tires MINI 3 door 2013 User Guide

▷Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust systemHot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,
grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot
exhaust system during driving, while in idle po‐
sition mode, or when parked. Such contact
could lead to a fire, and with it the risk of seri‐
ous personal injury as well as property damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,
there is the danger of getting burned. ◀
Diesel particulate filter The diesel particulate filter collects soot parti‐
cles and burns them periodically at high tem‐
peratures.
During the cleaning time of several minutes,
the following may occur:
▷Temporarily, the engine may run less
smoothly.▷Noises and a slight amount of smoke com‐
ing from the exhaust until shortly after the
engine is shut down.▷A somewhat higher engine speed is neces‐
sary to achieve the accustomed perform‐
ance.
Mobile communication devices in the vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is advised that you do not use mobile com‐
munication devices, e.g., mobile phones, inside
the vehicle without connecting them directly to
the external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle
electronics and mobile communication devices
can interfere with each other. In addition, there
is no assurance that the radiation generated
during transmission will be discharged from the
vehicle interior. ◀
Hydroplaning On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning. ◀
Driving through water Drive through calm water only if it is not deeper
than 9.8 inches/25 cm and at this height, no
faster than walking speed, up to
6 mph/10 km/h.
Adhere to water depth and speed limita‐
tions
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the
electrical systems and the transmission may be
damaged. ◀
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations when this is neces‐
sary.
The vehicle maintains steering responsiveness.
You can still avoid any obstacles with a mini‐
mum of steering effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.Seite 125Things to remember when drivingDriving tips125
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LoadingVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehi‐
cle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Hints Overloading the vehicle
To avoid exceeding the approved carry‐
ing capacity of the tires, never overload the ve‐
hicle. Overloading can lead to overheating and
increases the rate at which damage develops
inside the tires. This could result in a sudden
loss of tire inflation pressure. ◀
No fluids in the trunk
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
trunk; otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged. ◀
Determining the load
limit1.Locate the following statement on your ve‐
hicle’s placard:▷The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to the ve‐
hicle and unstable driving situations
may result.2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca‐
pacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,000 lbs and there will be four 150 lbs pas‐
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity
is 400 lbs: 1,000 lbs minus 600 lbs =
400 lbs.5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
Load
The maximum load is the sum of the weight of
the occupants and the cargo.
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Saving fuelVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehi‐
cle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
General information
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
The implementation of certain measures, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance can have an
influence on fuel consumption and on the envi‐
ronmental impact.
Remove unnecessary
cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached partsfollowing use
Remove roof or rear luggage racks which are
no longer required following use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Close the windows andglass sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows
open results in increased air resistance and
raises fuel consumption.Tires
General information Tires can affect fuel consumption values in vari‐
ous ways, for instance fuel consumption can be
influenced by the size of the tires.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire infla‐
tion pressure at least twice a month and before
starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without de‐lay
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when
driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐
cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.Seite 130Driving tipsSaving fuel130
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Wheels and tiresVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehi‐
cle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Tire inflation pressure
Safety information The tire characteristics and tire inflation pres‐
sure influence the following:▷The service life of the tires.▷Road safety.▷Driving comfort.
Checking the pressure
Tires have a natural, consistent loss of pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
Regularly check the tire inflation pressure,
and correct it as needed: at least twice a month
and before a long trip. If you fail to observe this
precaution, you may be driving on tires with in‐
correct tire pressures, a condition that may not
only compromise your vehicle's driving stabil‐
ity, but also lead to tire damage and the risk of
an accident. ◀
Tires heat up during driving, and the tire infla‐
tion pressure increases along with the temper‐
ature of the tire. The tire inflation pressure
specifications relate to cold tires or tires with
the ambient temperature.
Only check the tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. This means after driving no more
than 1.25 miles/2 km or when the vehicle has
been parked for at least 2 hours. When the tires
are warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure:▷Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor.▷Reinitialize the Tire Pressure Monitor.
Checking the inflation pressure of the
compact wheel
Located behind the bumper on the underside
of the vehicle is an opening for checking the
tire inflation pressure.
