2005 MINI COOPER wheel

68
ALL SEASON TRACTION CONTROL (ASC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. ASC recognizes the danger present in trac
-
tion loss and will increase driving stability
and traction by reducing the engine's out
-
put and, if necessary, by applying the
brakes to the front wheels. ASC is operational each time you start the
engine. It contains the following functions:>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with ASC. An appropri
-
ate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.

Do not make any modifications to the ASC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
ASC.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:

ASC controls the drive and braking forces.The indicator lamp stays lit:

The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the ASCBriefly press the switch.

The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains or to 'rock
free' in snow, it can be helpful to switch off
the ASC for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always drive with the ASC switched on
whenever possible.<
To switch the ASC back onBriefly press the switch once again.

Indicator lamp goes out.
ProCarManuals.com

69
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. It
also maintains driving stability even in crit
-
ical driving situations.DSC recognizes unstable vehicle conditions,
such as understeering or oversteering, and,
as far as is possible within the laws of phys
-
ics, helps keep the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the rpms and by brake
applications to the individual wheels.The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. It contains the following func
-
tions:>All Season traction Control (ASC)>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with DSC. An appro
-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.

Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
DSC. The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:

DSC controls the drive and braking forces. The indicator lamp stays lit:

The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the DSCBriefly press the switch.

The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains, it may be
effective to switch off the DSC for a brief
period.
To maintain stability, always drive with the DSC switched on whenever
possible.<
To switch the DSC back onBriefly press the switch once again.

Indicator lamp goes out.
ProCarManuals.com

70
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) The concept The ABS keeps the wheels from locking
while braking, thereby enhancing active
driving safety. ABS also includes Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD).Safe brakingYour vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stan
-
dard feature. The best way to brake the
vehicle in critical situations requiring brak
-
ing is to apply maximum pressure to the
brake pedal: panic stop.

Since the vehicle remains maneuverable,
you can still go around any obstacles with
the smallest possible steering movements.The pulsation of the brake pedal, together
with the sound of hydraulic regulation,
indicates to you that ABS is actively taking
effect.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)Cornering Brake Control (CBC) is an
enhancement of ABS that improves vehicle
stability especially when braking during
cornering.

When the vehicle is being braked, the rear
wheels are relieved from load, and this can
cause the vehicle to oversteer in curves.
CBC counteracts this by making use of uni
-
lateral braking pressure to generate a sta
-
bilizing counter torque while braking out
-
side of the ABS control range.Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD)In order to achieve a short braking distance
when the vehicle is fully loaded, your vehi
-
cle is equipped with relatively large brakes
on the rear axle. EBV continuously moni
-
tors the speeds of the rear wheels in rela
-
tion to the front wheels in order to prevent
overbraking of the rear wheels even when
the vehicle has a light load. If the rear
wheels tend to lock, the EBV controls their
slip, ensuring operating stability.
ProCarManuals.com

71
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITOR The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps
track of the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires. The system alerts you when there is a
substantial pressure loss in one of the tires
relative to another.The tire inflation pressures are monitored
based on the speeds of the four wheels in
relation to one another. A flat tire is
detected as the result of differences in cer
-
tain speed ratios, and a warning is gener
-
ated.System requirementsSo that the system can 'familiarize' itself
with the correct inflation pressure, please
do the following:1. Check the tire inflation pressure in all
tires2. Compare them with the inflation pres
-
sure table, refer to page
98, and adjust
the pressures if necessary
3. Initialize the system.
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you to severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors, nor does it
detect the gradual and minor loss of pres
-
sure in all four tires. could lead to a delayed detection of pres
-
sure loss or to the system not functioning:>Driving on snow-covered or slippery
roads>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high rates of lateral accel
-
eration>When driving with snow chains, false
warnings and undetected pressure loss
may occur>When driving with a space-saver spare
tire, the Flat Tire Monitor cannot func
-
tion.
Initializing the system
The system must be reinitialized immediately after changing a tire
and wheel, or after correcting the pressure
in any tire. This requires a bit of driving.<
1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do
not start driving2. Press the button long enough for the
indicator lamp in the display elements
to light up for a few seconds3. Drive off.It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an
alert.
ProCarManuals.com

79
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
Automatic air distribution and volume
Automatic program (AUTO):

Indicator lamp lights up.

Automatic adjustment of the air distribu
-
tion and volume, and adaptation of the
specified temperatures to external influ
-
ences, i.e. outside temperature and sun
-
light.In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioning is activated automatically. To
create a pleasant air climate, the air tem
-
perature coming from the vents in the
upper body area is lower than the air tem
-
perature in the footwell.Air volume/Blower

Switching automatic climate control
off/on
Air volume/Blower.

Press the left or right half of the
button. The air volume varies. Automatic
adjustment of the air volume is deacti
-
vated.Switching air conditioner on/off.

Press the left half of the button while the
blower is at the lowest setting. The blower,
heating and air conditioning are switched
off. All displays go out.
Switch the automatic climate control back
on by pressing any button.Air conditioning
Indicator lamp lights up.

The air is cooled and dehumidified
and, depending on the temperature set
-
ting, rewarmed.In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioning is activated automatically. After the engine has started, the wind
-
shield can temporarily fog over. In the air
conditioning mode, there is less condensa
-
tion on the windows.
When the air conditioning is on, con
-
densation is formed which then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground are therefore nor
-
mal. Supply of outside air into the vehi
-
cle is blocked. indicator lamp lights
up.

