I own an '02 MINI and a couple years ago purchased a winter tire/wheel package from Tirerack (Back then Tirerack made no mention of the low tire sensors). I recently installed the wheels/tires for the first time and now, of course, the dash tire monitoring light blinks constantly. The closest MINI dealer is several hundred miles away so I'm hoping someone can help with a solution. Generally my questions are: Is there an easy way to disable the sensor until next spring? If not will anything be damaged as a result of the sensor having nothing to monitor and/or the light blinking for several months? Or should I have sensors installed on the winter wheels (I reside in the upper Idaho panhandle so what's a cost estimate for four sensors, where would be the best place to purchase them, and could a local service/tire shop install them?). Thanks!

No sensors on the R50/53 - they use the ABS sensors to measure rotation rates.
You should be able to reset the monitor by pressing the button below the e-brake handle and holding it until the light goes out.

I'm assuming that your winter tires are a different overall size and that's why the sensor is blinking. When I change from my street wheels, 205/50/16, to track wheels, 205/45/17, the reason I don't reset my monitor is that they are very close to the same size.

Hope this helps...

The procedure is also located in the owners manual. The light simply indicates that the car is sensing a change in wheel diameter. Just verify that the tires are at the right pressure and reset the monitor.

This is from the owners manual........

A hearty round of thanks to you three. I followed your instructions and, voila, the system is reset and working fine (I was led to believe by a couple shops in town that my MINI's monitoring system depended on wheel mounted sensors). Thanks again!

Glad we could be help !

The new gen MINI does use the new TPMS system.