Pressure specifications
The tire inflation pressure table, refer to
page 167, contains all pressure specifications
for the specified tire sizes at the ambient tem‐
perature. Pressure specifications apply to ap‐
proved tire sizes and recommended tire
brands. This information can be obtained from
your service center.
To identify the correct tire inflation pressure,
please note the following:
▷Tire sizes of your vehicle.▷Maximum permitted driving speed.
Tire inflation pressures up to 100 mph/
160 km/h
For speeds of up to 100 mph/160 km/h and for
optimum driving comfort, note the pressure
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values in the tire inflation pressure table, refer
to page 167, and adjust as necessary.
These pressure values can also be found on the
tire inflation pressure label on the driver's door
pillar.
Maximum permissible speed
Do not exceed 100 mph/160 km/h; oth‐
erwise, tire damage and accidents may result. ◀
Tire inflation pressure values up to
100 mph/160 km/h
COOPERTire sizePressure specifications in
bar/PSISpecifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires175/65 R 15 84 H
Std
175/65 R 15 84 H M
+S A/S Std
195/55 R 16 87 V M
+S A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL A/S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H
Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V XL
Std/RSC
205/40 R 18 86 W XL
RSC
175/65 R 15 84 H M
+S Std
175/60 R 16 86 H M
+S XL Std/RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M
+S Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL Std/RSC2.4 / 352.4 / 35Compact wheel
T 115/70 R 15 90 MSpeed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60Seite 167Wheels and tiresMobility167
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COOPER STire sizePressure specifications in
bar/PSISpecifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires195/55 R 16 87 V
Std/RSC
195/55 R 16 87 V M
+S A/S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M
+S Std/RSC2.4 / 352.4 / 35205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V XL
Std/RSC
205/40 R 18 86 W XL
RSC
175/60 R 16 86 H M
+S XL Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL Std/RSC2.6 / 382.4 / 35
Tire inflation pressures at max. speeds
above 100 mph/160 km/h
Speeds above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please observe,
and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures for
speeds exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from the
relevant table on the following pages. Other‐
wise tire damage and accidents could occur. ◀
Tire inflation pressure values over
100 mph/160 km/h
COOPERTire sizePressure specifications in
bar/PSISpecifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires175/65 R 15 84 H
Std
175/65 R 15 84 H M
+S A/S Std
195/55 R 16 87 V M
+S A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL A/S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H
Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V XL
Std/RSC
205/40 R 18 86 W XL
RSC
175/65 R 15 84 H M
+S Std
175/60 R 16 86 H M
+S XL Std/RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M
+S Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL Std/RSC2.8 / 412.6 / 38Compact wheel
T 115/70 R 15 90 MSpeed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60Seite 168MobilityWheels and tires168
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COOPER STire sizePressure specifications in
bar/PSISpecifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires195/55 R 16 87 V
Std/RSC
195/55 R 16 87 V M
+S A/S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M
+S Std/RSC2.8 / 412.6 / 38205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V
XLStd/RSC
205/40 R 18 86 W XL
RSC
175/60 R 16 86 H M
+S XL Std/RSC
205/45 R 17 88 V M
+S XL Std/RSC3.1 / 452.9 /42
Tire identification marks
Tire size 205/45 R 17 84 V
205: nominal width in mm
45: aspect ratio in %
R: radial tire code
17: rim diameter in inches
84: load rating, not for ZR tires
V: speed rating, before the R on ZR tires
Speed letter T = up to 118 mph, 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph, 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph, 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph, 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph, 300 km/h
Tire Identification NumberDOT code: DOT xxxx xxx 4413
xxxx: manufacturer code for the tire brand
xxx: tire size and tire design
4413: tire age
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Tire age DOT … 4413: the tire was manufactured in the
44th week of 2013.
Recommendation Regardless of wear, replace tires at least every
6 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear 200; Traction AA;
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these
grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov‐
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half, 1 g, times as
well on the government course as a tire gradedSeite 169Wheels and tiresMobility169
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100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, how‐
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under control‐
led conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering, hy‐
droplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the ma‐
terial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi‐
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum re‐
quired by law.
