tires MINI COOPER 2004 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: MINI, Model Year: 2004, Model line: COOPER, Model: MINI COOPER 2004Pages: 152, PDF Size: 1.53 MB
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89
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CODINGKnowing the tire code on the tire's sidewall
makes it easier for you to choose and iden-
tify the correct tires.Tire sizee.g. 205/45 R 17 84 V
Nominal width in mm
Cross-sectional
ratio in %
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter,
in front of the R on ZR tires
Speed code letters:
Q= bis 105 mph / 160 km/h
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/hTire Identification NumberTires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transportation. DOT code:
e.g. DOT xxxx xxx 3603
Manufacturer's code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire version
Tire age
Tire ageThe manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends replacing all tires, including the
space-saver spare tire, regardless of actual
wear, after 6 years at the latest.
The date on which the tire was manufac-
tured is indicated by the code on the side-
wall:
DOT … 3603 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in Week 36 of the year 2003.Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example:
DOT quality grades Treadwear 200
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.< Tread wearThe tread wear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half, 1 γ times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
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90
TIRE CODINGTraction 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
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction per-
formance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to a sudden flat tire. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
the side of the tire, refer to page 93.M+SWinter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance
properties than summer tires.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CONDITION Tire tread Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
The tread depth should not fall below
1/8 in / 3 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread pattern depth,
there is an increased risk of hydroplaning,
even at relatively moderate speeds and
with only small amounts of water on the
road.
Below a tread depth of 1/6 in / 4 mm, win-
ter tires display a perceptible decrease in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.Wear indicators in the tread-groove base,
arrow, are spread around the circumfer-
ence of the tire and are marked on the side
wall of the tire with TWI, Tread Wear Indi-
cator. The indicators in the tread indicate at
1/16 in / 1.6 mm tread depth that the
legally permitted wear limit has been
reached.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations while driving can
indicate tire damage or other dam-
age to the vehicle. This may be caused, for
example, by driving over a curb. This is also
true for abnormalities in the vehicle's han-
dling characteristics, such as a pronounced
tendency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately reduc-
ing your speed. Proceed carefully to the
nearest MINI Dealer or professional tire
center, or have the vehicle towed there to
have its wheels and/or tires inspected or
controlled. Tire damage – up to and includ-
ing blowouts – can endanger the lives of
both the vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
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92
WHEEL AND TIRE REPLACEMENT
Unprofessional attempts by laymen
to service tires can lead to damage
and accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled profes-
sionals only. Your MINI Dealer will be glad
to assist you with both their expertise and
the proper equipment for your vehicle.<
The correct wheel and tire combination
also affects various systems that would
otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS or DSC.
Have the wheels balanced after each tire or
wheel replacement.
The manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends that you avoid using
retread tires, as this could impair driving
safety. This is due to the possible variations
in casing structures and, in some cases, to
their extreme age, which can lead to a
decrease in their durability.<
The correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends never mounting wheels
and tires that have not been specifically
approved by the manufacturer for use on
your particular model. Although other
wheels and tires may theoretically have the
same dimensions, variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances can result in
contact between tire and bodywork, ulti-
mately leading to serious accidents. The
manufacturer of your MINI cannot evaluate
non-approved wheels and tires to deter-
mine if they are suited for use, and there-
fore cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are fitted.<
Recommended tire makes:
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
In the event of a flat tire, remount the pre-
vious wheel and tire combination as soon
as possible.
Run Flat tires:
If your MINI is equipped with Run Flat tires
– refer to Run Flat tires – use only these
tires, since no space-saver spare tire may be
available in the event of a flat. Special characteristics of winter tires The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends winter tires for driving in adverse
winter road conditions. While all-season
tires with the M+S designation provide bet-
ter winter traction than summer tires, they generally do not achieve the full perfor-
mance of winter tires.
For mounting winter tires, refer to the
descriptions under Tire condition, page 91,
and Wheel and tire replacement.
Run Flat tires:
If your MINI is equipped with Run Flat tires
– refer to Run Flat tires – use only these
tires, since no space-saver spare tire may be
available in the event of a flat.
Observing speeds:
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled profes-
sionals only. The technicians at your MINI
Dealer will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and spe-
cialized equipment.<
StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
them against light whenever possible. Pro-
tect the tires against contact with oil,
grease and fuel. Do not exceed the maxi-
mum tire inflation pressure specified on
the tire sidewall.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
RUN FLAT TIRES
*
You will recognize Run Flat tires by a circu-
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on
the side of the tire. Run Flat tires consist of
self-contained tires and special rims. The
tire reinforcement ensures that driving
remains possible to a restricted degree in
the event of a pressure drop or even a flat
tire.
When mounting or replacing summer
Run Flat tires with winter tires, or vice
versa, use Run Flat tires again since no
space-saver spare tire is available in the
event of a flat. In this event, the manufac-
turer of your MINI recommends consulting
your MINI Dealer. Your MINI Dealer has the
necessary special equipment and expertise
for handling Run Flat tires.<
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire Depending on the load, you can continue
driving with Run Flat tires at a maximum
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
If there is a total loss of tire inflation pres-
sure, 0 psi / 0 kPa, or obvious tire damage,
you can gauge the mileage for continued
driving on the basis of the following indica-
tions:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles / 250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, full cargo area, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 95 miles / 150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons or more, full cargo:
approx. 30 miles / 50 km.Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. In case of
tire pressure loss you must expect changes
in vehicle handling such as lower track sta-
bility during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changes in self-steering proper-
ties when close to the handling limit.
