I know this has probably been discussed ad-nauseum all over the tire and wheel forum (would this not be worthy of a stickie?), but what is the latest on repair kits, spare donuts, etc and non-rf tires? For example, I understand that it is not as simple as just getting a can of spray seal since that can mess up the TPM sensor. What are the best products at this point - and is it just not worth dealing with non-RF's?

My motivating concern is a ski trip into possibly heavy snow country. My studless tire choices are FAR cheaper as non-RF's - in fact almost half the price (Mid 300's for Graspics vs mid-600's for RF Blizzaks). The most important consideration is to be able to drive through possible packed snow.

 

I have a tool bag that I carry around in the boot that contains a small pump, some tire plugs, and some various smaller tools (mostly to do work on my utility trailer or camper when I'm towing). I also have a spare (15" donut from a Honda Civic) that I throw in the back whenever I go more than an hour or so away from home. The vast majority of the time, I don't carry a spare tire....I guess I'm a risk taker. : ) I do also have roadside coverage through the AMA...that gives a little piece-of-mind.

 

Thanks, Fastlane - but can you (or anyone else) be more specific as to just which tools and where to get them?

 

Well, I just had various things laying around and put them in the tool bag. I have a small 12v compressor in there (maybe $10 at Walmart or Harbor Freight tools), a tire plug set ($5 or less from an autoparts store, tool store, or Walmart), a little LED flashlight, a couple of wrenches for the lug nuts on my trailers and to service bearings should the need arise, and maybe a couple of screwdrivers for good measure.

I obtained my compact spare from eBay for around $50 shipped. a factory spare from a variety of makes/models will fit the MINI. If you have a Cooper S, you will need a 15" spare to clear the brakes on the back.....at least on my '08 MCS that is the case. I think my spare came from a late 90s Honda Civic...I can't recall now.

I believe you can get a tire "emergency kit" most places that has a pump, plugs, fix-a-flat, etc in it if you don't want to put a kit together on your own (maybe around $20 or so?). I think I've seen a SLIME branded one before. I wouldn't personally use slime or fix a flat in my wheels, but I've seen the kits before. with a variety of tire tools in it. Check under the floor in your boot....you probably have the necessary tools to change your MINI's wheel even if you don't have a spare.

 

In my Pontiac G8 which came with non-runflats and no spare, they have included a combined fix aflat compound/air pump all in one. Pretty nice set up.

It would be a nice setup for the MINI, might want to check with a GM dealer to order one.

 

If I have a flat I really don't care if I mess up a TPMS Sensor....just get me going. I carry the $19.95 compressor and slime kit from Walllyworld in both of my MINI's.

 

I have a compressor and a can of slime. Not to mention the cell phone and AAA membership.

Slime is supposed to wash out of the sensors, unlike fix-a-flat.

 

+1

 

I carry with me:


I replaced all the sticky worms and the sticky worm tools with these higher quality worms and tools (didn't use the red plastic box, though):

http://www.safetyseal.com/store/autokits.htm

I also carry this which comes with a black zippered carry bag:


And finally, for the really small holes, I have one of these:


It all takes up surprisingly little space and I know I'm as prepared as I could possibly be. Just watch for potholes and don't blow out the sidewalls on two tires like I did once. Though nothin' I could have carried with me short of 2 spare tires and wheels would have helped.

 

i carry:

a dynaplug kit
http://www.dynaplug.com/index.html

and a genuine innovations monster air chuck with extra CO2 canisters
http://www.genuineinnovations.com/mo...air-chuck.html

since i bought the extra genuine innovations CO2 cannisters, i found these larger and cheaper atternatives that i would have bought instead
(scroll to bottom of the page, 5/8-18 stem, 74 gram capacity)
http://www.maximuminflation.com/tires_new.html

just a note, i have driven over 1,000,000 miles in cars and over 500,000 miles on motorcycles and have never had a flat on the road, i have had a couple nails/screws in tires that i found by inspecting my tires (you do look at yours, right?), but the tires never went flat, i had them repaired at a tire store

scott

 

I have a 2004 MCS with 125K miles and non-run-flats. I carry a donut spare (in a bag that sits behind the front seat passenger), a can of fix-a-flat and compressor, and a set of tire plugs. I think I'm covered. But what no one else has mentioned is the need to carry in your tool kit a high quality set of plyers with which to remove any offending nails or screws that may have caused the leak.

