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Are you driving a S or JCW? Do you have as spare tire? Chances are it isn't a run flat on 15 inch rims. The tire should be designated as a run flat tire. The S & JCW have exhaust routed down the center with no place to carry a spare.
Its a 2003 Mini Cooper. I just assumed they would be runflats because there is no spare tire. It doesn't say on the tire as a runflat. There is definitely no room for a spare, even one of those mini spares
What brand tires do you have now? You can Google or go to Tirerack.com with the brand and size, with your cars year and make to see what tires are suppose to be on the car.
P205/50 ZR15 isn't a Mini size of tyre (tire) and certainly isn't a Mini speed rating - the Z means the tyre is good for speeds over 150mph, which means they were very expensive.
So I reckon someone has put old tyres from another car onto your Mini. And quite possibly you don't have standard Mini 15" wheels as a 205 width tyre is pretty wide for a Mini 15" wheel.
If you can photo one of your wheels and post it here, we can tell you if it's a standard Mini wheel and so which size tyre would fit it.
I just talked to the BMW dealer. Apparently my car never did have run flats. It bugs me that there is no spare tire. They said that before and including 2003 they just have regular tires. I have Dunlops on there now.
Thanks for your help.
Cindy
The BMW guy said that someone switched them from the original. I have to get tires soon anyway, so I will make sure they put the right size on.
I tried to take a pic of it, but the numbers don'e show up.
I looked at the owner's manual and it gave me the right size. The BMW place said the ones I have on there are ok until I can switch to the right ones. They said that they never did come with a spare tire, but i could buy one. I don't know where I would put it though. I'm going to get all season. They said my original tires were 175/65 R15.
Thank you everybody for all of your information. I will most likely go with the 175/65 R15, as thats what is in the user manual that i found online. Adding a spot for a spare looks complicted. Maybe when I get my tires changed I will ask if they would do it. Looks like about 1hr labor, so I can handle that. I guess I'll have to go to a BMW dealer for that. I think I can get the regular all-seasoned anywhere..
Cindy
Run Flat tyres will have a circular symbol containing the letters RSC on the side of the tyre
How often have you had a puncture? Why the desire to carry a spare? In 10 years of MINI ownership I can't recall a single puncture. No need imo .... but just make sure you are carry a MINI Mobility Kit
175/65-15 are a good choice for comfort and fuel economy, though maybe not for ultimate cornering grip.
Instead of a spare wheel, Mini supply the 'mobility kit' which is an electric tyre pump and a bottle of tyre sealant, so that you can fix small punctures yourself enough to get to a tyre place.
You might like to look at this Conti kit which contains everything in one box that will probably fit in the recess under the floor of your boot/trunk.
Thanks guy. I am going to go wit the 27/65-15 as recomended in the owners manul. there is aredy a moblility kit in it. I bought another can of sealant because the one in there is from 2003.
I looked on the tire and if doensn't say RSC on it.
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