As we've got non runflats on both MINIs, I'd thought that if we ever drove Shawn through the middle of nowhere (Death Valley is on the list) he could borrow Tristan's spare, just in case. Both have 16" wheels.

However, the S is supposed to have uprated brakes over the Cooper, so I'm wondering if the spare really will fit. So I just tried it. As I had the wheels off Shawn I tried putting Tristan's spare on Shawn. I'm still not sure, the wheel seemed to fit, it would even turn but there was a scraping sound.

I also tried the spare on the back, thinking the back brakes may be a bit smaller. Still some scraping.

 

The spare fits the rear but not the front. I carry a spare and, if I ever get a flat on a front wheel, I will need to put the spare on a rear wheel and move a good rear wheel to the front. I am not sure why you are getting scraping at the rear.

 

Where does it touch?

Do you have a JCW or go with a JCW Brake kit?

 

I never saw the replies to this thread, I'm not sure why that is.

I just saw the idea of putting the spare on the back somewhere else, sounds like a good idea. (A bit of a duh! moment when I read that.) I'm going to have to try this again and check the scraping on the back.
I don't know, I'll have to try and work that out.

Just the plain Cooper-S brakes, but the fronts on the S seem to come larger as standard.

 

Yeah, I could see how the spare wouldn't fit on the front of the S because the brakes are slightly bigger (I want to say 11.6" on the S and 11.0" on the Cooper, but that's off the top of my head), however, I believe the rear brakes are the same on each, so if you put the spare on the rear, it should work.

Just to be sure, I checked the MINIUSA site:

Front Brakes:
-Cooper = 11.0"
-CooperS = 11.6"

Rear Brakes:
-Cooper = 10.2"
-CooperS = 10.2"


Based on that, I'd say that you SHOULD be able to put the Tristan's spare on the back of Shawn... although the front may not work... and then again, it might... the MCS brakes aren't THAT much bigger in the front.

 

Also being smaller (donut spare) circumference, wouldn't that be a concern for the differential drive gears in the front?

 

I would imagine that the overall diameter is the same as the "regular" wheels.

 

Looks to be almost two inches less across, couldn't read the size, but saw it is marked "TEMPORARY USE".

Also saw a schrader valve near the bumper for pressure check, don't think TPM does it and will have to find the proper pressure,
it had been 60# PSI in my last car.

 

Hmm... I'll have to check this weekend.

That was an ASSumption on my part that it would have the same overall diameter, because it is common to do so and it seems ridiculous NOT to, but anyway... I'll have to check.

Oh, and yes, there is a valve to check the pressure of the spare.

 

Not for the "Space Saver" spares, it looks a lot larger than the one in my last car ('88 Chrysler LeBaron Ragtop),
and easier to access pressure check as well.

First one was in my '67 Firebird Ragtop and it came deflated and collapsed inside its rim,
there was a little 2500 PSI Cylinder to inflate and expand it.