I want to replace my original 16" runflats with non-runflats. (They ride too rough for me.) My dealer (Tate) says I need to buy new rims too. I never heard this before, after reading many posts on this forum. Any opinions?

Thanks in advance.

Scott
MCS 2006

 

That's just not true.

You can run non-runflat tires on the stock wheels with no problems. People have also run run-flats on non-stock wheels. Either way works.

 

+1 And don't have the dealer sell you tires please. Check out the fine sponsor of NAM, www.tirerack.com

 

Two possible thoughts on the advice given (total speculation):

Some people that ditch the runflats do it to save the weight (perfromance). Since the OEM rims are also heavy, those same people usually buy lighter rims for the same reason.

You also need a special runflat tire remover to exchange the tires, which sometimes get confused with what you were told (for unknown reasons)...

Anyways, Dave is right, the OEM rims can handle normal tires no problem.

 

Runflat rims ARE special - at least the S-lites have an interior surface that slopes up, I'm assuming to help the runflats keep their bead when deflated. That said, there's no reason a regular tire could not be mounted. A DEALER told you that? Scary. Report the person to a higher authority at once. That's bad info.

 

She said something about the "drop zone". I don't know what that means.

 

i replaced my run-flats with regular tires years ago. the only thing that my installer said was an issue was that my wheels didn't have a hard edge (or lip) on the side to easily remove and remount tires.

note: i have the 5-star wheels that come with the sports package on the cooper (non-s).

 

Actually my installer hated the runflats because he said it took 2 of his guys to mount them. He had no problem installing my new BF Goodrich KDW2s on my MINI R99 wheels.

 

Running regular tires on 'runflat' rims here too for the past year and a half. Getting the runflats off is a PITA for auto shops (expect to pay a bit extra for dismounting), but once you have regular tires on, it's no big deal. I've since gotten I think a 1/2 dozen flats in the DC area, and every shop I've been to has been able to work with them without a problem.

And since you're in eastern MD, I heartily recommend taking your MINI to Kearney Enterprise Inc. in Capitol Heights in Maryland. I'll PM you more details!

-Paul!

 

I think the "drop zone" is dealer slang for "profit margin"

 

If you choose to put regular tires on runflat rims, make sure the installer knows what he is doing, because if he ruins a pressure sensor on the rim it will cost you over $100.00 to repace the sensor.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the OEM rims have a slightly higher internal lip. I think I might have read about it in a Pirelli Eufori technology document, but I know it was referencing MINI Cooper rims.

Other than that go with what everyone here is saying - it is not a major deal/show stopper... OEM RIM with non run flat is fine.

 

MINI wheels have no sensors on them. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System uses data from the ABS sensors to monitor the rolling radius of all four tires and warns the driver if any tire’s pressure drops below 70% of normal.