2012 MINI COOPER tire pressure

Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
95
1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2. Switch off the recirc ulated-air mode and
switch the airflow contro l of the heating, air
conditioner, or automa tic climate control to
high, refe r to page 81 or 83.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated on the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to various se ctions of the exhaust
system, and never apply undercoating to them.
Make sure that when driving, idling or when
parking, no easily flamma ble materials, such as
hay, leaves, grass, etc. come into contact with
the hot exhaust system. Such contact could lead
to a fire, with the risk of serious personal injuries
and property damage. Do not touch hot exhaust
tail pipes. Otherwise, there is a risk of burns. <
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form betw een tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning, can
cause partial or complete loss of tire contact
with the road surface, so that the car cannot be
steered or braked properly. <
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declining
tread depth on the tires, refer also to Tread
depth on page 139.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged. <
Parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the parking brake. Other-
wise, greater clutch wear will result. <
For information on drivin g off using Hill Assist,
refer to page 66.
Braking safely
Your MINI is equipped with ABS. If you are in a
situation which requires full braking, it is best to
brake using maximum brake pressure. Since the
vehicle maintains steeri ng responsiveness, you
can still avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
The pulsation of the brake pedal, together with
the sound of hydraulic regulation, indicates that
ABS is functioning properly.
Objects in the movement range of the
pedals
Keep floor mats, carp et, and other objects
out of the movement range of the pedals;
otherwise, they may inhi bit the function of the
pedals during driving.
Do not place additional floor mats onto an
existing one or onto other objects.
Only use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be appropriately fastened.
Make sure that the fl oor mats are securely
fastened again after they have been removed,
e.g. for cleaning. <
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or ther e is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this process
helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure that.
Then full braking force will be immediately
available when it is needed.
Hills
To prevent overheatin g and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. <
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
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DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving
96
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, page48.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine
braking action will not be present or there will be
no power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired. <
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in op erating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminan ts accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic climate
control is in operation, and then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal.
In the MINI Cooper S, the coolant pump may
continue to run for some time after the engine is
switched off. This will generate noise in the
engine compartment.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result can
assume the form of a sudden blowout. <
Avoid fluid spills in the cargo area as they
could damage the vehicle. <
MINI: cargo area cover
Do not place any objects on the cover;
otherwise, they could endanger the car's
occupants, e.g. in the case of braking or sudden
swerving, or they may damage the cover. <
When you open the tailgate, the roll-up cover is
raised.
To load bulky luggage, the cover can be
removed.
1. Unhook the lift straps from the tailgate.
2. Pull the cover out of the holders toward the
rear.
MINI Clubman: luggage compartment
roller cover
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the
luggage compartment roller cover. If you
do so, they may already po s e a d a n g e r t o v e h i c l e
occupants during braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not allow the luggage compartment roll-up
cover to snap back, otherwise it can be
damaged. <
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Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
101
Closing windows
Open windows increase air resistance and
therefore fuel consumption.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct tire inflation
pressure at least twic e a month and before
starting on a long trip.
Low inflation pressure increases rolling resis-
tance and thus leads to greater fuel consump-
tion and tire wear.
Drive off immediately
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds. This is the
fastest way for the cold engine to reach its oper-
ating temperature.
Think ahead while driving
Avoid unnecessary accelera tion and braking. by
maintaining a suitable di stance to the vehicle
driving ahead.
Looking-ahead an d smooth driving reduces fuel
consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use first gear only for dr iving off. In second and
higher gears, accelerate smoothly to a suitable
engine and road speed. In doing so, avoid high
engine speeds and shift up early.
When you reach your desired traveling speed,
shift to the highest suitable gear and drive at
constant speed.
As a rule: driving at lo w engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red traffic light, take your
foot off the accelerator and let the car roll to a
stop in the highest gear possible.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the vehi cle coast in a suitable
gear. Fuel supply is shut off automatically when the
vehicle is coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or
in traffic jams.
Switch off any features that are not
currently required
Features such as air conditioning, seat heaters
and the rear window defroster require a great
deal of energy and result in greater fuel con-
sumption, especially in
city driving and during
Stop & Go operation. For this reason, switch off
these features if they are not really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. The
manufacturer of your MINI recommends having
the vehicle serviced by a MINI dealer. Also note
the MINI Maintenance System, page 147.
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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
131
Wheels and tires
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. Equipment is also described
that is not available because of, for example,
selected options or count ry version. This also
applies to safety related functions and systems.
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving
safety that depend on the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflatio n pressure regularly
and correct it, if nece ssary: 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, page 67,
or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, page 69.<
MINI: checking the tire inflation
pressure of the compact tire
A valve extension for checking the inflation
pressure is located behind the bumper.
MINI Clubman: checking the tire
inflation pressure of the compact tire
To check the inflation pressure, fold up the flat
load floor. Remove the toolkit and the space-
saver spare tire, refer to page 163.
Inflation pressure specifications
MINI:
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
inflation pressures, observe the following:
> Tire sizes for your vehicle
> Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
and to achieve optimum dr iving comfort, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation
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MOBILITYWheels and tires
132
pressures listed on the following pages in the
columns for traveling sp eeds up to a maximum
of 100 mph or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pre ssures can also be found
on the driver's side door pillar when the driver's
door is open.
The maximum permitted speed for these
tire inflation pressures is 100 mph or
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed; otherwise,
tire damage and accidents may occur. <
Tire inflation pressures for driving above
100 mph or 160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph or 160 km/h, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation
pressures listed on the following pages in the
columns for traveling sp eeds including those
exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h. Otherwise,
tire damage and accidents could occur. <
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits; otherwise, violat ions of the law could
occur.
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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
133
MINI Cooper tire inflation pressures
Tire size Tire pressures in bar/psi
Speeds up to a max. of 100 mph/160 km/h Speeds including those
exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the
table are indicated in bar/psi for
cold tires. Cold = ambient
temperature
175/65 R 15 84 T M+S Std
175/65 R 15 84 H M+S A/S Std
175/65 R 15 84 H Std
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 A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC 2.3/33 2.3/33 2.6/38 2.6/38
Space-saver spare tire: T 115/
70R1590M Speed up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
More details on the perm issible load and weights can be found on page 191.
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MOBILITYWheels and tires
134
MINI Cooper S tire inflation pressures
Tire size Tire pressures in bar/psi
Speeds up to a max. of 100 mph/160 km/h Speeds including those
exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the
table are indicated in bar/psi for
cold tires. Cold = ambient
temperature
195/55 R 16 87 V RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H,V M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 V M+S A/S RSC 2.3/33 2.3/33 2.6/38 2.6/38
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S A/S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V RSC
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S RSC 2.6/38 2.6/38 2.8/41 2.8/41
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page191.
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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
135
MINI John Cooper Works tire inflation pressures
Tire size Tire pressures in bar/psi
Speeds up to a max. of 100 mph/160 km/h Speeds including those
exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the
table are indicated in bar/psi for
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 RSC 2.6/38 2.6/38 2.8/41 2.8/41
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC 2.8/41 2.8/41 3.0/44 3.0/44
More details on the perm issible load and weights can be found on page 191.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 914 744 - \251 07/12 BMW AG