Warning: This post contains explicit praise of a highly generous nature for Kwik-Fit and its employees. Please read no further if you are likely to be offended.

Our Mini Cooper S Clubman was fitted with ghastly run-flat tyres when we got it, which I couldn't wait to get rid of due to the appalling ride. Sadly, the tyres looked in reasonable nick, so not really on the cards.

However, on Saturday, the tyre-pressure warning light came on while we were on our way to St Ives in Cambridgeshire before heading on to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. We stopped to check and one of the tyres was indeed running totally flat, with no pressure in it at all.

We hurriedly checked Google for a tyre-fitter nearby (it was 4.45pm on a bank holiday Saturday) and found a Kwik-Fit in Huntingdon, which was set to close at 5pm.

We made it to the Kwik-Fit and explained the situation. I was grimly expecting to have to change one tyre like-for-like, condemning us to run-flat misery for even longer.

However, luckily (although clearly unluckily), all 4 tyres were either close to being illegal (fronts) or dangerously split and deformed (rears, including the punctured one). We didn't have to take Kwik-Fit's word for this; they invited us to inspect the vehicle with them and pointed out the wear and deformity.

We conferred and decided that we would go for 4 new tyres. Bearing in mind our usual precarious finances, this was a big decision, but really the only logical one. And of course, the big win was losing the shitty run-flats!

So, the Kwik-Fit boys (it was now well-past their 5pm closing time, but they were all in great spirits, and accepted several other last minute jobs) all got to work and put on the on-offer Pirelli PZero Nero GT tyres. I wouldn't normally buy a tyre without a bit of research, but I wasn't really in a position to argue. They also did a full realignment (apparently necessary for moving from run-flat to normal) and gave us some money off vouchers for an MOT and brake service.
Anyway, the bill came to just under £500, which was a lot more than we were hoping to spend on the weekend, but not too bad for what we got from Kwik-Fit. I think people have a tendency to be a bit sneery about places like Kwik-Fit, but we found them to be exemplary in their attitude and customer service. A cynic might argue that they made an easy sale to us, so why not be happy, but I've had my wallet emptied for much less deserving service...

But (you see, there is a point to this after all), the thing is that although we now have a car that feels as though it is comparatively running on a magic carpet (seriously, if you have run-flats, get rid of them!), we are screwed if we get a puncture, as the car has no spare wheel. ETA - it does however have the correct spare wheel well and jack, etc...

I know we could get a tin of tyre-weld goo and an inflation canister, but I'm a bit old fashioned and I'd like a spare wheel.

The problem is that the Cooper S has bigger front brake callipers, so the standard Mini space-saver won't fit.
I know all the specs for the wheel - offset, bolt pattern, etc., but does anyone know where I can buy one? (BMW Mini don't do one, apparently...)

The word on the Mini forums is that you can buy a 16" space-saver (the wheels are 17", but presumably the tyre is higher profile) and swap an un-punctured normal wheel if you get a front puncture, fitting the space-saver to the rear.

Any ideas?

Couldn't you just buy a regular sized one, then if you get a puncture switch a good one from the back and stick the space saver on the back?

That is the plan with a 16" spare, Nobby. If I've understood correctly (and I did phone a supplier of the regular space-saver for Minis), the 15" won't fit either end of the Cooper S.

Get run flats. No problem then.

I hope you are talking about managed accommodation, not tyres...

I suggest you relay your story to Kwik-Fit head office - the lads at the branch will get a well-deserved pat on the back and it'll help them feel they are doing a decent job

I have to agree that my own experience is a lot better than their reputation - in fact its got to the point that I'll happily leave the Coupe and the keys with my local branch for one of the many tracking / camber ajustment sessions I've had

FWIW, the last set of run-flats I had were Dunlop Denovos on a Mini 1275GT in 1984 - they were crap back then too.....

I will, Nigel.

The manager explained a little of the background to their current approach, which was quite interesting. Transparency in their dealings with their customers (and literally in having glass between workshop and waiting area) is a priority and something we appreciated.

good idea, praise where praise is due, will get a gold star on their record ! Would love to praise tyre fitters, mechanics etc round here. but they're all sh@te

I once got a van driver the sack after I followed him drive like a total idiot. He had the name and number of his firm on the back , I called and they said it wasn't the first complaint they had had about him.
I get appraisals from my hq about visits I have made to people , nice to be told they thought I was a lovely chap !

Dont know if this is any use?

edit - sorry dont think it applies to a clubman

Thanks Hyperlink. In fact, the solution for the Clubman in terms of storage is much simpler; the twin exhausts are located to either side, meaning that the spare wheel well is ready and waiting for a (space-saver) wheel. The jack, brace and other equipment is all there too, all that the stingy gits at BMW didn't put in was the wheel itself!

