UPDATE: TIRES TYRES & WHEELS FIXED... D'Oh, - No, No!... Help: 17" to 15" Change

[SugarBelly]

UPDATE: I followed suggested instructions herein, - and all is well.
Thanks again, all!

I have searched around prior to posting, but no luck.
I couldn't even get the, "Sticky: Please read FAQs prior to posting" thread to open-up for me. ?!?

So, -
I purchased some MINI 15" R81s & replaced my 17" MINI R90s.

As soon as I have all the lugs tightened, I hop-in to go for a drive. I release the parking-brake, she moves about a half inch or so, making a very odd sound in the meantime, almost like I'd forgotten to tighten a wheel & it was about to fall off!

On close inspection, I can see nothing, so I start her up just to go 'round the block slowly....

When I get her out & moving, - the emergency light rings & lights up "{ ! }"?

What did I do?! [wrong]? I feel like the biggest fool around! Can't change standard MINI tires?! Ugh! D'oh!!

The 15" wheeled tires are 205/60/15s, which seem (eyeballed) to be just a hair shorter than the 17" R90s @ 205/45/17 on prior.

Any & all technical & stress-relieving help will be greatly celebrated.

Our closest dealer is 60 miles away.

-s.b.

[MarkW19]

Hmmm...

Have you reset the tyre pressure thingy? Since your tyres are different too and are no longer run-flats, I'd assume the pressures would be quite different? The system needs to be calibrated for the new pressures.

No idea about the sound though

[SugarBelly]

Good idea, MarkW19!

How do I reset the "tyre pressure thingy"?

I'll go check the manual.

[MarkW19]

"Only initialize the system if the inflation pressure, e.g. after a tire change, has been corrected."

So, make sure each tyre is at the correct pressure for the amount of passengers/luggage etc., and:-

"1. Ignition key in position 2.
2. Press the button long enough for the yellow indicator lamp in the instrument cluster to light up for a few seconds [the button under the handbrake].
3. Start the engine.

After a few minutes driving time, the Flat Tire Monitor sets the current inflation pressure in the tires as the target values to be monitored."

Why can't they spell TYRE correctly?

[SugarBelly]

You're aces, MarkW19!

"Why can't they spell TYRE correctly?"


My mis-spelling forced me to double my search efforts herein!

-Thanks again, MarkW19!
Going to try it all now, - had to take a brake for breakfast w/ the wife.

[MINIALEX]

Why have you changed the R90s?

[MarkW19]

Quote: Originally Posted by SugarBelly

-Thanks again, MarkW19!
Going to try it all now, - had to take a brake for breakfast w/ the wife.

Good pun - or another mis-spelling??? Think you've got cars on the mind young man

Break...

[minhi]

Quote: Originally Posted by SugarBelly

I have searched around prior to posting, but no luck.
I couldn't even get the, "Sticky: Please read FAQs prior to posting" thread to open-up for me. ?!?

So, -
I purchased some MINI 15" R81s & replaced my 17" MINI R90s.

As soon as I have all the lugs tightened, I hop-in to go for a drive. I release the parking-brake, she moves about a half inch or so, making a very odd sound in the meantime, almost like I'd forgotten to tighten a wheel & it was about to fall off

-s.b.

I'm pretty sure that sound is just the parking brake 'releasing'. When you jack up the car and then drop it back down, the parking brake will bind a little. When you release it, it sort of pops.

Now did the EML light come on or the tire pressure light? I can see the tire pressure light coming on (mine usually does when i switch tires) but not sure why the EML one would...

[SugarBelly]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIALEX

Why have you changed the R90s?

1) The 7-holey's are groovy, man!

2) We can get ugly winters in the upper-midwest (though the last few years have been very cold without the snow).

The R90 run-flat combos weighed-in at some 22kg & have excellent tread remaining, a bit wider than preferable for snow, but their weight-tread combo will be great for getting down to the road surface on snowy days.

The R81s weighed-in at less than 14kg with non-runflat shoes.

I guess it should go backwards, - large wheels for summer, smaller for winter; (as ALEX@TireRack stated), but the MINI wheel weighting is all wrong that way.

R90s are too g.damn heavy for any perk, performance-wise. I just don't see any way around that,- except that they too, look fab!

16" wheels should be the superb summer-lovin' choice, - but there are no substantial weight savings to be had in the MINI 16"ers. Aftermarket wheels for the MINI are abundant & brilliant, yet much more expensive than nabbing a set of MINI take-offs. ==> I paid $202USD for a full MINI set, shipped 1200 miles to me. In aftermarket wheels, that'd get me about 1 new wheel.

I'm always looking to find efficient upgrades.

I'm saving for a proper ECU upgrade, as our baby's had software-related hiccups, stumble, power-loss & Yo-yo. I don't mind the hiccup/Yo-Yo always happening when cold/at start-up, but, the ones that leave you half-in an intersection with no power, no warning or predictability are enough to scare you stupid [which has obviously already happened to me.]

-Thanks for answering mates, much appreciated! I'd rather turn into MINI2.com than my dealer's lot! You all kick-tush!

[SugarBelly]

Great clue, minhi:
"I'm pretty sure that sound is just the parking brake 'releasing'. When you jack up the car and then drop it back down, the parking brake will bind a little. When you release it, it sort of pops.
I'd guess now, that's exactly what it was!

Next: "Now did the EML light come on or the tire pressure light? I can see the tire pressure light coming on (mine usually does when i switch tires) but not sure why the EML one would..."

It's the Flat Tire Monitor according to the (US-spelled ) Owners Manual. The manual goes on to help a great deal, "Stays lit: the system is defective. Please have the system inspected at your MINI dealer." Thanks!

It "gongs" a warning sound, then continues flashing this symbol: {_!_}

I'm headed out to check pressures & then re-"Initiallize the System" as suggested by MarkW19.

One note, I'm going with 30/210psi/kilopascal. [Usually 2 at most in the car.] Please advise here as needed! There are no direct suggestions for 205/60/15s which I've got.

2nd note, The gentleman mounting/balancing my new shoes said one tire/rim combo wanted a little extra weight attached, then still wobbled, - ever so slightly. He thought it wasn't enough to replace, but I mounted it on the back as an extra measure of caution. If worst comes to worst, that'll likely be the culprit.

Thanks again, all.
-.s.b

[SugarBelly]

Done. Fixed. Just like you said it would be.

You all were fab! She's soft, straight & quicker off the line, - !

Thanks again!
-.s.b

[minhi]

Quote: Originally Posted by SugarBelly

1) The 7-holey's are groovy, man!
I'm saving for a proper ECU upgrade, as our baby's had software-related hiccups, stumble, power-loss & Yo-yo. I don't mind the hiccup/Yo-Yo always happening when cold/at start-up, but, the ones that leave you half-in an intersection with no power, no warning or predictability are enough to scare you stupid [which has obviously already happened to me.]

i'm pretty happy with my after market intake (rogue), it got rid of the yo-yo for me and the car takes off from a stop better in heat.

i'm also very happy with my aftermarket wheels, yeah they were expensive, but they dropped around 15lbs per corner (from the s-spokes/s-lites). The make the car much more enjoyable to drive.