Going from a '03 MC to a '13 Coupe S. For my '03, I bought an extra set of genuine MINI 7-Hole rims and mounted snow tires on them. Then I would swap them out myself every spring and late fall.

Question 1: The snow tires are 175/65-15. Can I use them on my Coupe?

Question 2: If I can use them, do I have to have TPMS valves added to them? If I don't, will the car be upset?

Thanks!

 

You can't any 15" OEM wheels on a 2nd Gen Cooper S because they won't clear the front brake calipers.

 

I thought I read somewhere around here that spacers would allow the 15 inchers to clear the caliper. Possibility? Not a good idea?

 

Rule of thumb 15" on fit gen 2 MINI Cooper ( NON S ) on the front.

I would get 16" steelies or 16" wheels.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ted-wheel.html

 

I'm seeing some possibilities on craigslist for 16" rims with snows. Some have TPMS, some don't.

 

TPMS is necessary with runflats. Otherwise the lack of them produces a potentially annoying and perpetual yellow warning light in the speedo. I've lived without TPMS for 53 years and continue to do so with my MINIs.

 

Wait - are you saying that TPMS isn't necessary for non-runflats (meaning that this scenario won't cause the yellow warning light in the speedo)?

 

Yea, TPMS sensor let you know when a runflat tire is first flat. When looking at the tire you would not know ifs really flat unless you feel the center of it or compare it to other tires. Its a safety warning for those. And TPMS is for non runflat with the 2008+ system as it also lets you know. otherwise you have to just check your tires all the time and you will have the TPMS warning light on all the time.

 

TPMS is NOT necessary for non-runflats because you can easily tell when a non-runflat tire gets low by the way the car mishandles. And if one of the tire blows out you'll be instantly riding on the rims, TPMS or not.

But the car doesn't know what type of tires you have fitted to it. The light will come on and stay on if you don't have working TPMS sensors. But who cares? I don't. My dealer doesn't.

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but you may need a self-driving car in the not so distant future -- because the government will say you do.

 

As long as you don't mind having a yellow light...try some black tape....you can save about $200 in new sensor's and a trip to a garage to sync the 2nd set to the cars computer....
15's on a gen2 s do not work unless it is a Cooper.....
Having 2 sets of rims on gen2 is not as simple as a gen1 car...just like battery changes...extra procedures...for MOST gen2 cars (very early 2007 cars had gen1 tpms style systems and no battery monitor system).

 

Ah - there's the answer. Your previous comment made it sound like having non-runflats without TPMS would NOT cause a yellow light in the dash display. Now I see that's not what you meant at all. You just don't care if the yellow light is on.

And I have zero idea what you mean by that, but no worries.

 

Thanks very much for that info. Could you elaborate a bit on "a trip to a garage to sync the 2nd set to the cars computer" and "extra procedures"?

Sorry, I'm a newb when it comes to TPMS - didn't have it on my previous '03 Cooper. If I buy a new set of wheels w/tires & TPMS, I have to bring it to a garage so the car's computer can sync to them? Any garage, or a MINI dealership? Do I have to do this only once, or every time I put them on the car?

Why didn't MINI provide a way for me to sync the computer to my new tires myself? (Rhetorical, not directed at you )

 

There's no need to go to MINI for the car to learn new sensors. Just use the normal TPMS reset procedure after you fit the new wheels and the car will learn them.

 

Spiney is right. You can do it yourself, if you decide to get a set of TPMS.
Personally, I think the warning light isn't worth bothering with. The car "gongs" at you once, the light blinks at you and then stays on (happens every time you start the car). However, you're going to get the snowflake warning/gonging anyway (below 37 degrees F) since it's winter anyway so it's honestly not an issue.

The TPMS learning procedure is simple, on page 300-9 of the Bentley manual if you have it. Otherwise:
Start engine but don't drive yet
press turn indicator button repeatedly to get to SET/INFO
press and hold button until display changes
press button repeatedly until you see the "flat tire" icon and RESET or ACTIVE RESET displays
press and hold button until it says RESETTING
then you drive around a bit and the system sets itself up. Easy.

ECS Tuning's post about the steelies is good advice too; they don't look bad, and they JUST clear the front. Plus, they're cheap. Make sure you get the weird hubcaps, though. ECS has them 36136767398 I don't have experience with the other plastic ones.

 

Thanks for all the great info!

 

I was talking about and referring to TPMS, the subject of the sentence, when answering your question about whether the car would be upset without them. I answered you in kind. Sorry for the confusion.

Self-driving cars are on public roads and in the news.

 

Thanks, had the silver steelies in the 16" and the silver throwing star looking cap is a perfect match for it. But I guess you could change it up and use the chrome door **** style.