[mckeg4]

Guys wondered if you can help me, I have a GP and although have only covered 7K the front tyres require replacing, I have been quoted £260 each which is crazy, I was thinking of changing to non run flats and wondered what your thoughts were, also how do I get rid of the run flat indicator if I do decide to go down this route.

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers

HT

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

About 50% of users here ditch the runflats at the first opportunity with no problems at all; I did it when I had briefly had a set of 17" wheels on my old Cooper. Just remember to carry some tyre weld...

There's no need to do anything with the runflat indicator.

Tigger.

[mckeg4]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

About 50% of users here ditch the runflats at the first opportunity with no problems at all; I did it when I had briefly had a set of 17" wheels on my old Cooper. Just remember to carry some tyre weld...

There's no need to do anything with the runflat indicator.

Tigger.

Tigger,

Thanks for the reply, with regard to the tyre weld how does this work if you get a puncture, I mean how do you re-inflate the tyre again if you are in the middle of no where??

Thanks

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

I've never actually had to use Tyre Weld, as my old Cooper had a space saver spare. However, with my current MCS, I always carry a very compact (and laughably cheap!) electric air pump that simply plugs into the cigarette lighter. It's proven very useful on a few MINI runs where it's been borrowed quite a few times

Tigger.

[mckeg4]

Cheers buddy, one last question do you know of a good place to get good cheap tyres then???

Thanks

[Buz999]

I have just brought some S spokes and ditched the runflats! After looking around and asking tyre centres i decided on a set of Federal 205/45/17 SS595s. The difference is amazing! The tyres have a rim protector and cost £225 all in, bargain, highly recomend them.
The tins of tyre weld are pressurised so inflate the tyre as well as repair puncture.

[Snowie]

I have ditched the run flats on my GP

Now running Falken 452 in 215 / 35 / 18 Check mytyres.com and you will see that they are £80.40 each.

Actually mine were suplied via my local MINI dealer and I managed to beat this price.

Car is even better on these

MINI Tyre Goo and Michelin pump stored under the GP floor area with the jacking blocks and a MINI jack - all out of site and hopefully never needed.

Many GP owners are now running NON Runflats - there are a few threads in the GP forum on this very subject


Alan

[beken]

I ditched my runflats. I found the non-RFs to be less susceptible to puncture. Those runflats sure were fragile.

I have a small compressor and a can of Tyre Goo.

[Ant FR]

I was out at the Nurburgring last week and there were a group of 15 Mini GP's there, and none of them ha the 18's on, all of them had Superlegra or ultra legras in 17's. ( i got some pics i will post)

However, i stuck with the run flats, they are £150 per corner for dunlops. Not sure where you got your price from as that is the average price of most placs i tried including etyres and even kwik fit. I assume the GP uses the same size tyres as JCW R105's

[MINI-Morgan]

Its a choice you will have to make Personally I moved to Nankang NS-2s 215/40 R17s. £46 each from Alloy Wheels | Buy Alloy Wheels | Chrome Alloy Wheels | All Types of Alloy Wheels by Top Gear so a set of tyres for under £200 is a bargain and they actually are really good too. I have heard possibly better than the unpredictable Toyo Rs but havent tried the Toyos myself. I've never had a problem with these tyres in the 11 months ive had then and for the price they are a total bargain.

I do carry a can of tyreweld which is supposed to be able to inflate the tyre too but i carry a pump to be safe.

P.s. dont forget Nankangs are really Yoks now

[stevenrollo]

Just converted to ordinary tyres a week ago! wOHOOO

What a difference I must say.

Bought Falken 512's 4 off for £200 including delivery from Camskill. Very fast delivery and would recommend to anyone. Had cooper S white wheels refurbished too from local shop ROMAX. £47ea wheel. They fitted and balanced everything too!

Car looks like new and drives great although not pushed the car yet to get real handling, as new tyres need to bed in first.

So go on make the change and don’t take any word what those dealers tell you!

[MarkW]

another vote for Tyres at mytyres.co.uk: car tyres, 4x4 tyres and van tyres at low prices from me, been using them for a few years now but it would appear that other retailers have caught up on pricing. IIRC 17" RF's were about £110 from there

[VeryRedMCS]

Quote: Originally Posted by beken (original)

I ditched my runflats. I found the non-RFs to be less susceptible to puncture. Those runflats sure were fragile.

I have a small compressor and a can of Tyre Goo.

How lucky you are! In the U.S., the MINIs sold since around August sometime have these new sensors that are inside the wheels, apparently accommodating some new regulation that takes effect in '08. They are just a different (and more expensive) way of monitoring tire pressure, the down-side being that Tyre Goo products cannot be used, as they will trash a very expensive sensor. As a result, the owner of a new Cooper S (that comes without a spare) must either soldier-on with the damnable runflats or take up most of the interior space with a spare!

[spongeandy87]

[quote=stevenrollo;3201176]. Had cooper S white wheels refurbished too from local shop ROMAX. £47ea wheel.
how do the refurbed wheels look, interested in doing this to my wheels but heard that they dont go the same white as original bmw wheels?

[spongeandy87]

Quote: Originally Posted by stevenrollo (original)

.
Had cooper S white wheels refurbished too from local shop ROMAX. £47ea wheel.

how do the wheels look? i was thinkin bout doing this to my wheels but heard that they dont come out the same white as original bmw whire wheels is this true??

[CooperS Turbo]

I have a new Cooper S Turbo fitted with JCWorks 18" alloys and 205/40/18 runflat tyres. The sensor shows there is a fault with a tyre and after checking the pressure it was down to 10psi. Blow it up, reset the sensor and all is weel....for 3 days, then sensor back on and tyre down to 10psi. Yes it has a very slow puncture. Take it to the local ATS and told they can't repair runflat tyres, no matter how slow the puncture is. I rang Mini and they confirmed this. The tyre has done less than 3000 miles and still looks brand new, but I am expected to throw it away and pay £175 for a new Bridgestone.
Does anyone know if I can fit normal tyres onto these rims and then just buy a spare, or have I got to replace the wheels to? Ridiculous situation to be in that if you ever get a puncture you have to buy a new tyre.
BOO to BMW runflats.

[lespurgeon]

CooperS T.
shop down the road pulled the nail and patched my runflat.
Not all shops can pull runflats 9need specific machine) but they can be repaired if no sidewall damage.

[MINIdriver85]

Quote: Originally Posted by VeryRedMCS (original)

How lucky you are! In the U.S., the MINIs sold since around August sometime have these new sensors that are inside the wheels, apparently accommodating some new regulation that takes effect in '08. They are just a different (and more expensive) way of monitoring tire pressure, the down-side being that Tyre Goo products cannot be used, as they will trash a very expensive sensor. As a result, the owner of a new Cooper S (that comes without a spare) must either soldier-on with the damnable runflats or take up most of the interior space with a spare!

Well, that's plain stupid...why should I be limited to using runflats if I don't want to? Not good move to put those sensors there...I hope that's not the situation in Europe too...