Am at a point where I will have to make a decision to go with the same ole runflats, or go with non-runflats and a space-saver tire.

Any of you mcs owners running non-runflats and using a space-saver tire? How is that working out for you.

 

I am at the same point as you, I would like to see what others have done? Where does one get the Space saver spare from?

 

I don't have a space saver, due to lack of space, but what I do have is an emergency flat fix kit which consists of tire plug kit, rubber cement, pliers, cigarette lighter tire inflater. Had to use it last week because of a darn nail, It was fixed and plugged and I was on my way in less than 5 minutes!

 

I believe therre's one available on MiniMania.com

 

Yea thats the way I'm going when I get rid of my RFT's, I just cant give up the space for a spare.

 

I just had a flat and my run-flat really didn't help me all that much. I was able to drive a couple of miles on it but started rubbing when I needed to make a turn. I don't know how the tire got a hole but I could not patch it at all, even with adding more tire slime to it and the portable compressor from my tire repair kit.

There were no tire shops anyplace close by and no one I know carries my type of tires (205/45/17) on-hand. I was 30 miles from home so I had my daughter bring me one of my snows and 40 minutes later I was back on the road.

My final thoughts on my experence has left me jaded on putting RFs on because it just didn't really help at all ( the RF rubbed along the inside against my strut in the turns anyhow so I couldn't travel too far anyway).

My only saving point was the fact I had another full set of wheels waiting for me at home. Since then I have ordered new Potenza tires and rims from Tirerack and will be putting them on next weekend. I will keep my 3 remaining RFs for use as spares in emergencies.

 

AAA

 

That's what MINI Roadside assistance is for!

Seriously, though. I think you'd have rig something up to go on the boot and make it look like an SUV. The way the exhaust goes straight through... it'd be a mighty expensive bit of custom work to re-route the exhaust and squeeze a donut in there.

 

I have a 2004 MCS and usually ride on non-run-flats. I bought a space saver spare, a Bag Lady bag, and they sit upright directly behind the passenger seat. Does not restrict the backward motion of the seat, only the recline. I never carry passengers but if I did I would simply put the spare behind the driver seat (to carry 1 passenger) or in the boot (to carry 2 passengers.)

 

The standard spare may not fit an R56S. It probably doesn't fit the front as the brakes are larger, it may fit on the back, so you may be able to juggle wheels if you got a flat at the front. I tried Tristan's spare on the back of Shawn and I heard some rubbing when I turned it. I'm not convinced it'd be a good idea.

I carry a can of fix-a-flat, a compressor and a cell phone. So far the cellphone has been the useful option (with a hole the size of a quearter in the sidewall). If we ever do the drive through Death Valley I've been contemplating I'd probably take along a full size wheel as a spare. (Either one of Tristan's or one of the ones I'd usually use on the track.)

I did contemplate buying the cheapest full size wheel TireRack did as a spare, at the time it was a wheel painted like a daisy (white with yellow hub), now its some racing wheel for $96.

 

You could always make your MINI look like a rally car. Put a roof rack on and put the spare up there. Think somebody a while ago had a picture of this of their car. Looked good.

 

I don't have my Mini yet but I ordered it with all-season tires instead of RF. I am coming to the Mini from a Honda GoldWing trike and I traveled all over the US-Canada-Alaska and never had a flat. And of course I never had a spare tire either. Maybe some folks are just paranoid but I haven't had a flat in so many years, I don't worry about it. Plus I will have Mini roadside service.

 

that sounds grteat to me....

 

Are you sure they are not run flats? I have the all seasons on my MINI and they are definitely run flats.

 

Wow a lot of people out there have had flats. I haven't ever had one in 15 years of driving and nearly 600,000 miles, so I definitely told the dealer to shove their tire warranty. "Knock on Wood"

 

2nd. Get the Plus package with 75 mile tow. The 7 miles on the Regular package is never enough.

Be weary of the fix-a-flat sprays. They are corrosive to wheels and TPMS: http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/08...of-fix-a-flat/ (this was the first link I found but there are more posts about it if you look). So only use it in emergencies and once you do use it, have a repair shop remove the tires and clean the inside of the wheels and tires.

 

If he's getting 15 inch tires they are non-runflats although he didn't specify.

 

Nothing in their post says what they are getting but based on their avatar I would assume it is an S which has Run Flats. But they need to tell us what they are getting and what they ordered before anything other than an assumption can be posted

 

I went with a Continental ContiComfortKit from Tire Rack when I got my Eagle F1's. I also renewed by AAA+ - I'd let it go due to Roadside assistance, but for $90 a year I'd rather have more choices.

I'm toying with the idea of getting the Dynaplug kit, just not sure if the Conti Kit- which injects slime- was a good idea. It can do "just air" but the instructions aren't all that great.

 

I bought my MCS two years ago, and replaced the tires with regular Kumhos Ecsta and bought a space save tire that is held in place by a nylon belt in the trunk of the car, I don't have much room left, as I installed the subwoofer and always carry my emergency pack and socket set ( just in case ). So if you check the photo ( in my gallery )you can see that if you don't carry many things and don't have a subwoofer installed, you'll have plenty space. I bought the tire on e-bay ( brand new $50.00 ).

 

My space saver fits snugly behind my seat, wrapped in plastic. The jack is secured inside the hollow of the wheel.

 

We have a space saver tire from an 07 Chevy Cobalt. It fits fine on the rear, so if I have a flat on the front, I have to change TWO tires! But we took the RF's off almost immediately. Also, our son has a 07 MCS and he's got the same spare he takes on trips out of town. Don't forget, you'd also need to get a jack and a lug wrench as well.

 

I carry both. First I would see if the leak were slow enough to just need air to get me home, or to a tire shop. If not, I'd try to use the Dynaplug. If I couldn't find the leak, or it didn't work, I'd inject Slime or call roadside assistance. BTW, some credit cards have a roadside assistance program included.

I've used the Conti for just air. It works that way normally. IIRC, to get the Slime injected you have to twist the Slime chanber 180 deg. As a compressor, it is pretty slow, but it is for emergencies, not general use. There are less expensive versions available. Amazon has a Slime compressor for about half what the Conti costs.

I wish there were a good quality foot pump available. I like the design of the cheap ones available at auto supply stores, but they are built cheaply. Had one and the head that attaches to the valve stem was plastic and broke off easily.

I don't think the space saver wheels will fit over the brakes on a 2nd Generation MCS.

I have two sets of wheels and have considered putting a wheel in the back to use as a spare, but I've never done it.

 

Didn't you get the jack kit with your MINI? My 2007 came with the jack and wrench in the compartment under the boot floor.