First I really want to be able to use Sears because of the convenience but they couldn't get the Continental Premium Contact 2's my 09 Mini came with so I ordered 2 Dunlop SP Sport 01 B.
They seem like good tires and were about $35 more each.http://www.dunloptires.com/dunlop/results_size.jsp

I have a basic Mini 24K drive in SF CA. only (no snow) lot's of highway miles.
Questions;
1) are the Dunlop's better?
2) Should they go on the back or the front? The Mini manual says not to put older tires on the front. The guy at Sears says the best set should be in the back.
3) I ordered the Valve stem kit. Was this really necessary?
4) 2 tires, free rotation every 5K with road hazard fix warranty for $426.
Am I being hosed or is this reasonable? A few years ago I put a full set of Michelins from Costco on my Tracker (Much bigger tire) for less then this.

 

In the back

3) Not really unless they are leaking or you were changing wheels

4)If those are runflats your getting a good price.

 

Thanks Alex , I really appreciate your help here.
1) Since I already paid for the valve stem is there any reason to not have them installed? I guess what I'm saying is "are the factory valves of higher quality"?
2) They're not run-flats.

 

TPMS valve stems are specific to the sensor - so I'd expect the new ones to be identical to OEM.

All the 01's I can locate in Mini sizes are run flats, so you'd be getting a good price.

Alex