[Minihopeful]

I am planning on ordering my MINI S in April, the car is a long time dream of mine (have wanted a Mini since I was 16-just not too practical in the states).

I do have a problem with the lack of a spare tire. Relying on run flats just doesn't seem like a good idea. What if you are in the middle of nowhere when the flat occurs?

Worse yet, what if you are on motoring in rush hour traffic on a major big city interstate-driving on a semi inflated run flat at 20 mph is a good way to get yourself killed!

Is MINI looking at a way to put a spare tire in the S?

[MICKEY]

I think the idea of having no spare and relying on Run Flat's is pretty new to most of us, hence the apprehension.
I've got them on my Cooper and I still can't make my mind up if I like the idea or not.
The idea of changing a flat tyre on the side of a motorway in the middle of the night while it's raining, doesn’t appeal in any way shape or form, but then the idea of not been able to put on a spare, drop the punctured tyre in for repair and then get on with your business is another bummer.
I just don't know?
As to only been able to only 20mph, have a look at the info again, it states you can travel up to 50mph, and that’s near enough the national limit in the USA (isn't it?)
If any one out there has had a puncture on a run flat and driven on it, could they add a little note here to say what it was like, did it make much difference to the handling. Thanks

[GordonD]

I share your concerns about run flats but they seem to be the coming thing - note that Corvette has had them for a few years and I havn't heard of any problems - I'm sure some idiot would have sued by now if there were

There is really no room for a spare in the S due to the position of the battery.

Personaly I would not make the tires a issue on whether to get an s or not. GET ONE You will love it and - if you get a flat - well life's a ***** some times

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by Minihopeful
I am planning on ordering my MINI S in April, the car is a long time dream of mine (have wanted a Mini since I was 16-just not too practical in the states).

I do have a problem with the lack of a spare tire. Relying on run flats just doesn't seem like a good idea. What if you are in the middle of nowhere when the flat occurs?

Worse yet, what if you are on motoring in rush hour traffic on a major big city interstate-driving on a semi inflated run flat at 20 mph is a good way to get yourself killed!

Is MINI looking at a way to put a spare tire in the S?

You have several options:
A. Order a Cooper, they come with spares in the US.
B. 20mph is not the speed you'd have to drive on with a 'semi inflated' run flat, its 50 mph 'theoretically' but if its semi inflated, you can go hundreds of miles, with no inflation at all, you can go 90 if I recall. Perhaps someone else will have the chart thats in the owner's manual handy.
C. There is an option for a spare, the boot will fit one if you're worried for a long trip.
D. I can't imagine MINI bothering to put one on as other people have said, the technology besides being expensive, and heavy really works well.

[BillK]

You should not have a problem "in rush hour traffic on a major big city interstate-driving on a semi inflated run flat at 20 mph". First off, as was said before, you don't need to go 20 MPH. The spec says you can go 50, in fact a Range Rover running from the police here in the car chase capitol of the world (So. Cal.) was spike stripped by the PD, two tires hit, and continued for another 60 miles at high speed. Best ad for run-flats I ever saw. (They still got the guy; I think he car-jacked the Rover.)


I think the only real concern you may have is, say, driving from Lincoln to Ogallala there in Nebraska. I suppose if you loose air in just the right (wrong) place you could be 50 miles from anything. Bring a cell phone. Oh, and the tire is not really "semi-inflated", the sidewalls are reinforced to hold the vehicle weight without air pressure.

[Minihopeful]

Thanks for the speedy replies

BillK- A left coaster that knows small town Nebraska- impressive! I travel for work and am concerned about a blowout/sidewall puncture in the "sticks". Finding a new runflat in small town Nebraska could be interesting.

Also had some performance tires on the upgrade list (have a nasty autocross/track day habit). I might have to put the donut spare from my Honda del Sol in the boot to calm the remote midwest motoring fears.

Can't wait to own a MINI!

