michelin X-Ice X12 (Studless Ice/Snow tire) $77 each closeout
General Altimax Artic (Studdable Snow tire) $75 each

Or in 185/60-15 ( fits wheels 5-6.5" wide):
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...20Valve%20Stem

Or in 175/65-15:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...20Valve%20Stem

As the tire size gets wider there is more selection but any of these tires will be OK to fit, narrow tires will cut through deep snow better.

The width of the tire is constrained by the width of the wheel. A narrow wheel will make a 195mm wide tire more narrow than if the same tire were mounted on a wide wheel.

A 175mm wide tire fits best/well on a 5" wide wheel, a 185 tire fits a 5.5" wide wheel and a 195 tire fits a 6" wide wheel best, each can fit a range of widths.

 

you need to find a friendly (independant) tireshop

for my 2012 cms all4, i bought a set of mini oem european 16" alloy rims from ecs tuning for my winter rims

took the rims to my friendly tireshop and by test fitting used tires i found i could run up to a 205/70-16 (27.3" OD) tire or a 215/65-16 (27' OD) tire with no clearance problems, we loaded the car with bodies to ensure clearance with a heavy load (4 big guys in the seats and 2 more sitting in the open boot)

the only problem i had with the independant tire shop is the grief they gave me about the 16" wheels being silver instead of white like my oem 18" rims ... i kind of agree ... maybe i'll paint them next summer

i went with the 205/70-16 non-runflat tires for 2 reasons, skinny tires are better for snow penetration and the 70 series taller sidewall gives marginally more wheel protection from potholes than the 215/65-16 sidewall

my 205/70R-16 Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6 tires will be delivered monday, oct 15 (thank you to Alex @ tirerack) ... they are 27.3" diameter, up from the oem pirelli p7 225/45-18 runflat tires 26.1" diameter and close to the 26.9" diameter of the michelin pilot super sport 225/50-18 non-runflat tires i am going to replace the oem pirellis with when they wear out

tomorrow, off to the mini dealer to get a set of tpms sensors for the new wheels, there are 4 different p/n available, according to the parts guy, the difference is in the length of the valve stem to account for different wheels construction demensions ... the dealer's parts system does not list which sensor goes with the oem 16" rims because they are not sold here so we are going to do it the old fashioned way, trial and error, the parts guy says the shortest that fit is the way to go

the larger diameter should make my speedo read close to actual speed, currently reads 2 mph low

lastly, i carry a Dynaplug kit and a Genuine Innovations Monster CO2 air chuck with 10 45 gram CO2 cartridges to deal with a flat, although in my 43 years and 1,000,000 miles of driving cars and 500,000 miles driving motocycles, i have never had a flat tire

i have found nails, screws and other things in my tires that caused a slow leak, but never had a tire actually go flat on the road

scott

 

Sorry to hijack but you can't just run through the reset procedure on the dash?

The reason I ask is because I'm getting some used MINI rims/snow tires and I'm nearly certain they don't already have the TPMS sensors and I really don't want to have the warning light flashing at me all winter long.

If it's going to require a trip to the dealership to reset the system I'm not sure it's worth getting snow tires since I'm going to probably need to buy new sensors AND make a 2 hour trip to the dealership when I swap them out.

 

my dealer assured me i can do the reset on my 2012 cms all4 myself via the button on the turnsignal stalk

i did not ask about other model years

scott

 

I sure hope I can do it myself. I just ordered a second set of sensors for my wife's Clubman since I'm tired of the idiot light all winter. I should find out soon enough.

Scott, can you post the correct part number if you find out? I'm still on all seasons for now, but eventually I'm going to get a second set of rims/tires for winter for my CM.

 

there are 2 parts, the transmitter/pressure sensor
Wheel electronics module 433MHZ p/n 36106856227

and the screw in valve (the valve stem) there are 4 or 5 different stems and according to my dealer parts guy the only difference is the length of the stem, they are color coded, the shorter the better so the stem does not catch on something and get pulled out

he also said they have a table of which stem goes with which wheel, but my euro spec oem 16" alloys are not on the table since mini does not sell them in the usa, so i am bringing a wheel in to the dealer for a test fitting

SCREW-IN VALVE WHITE 36146792829
SCREW-IN VALVE SCHWARZ 36146792828
SCREW-IN VALVE ORANGE 36146792827
SCREW-IN VALVE GRÜN 36146792830
SCREW-IN VALVE GELB 36146792831

scott