The air within the vehicle is recirculated.In the automatic program (AUTO) in hot
weather conditions, the recirculated air
mode is activated temporarily to enable
faster cooling.

The indicator lamp for the recirculated air
button is not lit.
The recirculated air mode should not be constantly used over a longer period of
time, as the air quality in the vehicle's interior
will otherwise gradually deteriorate. If the
windows fog up in the recirculated air mode,
turn the recirculated air mode off and if nec
-
essary increase the air supply.
<
Rear window defroster and windshield
heating*
Indicator lamp lights up.

As long as the indicator lamp is lit,
the window heater is operating.

The heater switches off automatically after a
short time. Temperature
Tap or turn the wheel in the appro
-
priate direction to change the tem
-
perature step by step.The figures in the display provide a
general indication of interior temperature.
When you start the vehicle, the system
ensures that the selected temperature is
achieved as quickly as possible and then main
-
tained.
ProCarManuals.com

100
TIRE CODING
TIRE CONDITION
Traction The traction grades, from highest to low
-
est, are AA, A, B, and C.

Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern
-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction per
-
formance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead brak
-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics. B and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con
-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab
-
oratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the labora
-
tory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail
-
ure. -
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on
the side of the tire, refer to page
101
.
M+SWinter and all-season tires.

These have better winter performance
properties than summer tires.
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.Tire tread The tread depth should not fall below
ε in / 3 mm.

Below ε
in / 3 mm tread depth, there is a
very high danger of hydroplaning at higher
speeds even if there is only a small amount
of water on the road.

Below a tread depth of
1/6 in / 4 mm, win
-
ter tires display a perceptible decrease in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.
ProCarManuals.com

101
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CONDITION
RUN FLAT TIRES
*
Wear indicators in the tread-groove base, arrow, are spread around the circumfer
-
ence of the tire and are marked on the side
wall of the tire with TWI, Tread Wear Indi
-
cator. The indicators in the tread indicate at 1/16 in / 1.6
mm tread depth that the
legally permitted wear limit has been
reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note that wheels, tires and suspension
parts are more susceptible to road hazards
and consequential damage.

Unusual vibrations while driving can indi
-
cate tire damage or other damage to the
vehicle. This may be caused, for example,
by driving over a curb. This is also true for
abnormalities in the vehicle's handling
characteristics, such as a pronounced ten
-
dency to pull to the left or right.

In such situations, reduce your speed
immediately. Drive carefully to the nearest
MINI Dealer or tire dealer, or have the vehi
-
cle towed there, if necessary.

Tire damage, up to and including blowouts,
can endanger the lives of both the vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
You will recognize Run Flat tires by a circu
-
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on
the side of the tire.

Run Flat tires consist of self-contained tires
and special rims. The tire reinforcement
ensures that driving remains possible to a
restricted degree in the event of a pressure
drop or even a flat tire. Continuing driving with a damaged
tire Depending on the load, you can continue
driving with Run Flat tires at a maximum
speed of 50
mph
/ 80
km/h.
ProCarManuals.com

102
RUN FLAT TIRES
*
NEW WHEELS AND TIRES
If there is a total loss of tire inflation pres
-
sure, 0
psi
/ 0 kPa, or obvious tire damage,
you can gauge the mileage for continued
driving on the basis of the following indica
-
tions:>With a light load:

1 to 2 persons without luggage:

approx. 155
miles
/ 250
km
>With a medium load:

2 persons, full luggage compartment, or

4 persons without luggage:

approx. 90 miles
/ 150 km.
>With a full load:

4 persons or more, full luggage compart
-
ment:

approx. 30
miles
/ 50 km.
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed of 50
mph
/ 80
km/h. In case of
tire pressure loss you must expect changes
in vehicle handling such as lower track sta
-
bility during braking, longer braking dis
-
tances and changes in self-steering proper
-
ties when close to the handling limit.

For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your vehicle recommends not having dam
-
aged Run Flat tires repaired. In this case,
consult your MINI dealer.<
Tire change set
In case of a flat tire, the tire change set is not needed, since your vehicle
has Run Flat tires.

When changing a tire, always observe the
safety measures and the procedure for
changing tires starting on page
125
.<
Your vehicle is additionally equipped with a
tire change set.In the MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con
-
vertible this is located in the luggage com
-
partment under the floor mat.

In the MINI COOPER
S and MINI COOPER S
Convertible, the tire change set is located in
a separate bag which is attached to the
lashing eyelets on the luggage compart
-
ment floor by means of tie-down straps.
Have new wheels and tires mounted only by a tire specialist. Work that is
improperly carried out could result in con
-
sequential damage and pose safety haz
-
ards. about the correct wheel and tire combina
-
tion for your vehicle.

Have the wheels balanced after each tire or
wheel replacement. The correct wheel and tire combination is
also important for various systems that
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS or
DSC.
The manufacturer of your vehicle rec
-
ommends that you avoid using
retread tires, as this could impair driving
safety. This is due to the possible variations
in casing structures and, in some cases, to
their extreme age, which can lead to a
decrease in their durability.<
ProCarManuals.com