 

your right!

i also carry a needle nose pliers with a sidecutter (to pull the offending nail/screw and to cut off the excess plug material), a 4-in-1 screwdriver, a 1/4" drive metric socket set with an additional set of torx drivers, spare front and rear bulbs (no headlight bulb or foglight bulb), 1/2" drive breaker bar and 17mm 1/2" drive socket, hand cleaner wipes in foil pouch, 1 quart of oil with paper funnels, rags wrapped around the items in the jack kit (stops them rattling and having rags never hurts), a swiss army knife, a 1/2 used roll of paper towels and gloves, all in a small plastic tool box under the boot floor that i strapped to the same hooks the hold the jack kit

scott

 

Ha! Thread hijack!

 

 

Have you ever tried to fill a tire with those CO2 cartidges? They usually barely inflate a motorcycle tire. With the much larger volume of a car tire, you'd have to use quite a few. And what happens if your plug doesn't work the first time and you have to redo it and you've used most or all of your cartridges? An electric pump is a far better solution.

Also note that the Dynaplugs are only good for small holes and using more than one can be difficult at best or impossible. That's why I have 3 plugging solutions. The traditional sticky worms for large or irregular shaped holes, the Stop N Go plugs for medium holes that aren't too irregular, and the Dynaplugs for small/tiny holes. The Slime is a last resort.

 

Oh, and given the cost of one of those large cartridges (and you'd need more than one for sure, probably 3 or 4 for a car tire), you'd have paid for the Slime pump and hoses and sticky worms and carrying case, etc.

I've never heard of anyone using them for bicycles, but I've heard plenty of stories using them on motorcycle tires on the various motorcycle forums I frequent. Just about everyone hates them after they try using them once or twice and they end up buying a compact electric pump.

 

the "monster" inflator from genuine innovations works quite well, when i got it originally for my p/u truck, i jacked a wheel off the ground, deflated it and filled it with the inflator, took 3 each 45 gram canisters to fill a 235/75-15 tire to 38 psi in about 2 minutes

scott

 

Hmmmm......for the same cost as those three cartridges, you can buy the Slime compressor I linked to above and get unlimited fills. Plus you get sticky worms and a bottle of Slime and other things like accessories for blowing up ***** and such. And you're far more likely to run out of CO2 cartridges than you are electrical power for the pump.

 

There is the "official" MINI part as well. Nicely contained with a logo on the case at twice the price!
71106762286
Compressor MINI Mobility System
Production Split: Up To 09/091Ships in 48 hrs$137.07$121.300171106792688
Compressor Mobility System
Production Split: From 09/09+

 

And all that money only gets you (as I recall) a pump and some Slime like stuff. The pump in the Slime kit is high quality and doesn't take up much space. Plus it's half the price and you get some extras as well.

Anything with a Mini label on it is going to cost you and you can be sure that Mini or BMW doesn't actually make the kit they sell. Like their battery charger. It's simply a rebadged Battery Tender charger at double the price. (

 

I keep a slime kit that has slime and an air compressor i bought at O'Rielly's auto store for 12 bucks. Its the perfect size for the mini as there is a small area on the right side of the trunk area that it fits in perfectly. I just put some Velcro tape on the kit and the trunk area and it keeps it completely out of the way so i loose zero space.

 

Put a bottle of Tyreshield in all four tires two years ago, carry an air pump, have USAA's roadside assistance on speed dial and hope for the best.

 

Since you don't mention any means for plugging holes, the air pump doesn't do you much good.

 

Might want to check out www.tyreshield.com. Forgot to mention a tire plug kit still remains in the boot since day one of ownership-- never can be too cautious when playing the odds. The folks from a highly regarded MINI shop in the Chicago area recommended tyreshield while attending MITO. After reading the information on their website, figured it was better than the green goo. PS--I am in no way affiliated with this product. Just hate flat tires in inclement weather or weak cell phone coverage areas.

 

I carry a Slime safety spair kit that includes slime, pump, and other goodies. I also carry a dynaplug kit and a leatherman.