Temperature grade for this tire
The temperature grade for this tire is es‐
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla‐
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
If necessary, have the vehicle towed. ◀RSC – Run-flat tires
Run-flat tires, refer to page 173, are labeled
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC marked on the sidewall.
M+S Winter and all-season tires with better cold
weather performance than summer tires.
Tire tread Summer tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.12 in/3 mm.
There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if
the tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm.
Winter tires Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.16 in/4 mm.
Below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, tires are
less suitable for winter operation.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators are distributed around the tire's
circumference and have the legally required
minimum height of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
They are marked on the side of the tire with
TWI, Tread Wear Indicator.
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Tire damage
General information Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign ob‐
jects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Hints
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces,
as well as debris, curbs and other obstacles can
cause serious damage to wheels, tires and sus‐
pension parts. This is more likely to occur with
low-profile tires, which provide less cushioning
between the wheel and the road. Be careful to
avoid road hazards and reduce your speed, es‐
pecially if your vehicle is equipped with low-
profile tires.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle de‐
fects:▷Unusual vibrations during driving.▷Unusual handling such as a strong ten‐
dency to pull to the left or right.
Damage can, e. g., be caused by driving over
curbs, road damage, or similar things.
In case of tire damage
If there are indications of tire damage, re‐
duce your speed immediately and have the
wheels and tires checked right away; other‐
wise, there is the increased risk of an accident.
Drive carefully to the nearest service center.
Have the vehicle towed or transported there.
Otherwise, tire damage can become life threat‐
ening for vehicle occupants and also other road
users. ◀
Repair of tire damage
For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your vehicle recommends that you do not have
damaged tires repaired; they should be re‐
placed. Otherwise, damage can occur as a re‐
sult. ◀
Changing wheels and
tires
Mounting Information on mounting tires
Have mounting and balancing performed
only by a service center.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards. ◀
Wheel and tire combination Information on the correct wheel-tire combina‐
tion and rim versions for your vehicle can be
obtained from your service center.
Incorrect wheel and tire combinations impair
the function of a variety of systems such as ABS
or DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle re‐
sponse, use only tires with a single tread con‐
figuration from a single manufacturer.
Following tire damage, have the original wheel
and tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
Approved wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle recom‐
mends that you use only wheels and tires that
have been approved for your particular vehicle
model.
For example, despite having the same official
size ratings, variations can lead to body contact
and with it, the risk of severe accidents.
The manufacturer of your vehicle cannot evalu‐
ate non-approved wheels and tires to deter‐
mine if they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of the vehi‐
cle if they are mounted. ◀Seite 171Wheels and tiresMobility171
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Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your ve‐
hicle recommends certain tire brands. These
can be identified by a star on the tire sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the highest
standards for safety and handling.
New tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac‐
tion potential until after an initial breaking-in
period.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Retreaded tires The manufacturer of your vehicle does not rec‐
ommend the use of retreaded tires.
Retreaded tires
Possibly substantial variations in the de‐
sign and age of the tire casing structures can
limit service life and have a negative impact on
road safety. ◀
Winter tires
Winter tires are recommended for operating on
winter roads.
Although so-called all-season M+S tires do pro‐
vide better winter traction than summer tires, they do not provide the same level of perform‐
ance as winter tires.
Maximum speed of winter tires
If the maximum speed of the vehicle is higher
than the permissible speed for the winter tires,
then display a corresponding sign in the field of
vision. You can obtain this sign from the tire
specialist or from your service center.
Maximum speed for winter tires
Do not exceed the maximum speed for
the respective winter tires; otherwise, tire dam‐
age and accidents can occur. ◀
Run-flat tires If you are already using run-flat tires, for your
own safety you should replace them only with
the same kind. No spare tire is available in the
case of a flat tire. Your service center will be
glad to advise you.
Rotating wheels between axles
The manufacturer of your vehicle advises
against swapping wheels between the front
and rear axles.
This can impair the handling characteristics.
Storage Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pres‐
sure indicated on the side wall of the tire.Seite 172MobilityWheels and tires172
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