As I just found your site while looking for help I hope I posted correctly? If not pls just move this to where it should be.... I purchased an 05 Mini S for my daughter to take to college. This car has been AWESOME N every respect except one...(Can U Guess) those &^%$ Run-Flat tires! To make a long story short we live in Alabama on the coast and there is not a SINGLE Mini dealer N our state. I can live with that but what I can't live with is the $1600 to replace tires every 1 1/2 years. I was told simply to replace the run-flats with conventional radials but when I called (2) different dealers I get two different answers? I'm told if I did not have the 17" rims that would work but since I do have the 17" rims (something about a performance suspension) I will mess up the handling of the car if I do not replace again with run-flats. Another dealer told me they only make the 205/45r/17 N run-flats and I have no other choice? I went on-line and found the tires as conventional radials? Do the rims have to be modified in any way or do U just take the run-flats off and replace with the radials? Can the two tires be mixed ie: the run-flats on the front are fine but need (2) new tires on the rear? If anyone can clear this up for me it would be most appreciated!

regards

 

I've been running non run flats since 06 ... The 17's are available in conventional radials and work / handle better then the runflats ...
The rims do not need any modifications ... BUT I'd highly suggest either getting a tire mobility kit (slime and air compressor $20 at Wal mart)or a compact spare tire to keep close to be able to swap in case of a flat

 

GREAT NEWS! Many Thx that's what I wanted to hear. Can U tell me as far as the tires being mixed? ie: Conventional radials N the rear let's say and run flats N the front or vice versa. Two of my run flats are like new is why I ask?

regards

 

Another question U may know the answer too? Do the NEW Mini's still run run-flat tires?

regards

 

Mixing should not matter a bit except the ride ... The Runflats really are not great
YES the new mini's have runflats as they do not have spares ... No spare = Run flats

 

Again... Thank for taking the time to fwd the info!

regards

 

Moved.

 

Does the tire dealer have to have a special tire changing machine to remove the run-flats and replace with reg radials? When my daughter had a flat N rural Alabama the nearest tire chg machine that could replace was N Atlanta?

Thx N Advance
regards

 

I'm not sure about removal , The local tire shop pulled my runflats off and mounted snow tires on my stockers no trouble