So, it's time for me to get new tires. i was thinking about moving away from run flats but the guy at my dealership says that if that happens, my tire pressure indicator will stay on all the time. That seems a bit annoying and some of the things they've told me in the past weren't actually um..."true". So, I thought I would come here and ask for a 16in r56 what are the pro's and con's of the two tire types for just normal highway/city driving.

thanks.

 

I have non-runflat snow tires and they don't have TPMS. When I start the car, the icon displays on the tach for a few seconds, and the light on the speedo flashes for 30 seconds or so and then stays solid. Seeing as TPMS runs about $200 per set, I couldn't justify the money to avoid a little LED from turning on.

Plus the non-runflats give you a much more comfortable ride.

 

I'm also considering going over to 16" non-runflats, and just finding out that some '07MCS MINIs did NOT have TPMS sensors inside the wheels ... but rather monitor the "general health of all four tires" from the wheel hubs.
(When I picked up a nail a year ago, the warning said, "low tire pressure" -- not "low tire pressure on the right front tire.")

According to my dealer service-rep, who asked me for my VIN to confirm, I don't have to buy the four $50-each TPMS sensors to go into any new wheels ... but still get the value of having the tires monitored by the OBC.

 

"my tire pressure indicator will stay on all the time" only if you get new wheels with the new tires. The TPMS sensors are attached to the wheel, not the tire.

 

You'll only get the TPMS alert if the wheels don't have TPMS sensors. You can put non funflats on and keep the same TPMS sensor, I have the light is off. You can buy new wheels and non run-flats with new TPMS sensors, I have the light is off.

 

Also, this is only if you have wheels with a metal valve stem- the in-wheel sensors didn't start making it into cars (EDIT: That is, MINIs) until around September build dates.

If you've got rubber valve stems, you have the older TPMS that monitors for variance in wheel rotation instead.

Either way, if you're just changing tires you won't have any issues.

Some places don't like putting non-runflats on a S, since there's no spare and it could be a liability issue. I've been told Costco won't do it, but Discount Tire didn't even blink when I asked for non-runflats.

 

I have a March 2007 built MCS (rubber valve stems). I've been running non-runflats for about 9,000 miles. No problem with the flat tire monitor. You do have to reset it when you change tires, but you are supposed to do that every time you add air to the tires.