Well when I switch to non-runflats I don't really see why I need a tire pressure sensor anyway. I mean when a tire goes flat you know it & don't really need a light to tell you .

 

I agree! Yeah they give a really stiff ride, but I got used to it. And I bet they add more security when encountering a road hazard at speed because of the sidewall strength will keep the tire integrity until you can slow it down to double digits.

regards,
Red

 

If you all are depending on luck ... bad mistake ... all the ancedotal stories about "never having a flat" don't mean squat other than ... your time is coming.

Here is what happens when you have a BLOW OUT.



All the amount of "goop" is NOT going to fix that tire

That picture was taken about three LONG miles from Searchlight, Nevada.

• HOT
• Goop fixes nothing
• NO Cellular service (if you think the country has cell service everywhere, your sadly mistaken)
• If you think a local gas station will have your tire size ... don't hold your breath ... it could be DAYS before one comes
• If you think AAA (which contracts to MINI auto services) is going to help ... well after walking to town they "might" come except the were FOUR (4) hours aways
• LONG wait for help.

Bottom line ... you pay your money and take your chances.
Around town locally, RFs are fine. Goop OK if no sidewall damage

In the Boonies ... there is no substitute for a real spare.

Oh, and if you think your never going to have to deal with a blowout because your never have or your special ...

 

The kind of tire failure shown below is most often caused by either underinflation or overloading. It can be also caused by exceeding the top speed rating of the tire for extended periods, sometime exacerbated by high road temperatures . This is why it is important to check your air pressure regularly and buy appropriately rated tires for the type of driving you do.

Regardless of whether or not you have runflats the low pressure system in a MINI works.

As far as running either rf or non-rf tires goes it isn't a bad idea to carry some "Slime", tire plugs and insertion tool, and a 12VDC compressor. I had to install 2 plugs in the rfs of my '02 MCS w/16" Dunlops. Both plugs were in the central tread area. I ran 10,000 miles on one plug and over 15,000 miles on the other, including 7 Auto-X days, without any problems.

Total milage on the original set of rf tires was approximately 26,000 smiles. I know that BMW/MINI does not recommend rotating the tires but I do mine every 3,000 - 5,000 miles and monitor the pressure at least monthly. It is important to also check the pressures whenever there is a major temperature change. A major drop in temp. will also drop the pressure of the tires.

I run 16" V-spokes with rf Dunlops in the summer and 15" 7-Holies with non-rf Nokian Hakka2s in the winter. My advice, get some slime, plugs and a compressor and learn how to use them and enjoy the drive.

 

C4,

You are the exception. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess I wasn't politically correct. Sorry.

 

i have a MCS with non-runflats
i karry a can of fix-a-flat & AAA card
on trips more then 100 miles i karry a full size spare

 

I have non run-flats and like Crashton I got an MC doughnut and one of JerseyGirl's terrific bags. It stores perfectly behind either the driver or passenger seat (I do the former) and the handles make it quite easy to move when need be. It's a perfect solution for me.

 

Because there is absolutely no space to put a spare on a Cooper S and still allow for 4 passenger use (can 4 people actually fit in a MINI?). Plus, BMW realizes that runflats are the future, and that's why they're placing runflats as OEM on more and more models all the time. Manufacturers like the ability to not have to design space for a spare, and if you've ever driven on second generation runflats (I've yet to hear someone on this board that has) you'd know that the gap has been closed considerably in terms of ride quality and performance. What you mainly hear on this board is complaints about first generation runflats. Not really fair actually, but ignorance is bliss I guess.

 

So are there any second generation run-flats available for the Mini? Who makes 'em? Sizes?

 

Bridgestone 050s 17" in OEM size

 

As I mentioned earlier, I carry a Slime kit in the boot and I still have the factory run-flats.

On my first long road-trip, I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a tire & wheel from a helpful local club member. I just picked up a space saver spare tire for future road trips and club drives (with a bag from the bag lady). The full-size tire & wheel was very reassuring to have and I wouldn't have to worry about finding a replacement immediately and paying through the nose for the service. It was, however, heavy and bulky... taking up a large amount of space in the boot. The space-saver will go in and out of the boot, as needed.