2012 MINI COUPE ROADSTER CONVERTIBLE winter tires

Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
217
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades. <
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 γ) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditio ns of their use, how-
ever, and may depart si gnificantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking trac-
tion tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics. <
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor labo ratory test wheel. Sus-
tained 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 lev-
els of performance on the laboratory test wheel
that exceed 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 combin ation, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC - run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side of
the tire, page 218.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
XL
Designation for specia lly reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires regularly for tread wear, signs
of damage and for foreig n objects lodged in the
tread. Check the tread depth.

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MOBILITYWheels and tires
218
Tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European
legislation only specifies a minimum tread depth
of 1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tr ead depths below 1/8 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
Winter tires
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter condit ions. In the interest of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. When tire tread is worn
down to the level of the wear indicators, the
remaining tread dept h is 1/16 in/1.6 mm.
Tire damage
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces, as
well as debris, curbs, and other obstacles can
cause serious damage to wheels, tires, and sus-
pension parts. This is more likely to occur with
low-profile tires, which provide less cushioning
between the wheel and the road. Be careful to
avoid road hazards and reduce your speed,
especially if your vehicle is equipped with low-
profile tires. Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indi
cate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect . This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by drivin g over curbs. The same
applies to any other abnormal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
In these cases, reduce speed immediately
and have wheels and tires thoroughly
checked. To do so, drive carefully to the nearest
MINI dealer or a specialized tire shop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI
manufacturer. If necessa ry, have the vehicle
towed there.
Otherwise, tire damage can be extremely dan-
gerous for vehicle occu pants and other road
users. <
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 0312 means that the tire was manufac-
tured during the 3rd week of 2012.
For various reasons, such as the development of
brittleness, the manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends tire replacemen t after no more than
6 years, regardless of the actual wear of the
tires.
Run-flat tires
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-flat tires comprise a conditionally self-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforcement

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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
219
in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can con-
tinue to be used subject to certain restrictions,
even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page88.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires mounted only
by your MINI dealer or a specialized tire
shop that has specially trained personnel work-
ing in accordance with th e specifications of the
MINI manufacturer. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
age and related safety ha zards. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced. <
Retreaded tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you avoid using retreaded
tires, as this could impair driving safety. The
causes for this include potentially different tire
casing structures and of ten wide variations in
tire age, which can result in a limited service
life.<
Correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends mounting only wheels and tires
that it has specifically approved for use on your
particular model. Although other wheels and
tires may theoretically have the same dimen-
sions, variations in factors such as manufactur-
ing tolerances can result in contact between tire
and bodywork, ultimately leading to serious
accidents. The manufacturer of your MINI can-
not evaluate non-approved wheels and tires to
determine if they are su ited for use, and there-
fore cannot ensure the operating safety of the
vehicle if they are mounted. <
Your MINI dealer will be glad to inform you
about the correct wheel an d tire combination for
your vehicle. The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure
reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been
damaged, mount the previous wheel and tire
combination again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over from
summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise, the Tire
Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect a
puncture, refer to page 90. Your MINI dealer will
be glad to advise you.
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your MINI
recommends certain tire brands. They are
marked with a clearly visible MINI designation
on the sidewall of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or changing over from
summer to winter tires and vice versa, mount
run-flat tires for your ow n safety. Keep in mind
that no space-saver spare tire is available in the
event of a flat. Your MINI dealer will be glad to
advise you.

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MOBILITYWheels and tires
220
Special characteristics of winter tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recommends the
use of winter tires on snowy roads or if temper-
atures drop below 457/ +7 6. Although all-
season M+S tires provide better winter traction
than summer tires, they generally fail to provide
the same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and
accidents. <
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view. This
label is available at your tire dealer or MINI
dealer.
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires agains t all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
Swapping wheels among the axles
Depending on the individual use, front and rear
tires may exhibit different wear and tear.
In order to maintain an even wear and tear, the
wheels may be rotated between the axles. Your
MINI dealer will be glad to advise you.
Always check the inflation pressure after the tire
rotation, if necessary change the pressure.
Snow chains
Only certain types of fine-link snow chains have
been tested by the manufacturer of your MINI,
classified as road-safe and recommended.
Contact your MINI deal er for more details.
Only attach snow chains in pairs to the front
wheels with the following tires.
> 175/65 R 15 M+S
> 175/60 R 16 M+S
John Cooper Works:
> 185/50 R 17 86 H M+S XL RSC
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph or 50 km/h. Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted; otherwise, the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow ch ains, it can be useful
to briefly deactivate DSC or activate DTC, refer to
page 84.<

