Mini COOPER User Manual

Page 111

109

OVERVIEW

REPAIRS

OPERATION

CONTROLS

DATA

INDEX

CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE

2. Insert the jack head for jacking up in the

square recess of the jacking point

3. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you

are changing is raised from the ground.

The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not

attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any load of any kind. To
do so could cause accidents and personal
injury.

Fitting the space-saver spare tire

1. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the

wheel

2. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt

from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts

3. Fit the space-saver spare tire
4. Screw at least two lug bolts finger-tight

into opposite bolt holes

5. Screw in the remaining bolts
6. Tighten all the lug bolts firmly in a diag-

onal pattern

7. Lower the vehicle
8. Remove the jack.

Tightening the lug bolts

Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.

As soon as possible, have the secure
seating of the lug bolts (tightening

torque 72 ftlb (100 Nm)) checked using a
calibrated torque wrench. Otherwise, a
wheel that might come loose can lead to a
severe accident.

Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
assembly balanced.

Driving with the space-saver spare tire

Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).

You can expect changes in vehicle handling
such as delayed braking response, longer
braking distances, and changes in self-
steering properties in marginal stability
limits.

Only one space-saver spare tire may
be mounted at one time. Reinstall

wheels and tires of the same size and speci-
fication as soon as possible. Maintain
prescribed tire pressures, see page 80

Only use full hubcaps approved by
the manufacturer. Otherwise there is

no guarantee that the hubcap fits securely.
The hubcap must not be fitted to the space-
saver spare tire, as it could be damaged.

Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportu-

nity.