2016 MINI Hardtop 4 Door Owner's Manual (Mini Connected)

100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, how‐
ever, and may depart significantly 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 control‐
led 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 traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering, hy‐
droplaning, 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 laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the ma‐
terial 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 Vehi‐
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum re‐
quired by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is es‐
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla‐
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure. ◀RSC – Run-flat tires
Run-flat tires, refer to page 187, are labeled
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC marked on the sidewall.
M+S Winter and all-season tires with better cold
weather performance than summer tires.
Tire tread Summer tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.12 in/3 mm.
There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if
the tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm.
Winter tires Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.16 in/4 mm.
Below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, tires are
less suitable for winter operation.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators are distributed around the tire's
circumference and have the legally required
minimum height of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
They are marked on the side of the tire with
TWI, Tread Wear Indicator.
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Tire damage
General information Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign ob‐
jects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Information 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, es‐
pecially if your vehicle is equipped with low-
profile tires.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle mal‐
functions:▷Unusual vibrations while driving.▷Unusual handling such as a strong ten‐
dency to pull to the left or right.
Damage can, e. g., be caused by driving over
curbs, road damage, or similar things.
WARNING
Damaged tires can lose tire inflation pres‐
sure, which can lead to loss of vehicle control.
There is risk of an accident. If tire damage is
suspected while driving, immediately reduce
speed and stop. Have wheels and tires
checked. For this purpose, drive carefully to the
nearest dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair shop. Have
vehicle towed or transported as needed. ◀
WARNING
Damaged tires can lose tire inflation pres‐
sure, which can lead to loss of vehicle control.
There is risk of an accident. Do not repair dam‐
aged tires, but have them replaced. ◀
Changing wheels and
tires
Mounting Have mounting and wheel balancing carried
out by a dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair shop.
Wheel and tire combination
You can ask the dealer’s service center or an‐
other qualified service center or repair shop
about the right wheel/tire combination and
wheel rim versions for the vehicle.
Incorrect wheel and tire combinations impair
the function of a variety of systems such as ABS
or DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle re‐
sponse, use only tires with a single tread con‐
figuration from a single manufacturer.
Following tire damage, have the original wheel
and tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
WARNING
Wheels and tires which are not suitable
for your vehicle can damage parts of the vehi‐
cle, e. g. due to contact with the body due to
tolerances despite the same official size rating.
There is risk of an accident. ◀
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your ve‐
hicle recommends certain tire brands. These
can be identified by a star on the tire sidewall.
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New tires
Tire traction is not optimal due to manufactur‐
ing circumstances when tires are brand-new;
they achieve their full traction potential after a
break-in time.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Retreaded tires The manufacturer of your vehicle does not rec‐
ommend the use of retreaded tires.
WARNING
Retreated tires can have different tire
casing structures. With advanced age the serv‐
ice life can be limited. There is risk of an acci‐
dent. Do not use retreated tires. ◀
Winter tires
Winter tires are recommended for operating on
winter roads.
Although so-called all-season M+S tires provide
better winter traction than summer tires, they
do not provide the same level of performance
as winter tires.
Maximum speed of winter tiresIf the maximum speed of the vehicle is higher
than the permissible speed for the winter tires,
then a respective symbol is displayed in your
field of vision. The plate is available from a
dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.
With mounted winter tires, observe and adhere
to the permissible maximum speed.
Run-flat tires If you are already using run-flat tires, for your
own safety you should replace them only with
the same kind. No spare tire is available in the
case of a flat tire. A dealer’s service center or
another qualified service center or repair shop
will be glad to answer additional questions at
any time.Rotating wheels between axles
Different wear patterns can occur on the front
and rear axles depending on individual driving
conditions.
The tires can be rotated between the axles to
achieve even wear. A dealer’s service center or
another qualified service center or repair shop
will be glad to answer additional questions at
any time.
After rotating, check the tire pressure and cor‐
rect if needed.
Storage Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pres‐
sure indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Run-flat tires
Label
RSC label on the tire sidewall.
The wheels are composed of tires that are self-
supporting to a limited degree.
The support of the sidewall allows the tire to re‐
main drivable to a restricted degree in the
event of a tire inflation pressure loss.
Continued driving with a damaged tire, refer to
page 107.
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Continued driving with a damaged tire, refer to
page 104.
Changing run-flat tires
For your own safety, only use run-flat tires. No
spare tire is available in the case of a flat tire. A
dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop will be glad to an‐
swer additional questions at any time.
Repairing a flat tireSafety measures▷Park the vehicle as far away as possible
from passing traffic and on solid ground.▷Switch on the hazard warning system.▷Secure the vehicle against rolling away by
setting the parking brake.▷Turn the steering wheel until the front
wheels are in the straight-ahead position
and engage the steering wheel lock.▷Have all vehicle occupants get out of the
vehicle and ensure that they remain out‐
side the immediate area in a safe place,
such as behind a guardrail.▷If necessary, set up a warning triangle at an
appropriate distance.