For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your MINI recommends not having dam-
aged Run Flat tires repaired. In this case,
consult your MINI dealer.<
Tire change setYour MINI is additionally equipped with a
tire change set. This is located in the MINI
COOPER in the cargo area under the floor
mat.
In the MINI COOPER S the tire change set is
located in a separate bag which is attached
to the eyelets on the cargo area floor by
means of tie-down straps.
When changing a tire, always observe the
safety measures on page 116, and follow
the procedure described on page 117 ff.
In case of a flat tire, the tire change
set is not needed, since your MINI has
Run Flat tires.<
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94
SNOW CHAINS
*
Only certain types of snow chains have
been tested by the manufacturer of your
MINI, classified as road-safe and approved.
Contact your MINI Dealer for more details.
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you use only these approved
fine-link snow chains. Their use is only per-
mitted in pairs on the front wheels on win-
ter tires of the following types:
>175/65 R 15 M+S
>175/60 R 16 M+S.
When fitting, comply with the manufac-
turer's instructions. With chains, do not
exceed a speed of 30 mph / 50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
after attaching snow chains to the
tires.
When driving with snow chains, it can be
helpful to switch off the ASC or DSC for a
brief period, refer to pages 59, 60.<
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110
ONBOARD TOOL KIT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES The picture shows as an example the tire
change set with onboard tools for vehicles
with the space-saver spare tire.
Depending on the level of equipment
options, your MINI is fitted with a special
onboard tool kit stored at the locations
described below:
Storage locationMINI Mobility System with tire change set
and onboard tools:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Tire change set and onboard tools for Run
Flat tires:
>Tire change set:
In the cargo area in a separate pouch,
refer to page 123
>Onboard tool kit:
on the left-hand side of the cargo area
behind the side trim panel.
Tire change set with space-saver spare tire:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Windshield wiper1. Rotate the wiper arm completely out
from the windshield
2. Set the wiper blade at an angle
3. Press the securing spring, arrow
4. Unhook the wiper blade towards the
windshield
5. Pull the wiper blade past the wiper arm
toward the top
6. Insert the new wiper blade
7. Press into position until you hear it
engage.
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LAMPS AND BULBS REPAIRING A FLAT TIRE Cargo area lamps 5 Watt bulb
1. Press the lamp cover to the left and out
with a screwdriver.
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Footwell lamps5 Watt bulb
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Glove compartment lamp5 Watt bulb
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Safety measures in the event of a flat
tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Switch on the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead wheel position and engage the
steering lock. Engage the parking brake and
shift into 1st or reverse gear – selector lever
in P.
All passengers should be outside the vehi-
cle and well away from your immediate
working area – behind a guardrail, for
instance.
If a portable hazard warning lamp is avail-
able, set it up on the roadside at an appro-
priate distance from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.<
In the event of a flat tire, different proce-
dures should be followed depending on the
equipment included in your MINI:
>Vehicles with Run Flat tires, refer to
page 93
>Vehicles with a space-saver spare tire,
refer to the following section
>Vehicles with MINI Mobility System,
refer to page 121.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
CHANGING TIRES: MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Additional safety measures in the
event of a wheel change:
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip sideways
on soft or slippery support surfaces, such as
snow, ice, flagstones, etc..
Do not use a wooden block or similar object
as a support base for the jack, as this would
prevent it from extending to its full support
height and reduce its load-carrying capac-
ity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported by
the jack – risk of fatal injury.<
To change a space-saver tire, proceed as
follows:
>Remove space-saver spare tire, refer to
the section after the next one
>Prepare for tire change, refer to page 119
>Jack up the vehicle, refer to page 119
>Fit the space-saver spare tire, refer to
page 120
>Tighten the lug bolts, refer to page 120
>Drive with space-saver spare tire, refer to
page 120.
Tire change set On vehicles with a space-saver spare tire,
the tire change set is stored in the cargo
area under the floor mat.
1Chock, folding
2Hubcap remover
3Wheel stud wrench
4Jack
5Lug wrench
6Towing eyelet
7Lifting handle
The onboard tool kit includes a pouch with
a plastic bag in which you can place the
damaged wheel.
Removing the space-saver spare tireThe screw connection of the space-saver
spare tire is in the cargo area under the
floor mat, on the base of the storage com-
partment for the tire change set.
1. Loosen the screw connection using the
wheel lug bolt wrench
2. Take out the cover panel
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CHANGING TIRES: MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
3. Screw the lifting handle from the
onboard tool kit onto the thread
4. Raise the lifting handle slightly
5. Squeeze the securing springs
6. The space-saver spare tire is released
and must be held by the lifting handle
7. Lower the space-saver spare tire with
the lifting handle
8. Unscrew the lifting handle again
9. Pull out the space-saver spare tire
towards the rear underneath the vehi-
cle
10. Position the space-saver spare tire with
the valve facing upwards
11. Unscrew the valve extension from the
valve of the space-saver spare tire
12. Unscrew the dust cap from the exten-
sion and attach to the valve on the
spare tire.
Due to its different dimensions, the
damaged wheel cannot be placed in
the recess for the space-saver spare tire.<
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