I want to put some snow tires on my factory wheels, will there be any issues regarding the TPMS. Are they in the valve stem or wrapped around the wheel?

 

Depends on what year your MINI is.

 

2009

 

It shouldn't make a difference no matter what year your MINI is. Up until fall 2007 (EDIT: typo), the TPMS used ABS sensors to detect tire pressure changes. After that point in time all newer MINIs have the TPMS around the stem. My dad's old 1996 Lincoln Continental had TPMS that went around the whole wheel, so unless you've got one of those, you shouldn't have any issues just changing tires!

 

My 07 Mustang has the TPMS wrapped around the wheel. It was a huge PITA when I bought aftermarket wheels.

 

its more like fall 2007... mine is made july/07 still got indirect.

 

Just inform whoever mounts the tires you have TPMS. They should be able to handle them correctly. If they don't have a clue go somewhere else.

I put all-season non-runflats on my factory wheels. It was not a problem.

 

It was 8/07 when they started switching them to valve stem sensors.

 

As others have said make sure you ask them if they can mount tires on teh rims with internal TMPS. Many do not really know how and damage the sensors.

Three of the five tire shops with in 20 miles of my house straight out told me they will not even touch them. They do not want to take the liability of damaging them. Unfortunately for them they are going to start loosing a lot of business as TPMS is now a requirement for all cars.

 

Don't forget to reset your TPMS. I got a panic call from my wife driving to work after I put on the snow tires. Then I remembered that I forgot to reset the TPMS. Real easy, you just press and hold the TPMS button before you drive.
PS. I should mention that my snow tires were already mounted... but on different size wheels.

 

TPMS button? Will I have to reset them if I dont change the wheels?

 

Yes. Anytime you adjust the air pressure up or down U should do a reset.

 

Where is this button? On the monitors themselves?

 

It's all in the manual. The reset is part of your onboard computer.

 

Since the 2009s use the rolling distance to measure different rolling speeds of the wheel did they do away with the TPMS sensors in the wheels?

 

I read this wrong. You can change the tires with no problem! But like was said before make sure that you take it to someone who knows what the heck they are doing. Its the wheels that are the problem when it comes to the TPMS. I am sorry about that, I should of read it again.

 

I have a question. I you have a flat and change the tire, can TPMS be reused?

 

on your car isn't that the abs based TPMS you have? if so,
there's no RF transmitter module on the valve...


for those that have the RF transmitter, they can be reused if
the shop does not break them.

 

I have no idea, it has silver valve stems that's all I know. I recently had a flat and was putting winter tires on in the process and noticed that now one valve is regular rubber (possibly no TPMS on that wheel anymore) and was wondering why? Yes, there was a flat on one wheel but also all tires were changed in the process. Is TPMS sensor non reusable once you get flat on that wheel?

 

The TPMS sensors can be removed and/or transferred simply(with the tire off) by loosening the nut at the base of the valve stem.If the valve stems are metal then they have a TPMS sensor on the inside.Rubber stem means no sensor.

Sensor


No Sensor

 

so in this case the tire place screwed up and threw it away i guess. I'm guessing there should be no reason why they cound not reuse the TPMS, correct?

 

Correct

 

TPMS sensors are not cheap ($200 a set give/take). I would want the shop to reimburse that.

 

Also I doubt they threw it away.

 

So what you are saying (trying not to sound too dumb but just want to clarify) is that my TPMS in my 2002 Mini Cooper S will not be affected if I change both wheels and tires because the TPMS is monitored by ABS and not the stem-valve type? Reason is, I'm going to order a wheel/tire combo from tirerack with mounting already done so all I have to do is change them at home.