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by Minihopeful
Thanks for the speedy replies

BillK- A left coaster that knows small town Nebraska- impressive! I travel for work and am concerned about a blowout/sidewall puncture in the "sticks". Finding a new runflat in small town Nebraska could be interesting.

Also had some performance tires on the upgrade list (have a nasty autocross/track day habit). I might have to put the donut spare from my Honda del Sol in the boot to calm the remote midwest motoring fears.

Can't wait to own a MINI!

I don't know if anyone has actually blown a runflat, they're pretty indestructible, though sidewall punctures are common. Anyway, I don't think the offset + center size for your del Sol is the same, so you may want to check on that, I imagine a MINI donut isn't especially expensive anyway, but sounds like you should be fine. A can of fix-a-flat also works, if you realize you're going to sacrifice a tire everytime you use it.

[Minihopeful]

Stryder- You could be right, I have 15" +38mm offset rims on the del Sol, but the donut is designed to fit OEM-14".

I'll just have to get a MINI spare if it won't fit.

[HarryHBMCC]

Check your owner's manual. The range without any air pressure is not 50 miles, it is 90 miles on the runflat tires at 50MPH. With the tire holding just 7.2-14.5 PSI you can drive 300 miles. With more than 14.5 PSI you can go 1000 miles. Even 90 miles will usually get you somewhere from which to spend the night and call a tow truck. Remember that the tire will not likely expire as it hits 91 miles -- it would be best not to drive on it further but if you need to get to safety, driving slower than 50MPH will likely extend the range even further.

The 90 mile range with no air pressure is better than most donut spares provided in other cars. They usually list a 50 mile maximum range. The Cooper's manual doesn't list a range at all for the spare so perhaps it can be driven forever? Is there anything printed on the side of the spare to indicate a maximum range?

Harry

[BillK]

Quote:

Originally posted by Minihopeful
Thanks for the speedy replies

BillK- A left coaster that knows small town Nebraska- impressive! I travel for work and am concerned about a blowout/sidewall puncture in the "sticks". Finding a new runflat in small town Nebraska could be interesting.

Thought you would like that.

I too travel a bit on business, including a few trips that included Ogallala, Columbus, and Norfolk.

A Cooper doughnut spare should not be overly expensive and may be a good investment for you. I didn't know the run-flats were now spec'ed for 90 miles. Impressive.

[tovil]

Quote:

Originally posted by HarryIndiBlue
Check your owner's manual. The range without any air pressure is not 50 miles, it is 90 miles on the runflat tires at 50MPH. With the tire holding just 7.2-14.5 PSI you can drive 300 miles. With more than 14.5 PSI you can go 1000 miles.

I have been following this thread as I am a little apprehensive regarding the runflats which will be on the Cooper S I should be taking delivery of very soon.

However, I feel very reassured by the comments made. In the UK a distance of 90 miles should in most places get you to a MINI dealer, and 300 miles will definitely get you there.

I'm not now as concerned about not having a spare, so thanks guys.

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by tovil
I have been following this thread as I am a little apprehensive regarding the runflats which will be on the Cooper S I should be taking delivery of very soon.

However, I feel very reassured by the comments made. In the UK a distance of 90 miles should in most places get you to a MINI dealer, and 300 miles will definitely get you there.

I'm not now as concerned about not having a spare, so thanks guys.

I am jealous of your densly MINI dealer'd country. Though I guess we have the free roadside assistance, so if you do end up somewhere like ohh 500 miles away from a dealer (Yes its easily possible in the Continental US in the middle) they'll tow you there, but it'd still be annoying. Anyway, good everyone's happy, now we can go back to complaining the runflats are expensive and stiff.

[eltel]

Now, on the other hand, travel in country Australia on runflats worries me greatly.

There are only 22 dealers located in 7 metropolitan areas in a country that is bigger than mainland USA, and 97% of the whole population is in 3% of the land area, mainly along the coast.