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MOBILITYReplacing components
240
5.Squeeze the securing spring.
6. The space-saver spare tire is released and
must be held by the lifting handle.
7. Lower the space-saver spare tire with the
lifting handle.
8. Unscrew the lifting handle.
9. Pull the space-saver spare tire underneath
the vehicle out toward the rear.
10. Position the space-save r spare tire with the
valve facing upward.
11. Unscrew the valve extension from the valve
of the space-saver spare tire.
12. Unscrew the dust cap from the extension
and place it on the valve of the space-saver
spare tire.
Due to its different dimensions, the dam-
aged wheel cannot be placed in the recess
for the space-saver spare tire. Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Changes may
occur in vehicle handling such as lower track sta-
bility during braking, longer braking distances
and changes in self-steering properties when
close to the handling limit. These properties are
more noticeable with winter tires. <
Only one space-saver spare tire may be
mounted at one time. Mount a wheel and
tire of the original size as soon as possible, to
avoid any safety risks. <
Check the tire inflation pressure at the
earliest opportunity and correct it if
necessary. Replace the defe ctive tire as soon as
possible and have the ne w wheel/tire assembly
balanced. <
Preparing for a tire change
Observe the safety precautions regarding
flat tires on page 237.<
Additional safety measures when chang-
ing tires:
Only change the tire wh en parked on a surface
that is level, firm and not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip sideways on
soft or slippery support surfaces, such as snow,
ice, flagstones, etc.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object as a
support base for the jack, as this would prevent
it from extending to its full support height and
reduce its load-carrying capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the engine
when the vehicle is supported by the jack; other-
wise, there is a risk of fatal injury. <
1. Place the foldable chock behind the front
wheel on the other side of the vehicle or in
front of the wheel if the vehicle is on an
incline. If the wheel is changed on a surface
with a more severe sl ope, take additional
precautions to secure the vehicle from
rolling.
2. Uncover the lug bolts if necessary.
3. Loosen the lug bolts by a half turn.

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268
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake System83
Accessories, see Vehicle equipment 4
Acknowledgment signals for
locking/unlocking vehicle 30
Activated-charcoa l filter for
automatic climate
control 105
Adaptive Light Control 97
Adding engine oil 223
Additives
– coolant 224
– engine oil 223
Address, entering 132
Address for navigation
– entering 126,132
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Air
conditioner 102
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Automatic
climate control 103
Adjusting the tone during audio operation, refer to
Tone control 147
Airbags 93
– sitting safely 50
– warning lamp 94
Air conditioner 101
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner 102
– automatic climate control 103
– ventilation 106
Air distribution
– automatic 104
– individual 103
– manual 103 Air flow rate
102,104
– air conditioning system 102
– automatic climate
control 104
– heating, ventilation 102
Airing, refer to Ventilation106
Air outlets, refer to Air vents 101
Air pressure, checking, refer to
Tire inflation pressure 209
Air recirculation, refer to Recirculated-air
mode 102,104
Air supply
– air conditioner 102
– automatic climate control 103
– ventilation 106
Air vents 101
AKI, refer to Fuel grade 207
Alarm system 34
All-season tires, refer to Winter
tire
s220
Always Open Timer 72
AM, wa

veband 149
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 102,104
Ambient lighting 100
Antenna, care 227
Antifreeze
– coolant 224
– washer fluid 67
Antilock Brake System ABS 83
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system 34
Anti-theft system 29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights 257 Approved engine oils
223
Approved gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights257
Armrest, refer to Center armrest 108
Arrival time
– computer 73
– route guidance 135
Ashtray 109
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control DSC 83
Audio 146
– controls 146
– switching on/off 146
– tone control 147
– volume 147
Audio device, external 108
Automatic
– air distribution 104
– air flow rate 104
– cruise control 68
– headlamp control 96
Automatic climate control 101
– automatic air distribution 104
Automatic rear spoiler 85
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 62
– Interlock 63
– overriding selector lever lock 64
– Shiftlock 63
– sport program 64
AUTO program for automatic
climate control 104
Auxiliary phone 182
AUX-In, refer to External audio
device 108
AUX-In connection 159