Spanner in works time...

I just spoke to an independent mini specialist (who also owns a Clubman) and he says that the wheel well is actually a red herring, in that it is not (and was never designed to be) big enough to take a spare wheel. If that proves to be true, I cannot possibly imagine why BMW would have sunk a circular well in the floor of the Clubman model.

If it makes you feel any better I can't get a spare wheel in my car either. Mine has factory fitted 19" wheels and even though it has a wheel well the hole is too small for the wheel (even with wheel deflated).

It does however fit an 18" wheel which is what the 'Merican ones have. Nevermind the fact my wheel well also has a tool kit and a HUGE battery in. Perhaps its the same thing on the minis.

Well, I've been out with a tape measure...!

The wheel well (which has rubberised tape all around and a threaded hole in the centre...) measures 21.5 inches in diameter.

My 17" alloys plus tyre measure 23.5 inches in diameter.

So, surely a puny 16" diameter wheel with crappy tyre on it will go in the hole? Sadly, I haven't got one lying around to check!

And this item on Amazon from Mini UK (AKA BMW) seems to indicate that the spare wheel exists for the R55 Clubman. In which case, it would be massively frustrating if it doesn't fit in the 'ole!

Jim, some newer cars have tyres that fold flat on the rim. It'd likely be possible to get a collapsible spare wheel that'd fit.

On the Kwik-fit point. I've found that they've uped their game. The trouble is they're still on the sell. I dropped in with the Punto for a track and they tried to sell me full geo alignment. After he explained what that covered I asked how exactly he'd adjust the rear track/camber on a fixed beam...
10/10 for the service. 5/10 for knowledge.

Well, usually the outside diameter of the tyre should be nominally the same regardless of the wheel diameter. The difference being adjusted by varying the sidewall height. So, the 16" tyre should also have about a 23.5" diameter???

Noooooooooooooooo!

I have someone checking it out tomorrow; watch this space...!

The space-saver spare need not have the same rolling radius as a normal tyre, as it's used at low speed for short distances and ideally on the back axle.

Though ask yourself a question: when did you last have a puncture? I do thirty or forty thousand miles a year, and I can't recall the last one. The spare on the coupe still has the moulding sprues on it, and has been used once in twenty years... get a can of instant tyre-filler-upperer and forget about it.

In 17 years of motoring (probably over 150k miles) I've only had 1 puncture - and that was from hitting a pothole on a 6 month old tyre

I generally keep my tyres in good nick and replace them a little earlier than necessary.

Cue Neil now getting a puncture....

Well, there's the rub, barnacle! We have had at least 3 punctures in recent years - including the run-flat failure that caused this thread. On balance, if I can get a space-saver that will fit in the wheel well for a reasonable sum, then I'll feel happier. If not, it's can-o-gunk and crossed fingers.

The Yanks are offered a spare tyre on the clubman see here
http://www.miniusa.com/content/miniusa/en/model/clubman/clubman-all-features.html

I expect it fits just it may not be the "correct" size but that not a huge issue as Neil says.

This looks pretty conclusive, too. However at $279 plus shipping, it might not work out quite such a bargain...

http://new.minimania.com/part/G2NMK7620/Mini-Cooper-Clubman-Spare-Tire---Space-Saver-R55-2008-2010

Would these do:

"USED": http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-COUNTRYMA...=item234fdd73d0

NEW: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16-Mini-Countr...=item259759c255

The wheel seem to be the same for all year but the rest of the kit may vary. Is this correct?

And this thread could be of interest:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/190458-how-retrofit-spacesaver-spare-wheel-2.html

Update:

Spoke to a bloke at a Mini specialists who physically went and put a space-saver wheel in the well of a handy Clubman. No problem!

So I bought a complete wheel/tyre and it is now safely in our boot along with the jack, etc. I still need to get hold of the retaining spinner thingy and associated threaded rod, but I feel a lot happier knowing it is there.

And the ride and handling with the non run-flats is a joy!

My boss has a current big Vauxhall, and has a spare, with a polystyrene thingy to hold the jack and the windy thing and screwdrivers and the like.

It's a real shame though that it doesn't have a place for a wheelbrace, or indeed that very item, as without one his spare is as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

That's odd; our "toolkit" does at least include everything you would need to change a wheel; just not the actual wheel! Annoyingly, but unsurprisingly, the polystyrene thingy that used to hold all our tools now no longer fits, because of the presence of the wheel itself!