I have replaced the 205/45/17 Pirelli Runflat tyres on my 2002 MINI with Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 215/40/17 non-runflats (same overall diameter). This is a common mod carried out by MINI owners. You can fit normal tyres to run-flat rims. The MINI is available new with either normal or non-runflat tyres and Rover originally engineered the Mk1 New MINI for normal tyres, runflats were added quite late in the design along with the flat tyre warning system as BMW were starting to offer them on their own range of cars.
Pros: much smoother ride and far better grip and handling than the runflats with stiff sidewalls, plus tyres are cheaper.
Cons: You need to fit a space-saver spare or to carry a can of puncture repair from Halfords.
I opted for DIY retro fitting the optional MINI space-saver spare under the boot floor but this can only be done on the MINI One or Cooper. On the Cooper S the twin exhaust box and battery are in the way.
Spare wheel carrier assembly part numbers and prices for R50 Cooper and One:-
41 11 7 043 349 Holder £3.83
51 71 1 510 375 Protection Foil £0.47
41 11 7 044 687 Guide £0.47
41 11 7 044 685 Spring £4.65
51 71 6 800 127 Cover £5.35
51 71 8 165 737 Lift Handle £2.77
Hex Nut 3-off £1.92
Nut Plastic 3-off £0.78
51 71 6 801 257 Spacer Rubber 3-off £2.82
Hex Nut £0.38
51 71 7 184 110 Support £27.50
Easy to fit once you have all the above parts.
I got my 115/70/R15 space saver Mini spare wheel secondhand off Ebay for only £20 and a genuine MINI jack for 99p + postage!
The retrofit installation of the MINI spare wheel and associated components:-The first thing to do is to open the boot of the car, lift up the carpet and remove the MINI Mobility Kit or whatever may be installed in the cut out in the floor.You will see a rubber bung and three threaded studs.
Get under the car, you will see a plastic cover/undertray by the side of the exhaust. Remove this. It has 2 nuts that need to be removed at the back of the cover and 3 screws at the front.
By removing this cover you can now see the under side of the rubber bung and 3 more studs facing down. The threaded studs may have a rubber cover over them. Remove the bung and rubber stud covers.
Assemble the items inside the car in the order shown in the Realoem.com parts drawing to the 3 studs using plastic nuts. (The latest assembly listed in my parts list above is modified with less parts to assemble than shown on the earlier realoem.com diagram below).
http://www.realoem.c...o...hg=51&fg=80From the underside of the car, fix the final component with 3 plastic nuts to the studs.
Fit the 3 rubber bung buffers to the existing brackets on the underside of the boot floor.
Place the space-saver spare wheel over the plastic support assembly on the ground and position it under the car. Fit the lifting handle to the assembly through hole in the boot floor and pull the wheel up into position. You may find that you need to move the exhaust heat shield out of the way of the wheel. The wire spring clip holds the wheel up while you tighten the retaining nut with the wheel brace. This nut is the same size as the wheel bolts. (See also MINI Handbook for more details and pictures).
Edited by mab01uk, 31 October 2010 - 10:14 PM.