Mobility System
The concept
With the Mobility System, minor tire damage
can be sealed quickly to enable continued
travel. To accomplish this, sealant is pumped
into the tires, which seals the damage from the
inside.
The compressor can be used to check the tire
inflation pressure.
Information▷Follow the instructions on using the Mobi‐
lity System found on the compressor and
sealant container.▷Use of the Mobility System may be ineffec‐
tive if the tire puncture measures approx.
1/8 in/4 mm or more.▷Contact a dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair shop if the
tire cannot be made drivable.▷If possible, do not remove foreign bodies
that have penetrated the tire.▷Pull the speed limit sticker off the sealant
container and apply it to the steering
wheel.▷The use of a sealant can damage the TPM
wheel electronics. In this case, have the
electronics checked at the next opportunity
and have them replaced if needed.
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or ventila‐
tion is insufficient, harmful exhaust gases can
enter into the vehicle. The exhaust gases con‐
tain carbon monoxide, an odorless and color‐
less but highly toxic gas. In enclosed areas, ex‐
haust gases can also accumulate outside of the
vehicle. There is danger to life. Keep the ex‐
haust pipe free and ensure sufficient ventila‐
tion. ◀
Storage
The Mobility System is located under the cargo
floor panel.
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Sealant container▷Sealant container, arrow 1.▷Filling hose, arrow 2.
Observe use-by date on the sealant container.
Compressor
1On/off switch2Holder for bottle3Reduce inflation pressure4Inflation pressure dial5Compressor6Connector/cable for socket7Connection hose — stowed in the bottom
of the compressorFilling the tire with sealant1.Shake the sealant container.2.Take the connection hose completely out of
the compressor housing. Do not kink the
hose.3.Attach the connection hose to the connec‐
tor of the sealant container, ensuring that it
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4.Slide the sealant container upright into the
holder on the compressor housing, ensur‐
ing that it engages audibly.5.Screw the connection hose onto the tire
valve of the nonworking wheel.6.With the compressor switched off, insert
the plug into a power socket inside the ve‐
hicle.7.With the ignition turned on or the engine
running, switch on the compressor.
Let the compressor run for approx. 3 to 8 mi‐
nutes to fill the tire with sealant and achieve a
tire inflation pressure of approx. 2.5 bar.
While the tire is being filled with sealant, the
tire inflation pressure may sporadically reach
approx. 5 bar. Do not switch off the compressor
at this point.
CAUTION
The compressor can overheat during ex‐
tended operation. There is risk of property
damage. Do not run the compressor for more
than 10 min. ◀
If a tire inflation pressure of 2 bar is not
reached:
1.Switch off the compressor.2.Unscrew the filling hose from the wheel.3.Drive forward and back to distribute the
sealant in the tire.4.Inflate the tire again using the compressor.
If a tire inflation pressure of 2 bar cannot be
reached, contact your dealer’s service cen‐
ter or another qualified service center or re‐
pair shop.
Stowing the Mobility System
1.Remove the connection hose of the sealant
container from the wheel.2.Remove the connection hose from the seal‐
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3.Wrap the empty sealant container and con‐
nection hose in suitable material to avoid
dirtying the trunk.4.Stow the Mobility System back in the vehi‐
cle.
Distributing the sealant
Immediately drive approx. 5 mls/10 km/h to
ensure that the sealant is evenly distributed in the tire.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
If possible, do not drive at speeds less than
12 mph/20 km/h.
To correct the tire inflation pressure
1.Stop at a suitable location.2.Screw the connection hose onto the tire
valve stem.3.Attach the connection hose directly to the
compressor.4.Insert the connector into a power socket in‐
side the vehicle.5.Correct the tire inflation pressure to 2.5 bar.▷Increase pressure: with the ignition
turned on or the engine running, switch
on the compressor.▷To reduce the pressure: press the but‐
ton on the compressor.
Continuing the trip
Do not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h.
Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page 106.
Reinitialize the Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to
page 102.
Replace the nonworking tire and the sealant
container of the Mobility System as soon as
possible.
Snow chains Fine-link snow chains
The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends use of fine-link snow chains. Certain types of
fine-link snow chains have been tested by the
manufacturer of the vehicle and recommended
as road-safe and suitable.
Information regarding suitable snow chains is
available from a dealer’s service center or an‐ other qualified service center or repair shop.
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UseUse only in pairs on the front wheels, equipped
with the tires of the following size:▷175/65 R 15.▷175/60 R 16.
John Cooper Works:
▷185/50 R 17.
Follow the chain manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure that the snow chains are always suf‐
ficiently tight. Retighten as needed according
to the chain manufacturer's instructions.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
mounting snow chains, as doing so may result
in incorrect readings.
Do not initialize the Tire Pressure Monitor after
mounting snow chains, as doing so may result
in incorrect readings.
When driving with snow chains, briefly activate
Dynamic Traction Control if needed.
Maximum speed with snow chains
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph/50 km/h
when using snow chains.
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