Folks,
I need your advise and guidance please.
I took delivery of my Cooper S Chilli Pack back in October 2009 (build date Sep '09). I opted for the 17" x 7J Crown Spoke rims which (according to the Mini brochure dated 03/2009) were supposed to have run flat tyres fitted. Since then, I believed them to be run flats - especially as the car came with the "mobility kit" (12V tyre inflator and leak adhesive) and no spare wheel.
The tyres that came with the car are:
Continental ContiSport Contact 3 205/45/R17 84V.
I hit a pot hole this morning which caused the tyre to pinch against the rim. To cut a long story short, I wasn't aware that the tyre had been damaged until I had driven a further 6 miles. The car drove OK, but I knew that the tyre had suffered damage. Luckily, the rim suffered no damage, however, the side-wall was slightly damaged and was where the leak was. I used the inflator and the leak adhesive which had some effect and I had to drive 15 miles home again and a further 5 to the local BMW MINI garage.
The tyre stood up well to the 25 miles whilst in a low pressure state.
I left the car with the garage for a check over and a replacement tyre. I received a call later in the day to advise that the car was ready, however, the tyres weren't run-flats and as such, they replaced the tyre with the following:
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO 88W 205/45/R17 (which is a summer tyre from what I can see).
This tyre doesn't have a raised rim rib (which the ContiSport has) and when I accelerate (briskly), the car pulls to the left or nearside (front nearside is where the new tyre was fitted).
Apart from possible wheel misalignment which is possible, the Mini now has two different tyres fitted on the same axle. The BMW MINI service people are 100% sure that the tyres on the car (as supplied new) are not run flats.
If this is the case, then how come I could drive home at 45 MPH for 20+ miles with no further (apparent) damage to the tyre and absolutely no damage to the rim??
Having researched the Continental tyre web site and the specification of the ContiSport Contact 3, the following letters indicate different features which seem to be available on these tyres:
FR = Rim Protection (which mine appear to have but there are no such letters apparent)
SSR = Self supporting run flat (ditto)
TL = Tubeless (which mine are, but again no lettering)
I am both confused and annoyed with the situation I find myself in and wonder if anyone has the knowledge and experience to help me resolve this issue.
Apologies for the long-winded story, but the details are necessary!
Thanks in anticipation.
Charlie.
