Hi guys, I bought a Cooper-S yesterday (9/27/03) with the factory aero kit and the R90 bbs wheels, cold weather package, yada yada.

When you guys buy wheels at tirerack.com and elsewhere, what are you
doing with the TirePressureMonitor light? Wouldn't it light up unless you
have the sensor in the new set of wheels? Just leave the light on?

Thanks for your help.

Im new to mini's but not so new with modding cars...i have a modded wrx
and just got done selling a modded 98 prelude, etc.

 

The tire pressure monitoring light is actually activated by an ancilliary function of the antiskid braking system and ASC/DSC systems. They constantly compare the rotational speed of each wheel and when one wheel starts to rotate consistently faster than the others, the light is triggered to illuminates. It operates on the principal that a tire that is loosing air will be slightly reduced in diameter and thus rotate faster than its still fully inflated siblings. There is nothing on the wheels, so just as long as you are running the same wheel/tire combo on each side (I'm not sure whether it compares front and back) you con hang any wheel tire combo on the car you want provided wheel well, brake and suspension clearances are not compromised.

 

In english, that means that the system will work with any tires and wheels. They just need to reset it when they put on the new wheels I believe.

 

pablo, xanthus, thanks very much for the very quick response!
that makes sense, and now I am ready to buy some winter wheels soon.

I think im going to get some cheap 16"s and run 195/55 winter or all-season
tires.

btw, are my R90 wheels prone to rust, especially the bolts around the
inter primeter of the rim especially in winter road salt? (Im in c hicagoland).

 

I wouldn't rely on the tyre pressure indicator that works off the ABS system.

In the past 2 weeks I have had 2 low tyres - both were down to 20psi before the TPI light came on - not exactly an early warning system.

 

>>I wouldn't rely on the tyre pressure indicator that works off the ABS system.
>>
>>In the past 2 weeks I have had 2 low tyres - both were down to 20psi before the TPI light came on - not exactly an early warning system.


yah, i agree, i would only use that system as a backup feature. I check
tire pressure regulary but just didn't want that indicator light on all the time
if i was to change to aftermarket wheelset. :smile:

 

Mine has been if anything, over sensative and has come on with a tire just being down a few pounds.

 

thats the disadvanage to indirect pressure monitors - If all 4 tires or even pairs deflate simultaniouly, there cycles stay congruent, and the sensor never goes off. NOTHING replaces checking your air pressure 2 times a month cold!

This will help immensely!

Alex

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