REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
67
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Other-
wise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been
changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of sud-
den severe tire damage caused by outside
influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has not
been reset; for example, a flat tire may be indi-
cated even though the tire inflation pressures
are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics, such as a
compact spare wheel
*, has been mounted, or if
TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to other
systems or devices using the same radio fre-
quency.
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been
changed, reset the system.<
Using the button in the turn indicator
lever
1.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator
lever repeatedly until "SET/INFO" is dis-
played.3.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.
4.Repeatedly press the button briefly until the
symbol for Tire Pressure Monitor and
"ACTIVE" are displayed.
The Tire Pressure Monitor can be reset using
"RESET".
5.Press and hold the button until "RESETTING"
appears.
6.Start driving.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation
pressures in the tires are accepted as the tar-
get values to be monitored. The system
reset is completed during your drive, and
can be interrupted at any time. When driving
resumes, the reset is continued automati-
cally. The indicator lamp goes out after the
system reset is completed.
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamps come on in yellow
and red. An acoustic signal also sounds.
There is a flat tire or substantial loss of
tire pressure.
Technology for driving comfort and safety
68
1.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle with cau-
tion. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers.
2.Check whether your vehicle is equipped
with normal tires or Run-Flat Tires.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires
is a circle with the letters RSC on the
sidewall, refer to the Owner's Manual for
Vehicle.<
Normal tires
1.Determine which tire is damaged.
If this cannot be determined, contact
your MINI Dealer.<
2.Repair the flat tire or change the damaged
tire, refer to page129.
Run-Flat Tires*
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below
50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehicle is
not equipped with Run-Flat Tires, oth-
erwise a serious accident could result.<
2.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible
distance for continued driving on the basis
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons
without luggage:
approx. 94 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, load compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 kmDrive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h, otherwise an
accident may occur. In the event of pressure
loss, vehicle handling changes. This includes
reduced tracking stability in braking, extended
braking distance and altered natural steering
characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce the vehi-
cle speed and stop as soon as possible. Other-
wise, sections of the tire may come loose and
cause accidents. Do not continue driving and
contact your MINI Dealer.<
Malfunction
The small warning lamp flashes in yel-
low and then lights up continuously; the
larger warning lamp comes on in yel-
low.
On the onboard monitor, the tires are shown in
gray and a message appears. No punctures can
be detected.
This type of message is shown in the following
situations:
>If there is a malfunction.
Have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics has been
mounted.
>If TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to
other systems or devices using the same
radio frequency.
Message for unsuccessful system reset
Both warning lamps come on in yellow.
The system is not reset after a tire has
been changed, for example.
Check the tire inflation pressure and
reset the system, refer to the Owner's Manual
for Vehicle.
REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
69
Declaration according to NHTSA/FMVSS
138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the
inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label. If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the vehi-
cle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation pres-
sure for those tires. As an added safety feature,
your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system TPMS that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more of
your tires are significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat
and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping
ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not reached
the level at which the TPMS low tire pressure tell-
tale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash
for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously lit. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction indi-
cator is illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle
that prevent the TPMS from functioning prop-
erly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
Technology for driving comfort and safety
70
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
MINI:
1Front airbags
2Side airbags in backrests
3Head airbags at the front and rearMINI Convertible:
1Front airbags
2Side/head airbags in the backrests
Protective effect
Observe the instructions on page34 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the head
and side airbags help provide protection in the
event of side impact. The relevant side airbag
supports the side upper body area. The head air
bag supports the head.
The side/head airbag in the MINI Convertible
protects the head during impact.
The airbags are designed to not be triggered in
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover situations or rear impacts.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and window on the passen-
g e r s i d e f r e e f r o m o b s t r u c t i o n , i . e . d o n o t c o v e r i t
with adhesive film or coverings, and do not affix
any holders such as for a navigation device or a
mobile phone.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other
objects not specifically approved for seats with
integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not hang items of clothing such as coats or jackets
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove
the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do
not modify the individual components of the
system or its wiring in any way. This includes the
upholstered covers on the steering wheel,
instrument panel, seats and roof posts, as well as
the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a MINI Dealer
or a workshop that works according to repair
procedures of the manufacturer of your MINI
with correspondingly trained personnel and has
the required explosives licenses. Otherwise,
unprofessional attempts to service the system
could lead to failure in an emergency or undes-
ired airbag activation, either of which could
result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Wheels and tires
102
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also driv-
ing comfort and, to a great extent, driving safety
that depend on the condition of the tires and the
maintenance of the specified tire pressure.
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a
month and before starting long trips. If you fail to
observe this precaution you may be driving on
tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condition that
can not only compromise your vehicle's driving
stability, but also lead to tire damage and the risk
of an accident. Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat
tires, except when using Run-Flat Tires. A flat tire
will seriously impair your vehicle's handling and
braking response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire
can lead to loss of control over the vehicle.<
Check the tire inflation pressures only on
cold tires. This means after a maximum of
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are
warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.
After adjusting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the flat tire monitor, page65,
or reset the tire pressure control, page67.<
Checking the tire inflation pressure of
the space-saver spare tire*
A valve extension for checking the inflation pres-
sure is located behind the bumper.
Inflation pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The tire inflation pressures apply to the
tire sizes approved and the tire brands
recommended by the manufacturer of your
MINI. Your MINI Dealer will be glad to advise
you.<
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, observe the following:
>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving speeds of up to 100 mph or
160 km/h and to achieve optimum driving com-
fort, adjust pressures to the respective tire infla-
tion pressures listed on the following pages in
the columns for traveling speeds up to a maxi-
mum of 100 mph or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pressures can also be found
on the driver's-side door post when the driver's
door is open.
The maximum permissible speed for these
tire pressures is 100 mph or 160 km/h. Do
not exceed this speed, otherwise tire damage
and accidents could occur.<
Wheels and tires
104
MINI Cooper tire inflation pressures
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Speeds up to a
max. of
100 mph /160 km/hSpeeds including those exceeding
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold
tires. Cold = ambient
temperature
175/65 R 15 84 T M+S
175/65 R 15 84 H M+S
175/65 R 15 84 H
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC33/230 33/230 33/230 33/230 38/260 38/260
Emergency wheel:
115/70 R 15 90 M60/420 60/420 – – 60/420 60/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page155.
Wheels and tires
106
MINI John Cooper Works tire inflation pressures
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Speeds up to a
max. of
100 mph /160 km/hSpeeds including those exceeding
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
185/50 R 17 86 H M+S XL RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 W RSC38/260 38/260 38/260 38/260 41/280 41/280
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC 41/280 41/280 41/280 41/280 44/300 44/300
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page155.
REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
107
MINI Cooper Convertible tire inflation pressures
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Speeds up to a
max. of
100 mph /160 km/hSpeeds including those exceeding
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold
tires. Cold = ambient
temperature
175/65 R 15 84 T M+S
175/65 R 15 84 H
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V RSC
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC35/240 35/240 35/240 35/240 38/260 38/260
Emergency wheel:
115/70 R 15 90 M60/420 60/420 – – 60/420 60/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page155.