Wheel and tire combinations, Wheel and tire combinations 84 – Mini COOPER User Manual

Page 86

TIRE REPLACEMENT

WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATIONS

Tire age

The date on which the tire was manufac-
tured is indicated by the code on the side-
wall:

DOT ... 1202 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in Week 12 of the year 2002.

The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends replacement of all tires – including
the space-saver spare tire, after no more
than 6 years.

Safety (run-flat) tires*

For replacement, use only safety tires,
as in the event of a flat tire there is no

space-saver spare tire.
You will recognize safety tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, see pages 110, 80.

The right choice

The factory-approved normal tires and
safety tires are matched to the vehicle and
have been selected to provide optimum
driving safety and the desired driving
comfort.

Never mount wheels and tires that
have not been specifically approved

by the manufacturer for use on your partic-
ular 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 cannot evaluate non-
approved wheels and tires to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of the
vehicle if they are fitted.

The manufacturer has tested certain tire
brands in each size, categorized them as
safe for use on the road, and approved
them. Contact your MINI center for more
details.

The correct wheel and tire combina-
tion affects various systems that

would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS,
ASC+T and DSC.
For this reason, use only tires of the same
manufacture and tread configuration. In
the event of a flat tire, for example,
remount the approved wheel and tire
combination as soon as possible.

Storage

Store tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
them against light whenever possible.
Protect the tires against contact with oil,
grease and fuel.

Tire changes between axles

Depending on individual operating condi-
tions, different wear patterns appear on
the front and rear axles. In the interests of
safety and optimized handling characteris-
tics, a change between the axles is not
recommended.