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REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
274
Instrument panel, refer to Displays 12
Integrated key 28
Interactive map 132
Interesting destination for navigation 130
Interior lamps 99
– remote control 31
Interior rearview mirror 55
– automatic dimming
feature 55
Interlock 63
Intermittent mode of the
wipers 66
Internal care 229
Internet page 4
J
Jacking points 241
Jets, refer to Window washer nozzles 67
Joystick, refer to Onboard computer 17
Jumpering, refer to Jump-
starting 243
Jump-starting 243
K
Key, refer to Keys/remote
controls 28
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort
Access 36
Keyless opening and closing, refer to Comfort Access 36
Key Memory, refer to Personal Profile 28
Keypad dialing 175,187
Kickdown 63
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 63
Knock control 207
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
Low beams 96
Lamps and bulbs, replacing bulbs 232
Lashing eyes, refe r to Securing
cargo 119
Last destinations 129
LATCH child restraint fixing
system 57
Leather care 230
LEDs light-emitting diodes 233
Length, refer to Dimensions 251
License plate lamp
– bulb replacement 236
Light alloy wheels, care 229
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs 233
Lighter 109
– socket 110
Lighting
– lamps and bulbs 232
– of the instruments 99
– of vehicle, refer to Lamps 96
Light switch 96
Limit, refer to Speed limit 79
Load 118
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo 119
Lock buttons of doors, refer to Locking 32
Locking
– adjusting confirmation signal 30
– from inside 32
– from outside 30
– without remote control, refer
to Comfort Access 36
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals 30
– from inside 32
– from outside 30 Longlife oils
– approved motor oils
223
Low beams 96
– automatic 96
– replacing bulb 233
Lower back support, refer to Lumbar support 51
Luggage compartment
– emergency operation, refer to Manual unlocking 33
– emergency unlocking 34
– increasing the capacity 117
– opening from the inside 33
Luggage compartment, refer to Cargo area 33
Luggage compartment lid,
refer to Tailgate 33
Lumbar support 51
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires 220
Main menu 18
Maintenance, refer to Service
and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Maintenance system 225
Malfunction
– convertible top 41,48
– tailgate 33
Malfunction warnings, refer to Check Control 77
Manual air distribution 103
Manual convertible top 44
Manually operated convertible top 44
Manual mode
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 64

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Everything from A to ZREFERENCE
275
Manual operation
– door lock32
– fuel filler flap 206
– power convertible top 41,48
– tailgate 33
– transmission lock, automatic transmission 64
Manual transmission 62
Manual washing 228
Map
– changing scale 138
Map for navigation
– entering destination 131
Master key, refe r to Integrated
key/remote control 28
Maximum cooling 104
Maximum speed
– with winter tires 220
Medical assistance, refer to
First aid pouch 243
MENU button 17
Menus, refer to Onboard
computer 17
Messages 196
Microfilter
– for air conditioner 103
– for automatic climate control 105
– MINI Maintenance System 225
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
– MINI Maintenance
System 225
Microphone for telephone 14
MINI Connected 201
MINI Internet page 4
MINI joystick, refer to Onboard computer 17
MINI Maintenance System 225
Mirror dimming feature 55
Mirrors 54
– exterior mirrors 54
– heating 54
– interior rearview mirror 55Mobile phone
– adjusting volume
173,185
– connecting, refer to Mobile phone, pairing 170,181
– installation location, refer to Center armrest 108
– pairing 170,181
– refer to Telephone 108
– what to do if…. 172,184
Mobile phone, installation
location, refer to Center
arm r
est 10

8
Mobile phone, refer to
Telephone 108
Mobile phone preparation Bluetooth 180
Mobility Kit 237
Modifications, technical, refer to For your own safety 5
Monitor, refer to MINI controls with navigation 17
Monitoring system for tire
pressures, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 87
Multifunctional steering
wheel, refer to Buttons on
the steering wheel 11
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signals/ headlamp flasher 65
– refer to Wiper system 66
N
Navigation
– storing current position 129
Navigation data 124
Navigation destination
– entering manually 126,132
– home address 129
Navigation instructions, refer to Switching voice
instructions on/off 139Navigation system
124
– address book 128
– bypassing a route section 136
– continuing route guidance 135
– destination entry 126
– dynamic route guidance 142
– entering a destination manually 126,132
– planning a trip 133
– route list 136
– selecting destination via
map 131
– selecting route criteria 135
– special destinations 130
– starting route guidance 135
– terminating route guidance 135
– voice instructions 139
– volume adjustment 139
Neck support, re fer to Head
restraints 52
Nets, refer to Storage compartments 108
New tires 219
North-facing map 137
Notes 198
Number of cylinders, refer to Engine data 250
Number of safety belts 50
Nylon rope, refer to Tow rope 246O
OBD socket, refer to Socket for
On-Board Diagnosis 226
Octane ratings, refer to Fuel
specifications 207
Odometer 71
Office 193
– current office 193
– what to do if…. 199
Oil, refer to Engine oil 222
Oil consumption 222
Oil level 222

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