DixonL2. What a great idea, especially for long trips!
Will this fit all MINIS or just Gen1 / Gen2.
My 2/12 R56 MCS has the larger discs + brakes. Will it fit this too?
ps What model do you keep it as a spare for?

I run an R53 with that spare in the boot. Other model car spares will also fit.

You ALWAYS put the spare on the BACK of a front drive car, especially if you've got a limited slip diff (either mechanical or brake-biased). Mini's have such a stiff chassis that when you jack up the front, the back comes up too. If you've got a front flat, that means put the spare on the BACK, and the "full-size" back tire up front. Also, should you have to do this, turn the DSC/ASC FULL-OFF or the handling computer will go nuts.

I believe the S and non-S rear brakes are the same, so you can run a 15 on the back, but I don't own an R56 S and cannot verify.

DixonL2. Thanks, really good advice.
No problems with that VW space-saver and the rear disc.
I'm bidding on eBay now, so I'm a total convert...
Thanks again!

Not following you here...gravity progressively becomes less and less your friend the steeper the incline and the more traction-limited the surface - but it always loves you on flat surfaces.

I know that my manual tranny 2007 Mini (with its ABS, of course) can stop and go very well on slippery surfaces with my all-seasons, but getting going on a snow-covered slope from a dead stop? Not so much...and yes, I do know what "feathering the clutch" means.

My only point was that traction is traction, if a tire doesn't have enough traction to get up a slope as well, then it won't stop as well either. My wording was a little obtuse, sorry.

Just purchased some snow tires... 195/55 16 Federal Himalaya WS2's.

Just got my Dunlop Wintersports. Went with runflats though but down to 16" wheels. Don't want to deal with trying to plug a tire in the slush and muck or more importantly having to hear about the wife waiting for aaa to come and do it.

Here is a pic of the winter setup.

I just scored a set of 195/55/16 Hankook iPikes off of Craigslist for $120! The guy had sold his MINI and wanted them out of his garage.
Two are brand new, less than 1000 miles, and the other 2 have 3/4 tread left, maybe a couple of seasons.
I was planning on throwing the newer pair on the front and the other two on the back. This is correct, right?
Now just need to get my mudflaps and Ill be ready for old lady winter!

I have the WinterForce and they're excellent compared to the Blizzaks. The Blizzaks are phenominal for real winter stuff but their sidewalls are very soft and dont handle well, their directional stability is mushy. They were okay for my Pathfinder that couldnt generate a G anyway but for a road-tosser like a Cooper, you want a heavier carcass. If they fixed the carcass issue, I would mount Blizzaks on everything.

Nice score!

Mounting mismatched tires is always an issue. Ideally, you should mount the better tires on the rear. This will help to keep the car from swapping ends in a corner. This is more of a problem as the difference between the pairs becomes greater. However, it is understandable that you would want to put the tires with more tread in the front to get more "go" traction and to even out the wear. If you are a cautious driver and it seems that there isn't a lot of difference between the two pairs, you will probably be OK. Just watch for the back end being loose.

I got the Blizzak RFTs, sidewalls are just about right on those (not too stiff), but the tread is squishy.