Drive for 4 hours in most directions and you are 4 hours from the nearest dealer. Most tyre dealers in 97% of Australia's country towns have never seen a 205/45R17V, or would understand the technology or physics behind run-flat philosophy. Expecting to get a replacement would entail a couple of day's wait to get a new tyre shipped from Melbourne or Sydney, but then would they have the necessary gear to install without ruining my wheel?

Are BMW going to tow my car 500kms to get it to a tyre dealer who by some strange coincidence has both a suitable tyre and the machinery to fit it? On a Sunday? Will my boss understand when I say I'll be late for work because I've got a flat, and that I'll be in on Wednesday?

I know that the chances of getting a flat tyre are pretty remote, but I'd take bets now that it will happen at the absolutely most inconvenient moment that you can imagine.

I'm saving up for a spare that I might carry when touring long distances, or just to keep at home and get my dad to ship it to me if necessary. Or to have it for visiting MINI tourists in case they catch a flat. (16" only fellows).

Regards, ElTel (hopeless pessimist)

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by eltel
Are BMW going to tow my car 500kms to get it to a tyre dealer who by some strange coincidence has both a suitable tyre and the machinery to fit it? On a Sunday? Will my boss understand when I say I'll be late for work because I've got a flat, and that I'll be in on Wednesday?

I know that the chances of getting a flat tyre are pretty remote, but I'd take bets now that it will happen at the absolutely most inconvenient moment that you can imagine.

I'm saving up for a spare that I might carry when touring long distances, or just to keep at home and get my dad to ship it to me if necessary. Or to have it for visiting MINI tourists in case they catch a flat. (16" only fellows).

Regards, ElTel (hopeless pessimist)

In the US BMW would tow the car (or actually their roadside assistance contrator would) even if it was 500kms. Check, maybe they will in AU as well. But I would agree, an extra tire might be a good idea for those times you're far away, since you'd still in theory want the tyre to match anyway, etc. A steel rim could greatly lower the cost, or a 15" with the same outside diamater could be quite reasonable. Though its never simple.

Of course to calm your pessimism, you don't need to replace the tyres with runflats, so if you're stuck somewhere, if they have something that's 17" and basically the same size, it'd work easily in a pinch, and there's a reasonable possibility they could have the right size, just not in runflat. I suspect they'd be much better at removing a runflat then putting a new one on too.

[HarryHBMCC]

I'm a bit worried about having a runflat tire on one wheel and a non-runflat on the other wheel on the same axle, especially on the front axle under cornering as the stiff sidewall of the runflat would make it quite squirrely. (For this reason I'm not sure about the safety of using the space-saver spare with a runflat tire anyways.) I'd buy two new non-runflat tires if I were in that position.

If your Cooper didn't come with a spare tire, buying and fitting the kit for a spare is more expensive than buying a fifth full-sized wheel and tire. Having a matched wheel and tire would be best for safety. If you are going long distances that might be your best bet and one will even fit in the boot standing up (may have to lift the carpet on a Cooper and/or remove the cargo shelf). This is still safer than a standard non-runflat tire as you can change your wheel at a gas station rather than the side of the road.

Or of you're really worried, you can go Paris-Dakar rally-style and put 4 spare wheels/tires in the back seat They fit fine as I know from getting my snow wheels put on in the fall.

Harry

[billboard]

ElTel -

I think this would be a perfect op for a toprack with a couple of spare tires, ala old Monte Carlo rally Minis. It would certainly look the part.

phil

[BillK]

Quote:

Originally posted by billboard
ElTel -

I think this would be a perfect op for a toprack with a couple of spare tires, ala old Monte Carlo rally Minis. It would certainly look the part.

phil

OOOOOH! I like it.

Well, nit for my "citified" Cooper, but for one maintained in rally style -- YES!

[Brushy]

Ive had two punctures on my runfalts and on both occasions the pressure sensor light has come on. They have been repaired (sucessfully). Our car has Dunlop tyres fitted and on both times I have ben told thar Pirelli tyres cannot be repaired. BMW told me that Dunlop tyres cannot be repaired and would sell me a mew tyre for £208.00. Who's kidding who?