[red-max]

Wife drove her MINI Cooper S to work this morning in the snow, and the Flat Tyre warning came on (red light).

Now, I'm thinking that she probably had a fair amount of wheel spin in the snow, so there's a fair chance the flat tyre monitoring system has got confused and triggered a false alarm.

Anyone have experience of this before when driving in snow? In my 530d E60 (with similar ABS-sensor based FTM system) I had a false-alarm soon after spinning the rear wheels pulling out of a juntion covered with wet leaves.

Obviously I'll check her tyre pressures this evening when she gets home, just wondering if I should expect similar behaviour if I take the 335d out in the snow later...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by red-max

Wife drove her MINI Cooper S to work this morning in the snow, and the Flat Tyre warning came on (red light).

Now, I'm thinking that she probably had a fair amount of wheel spin in the snow, so there's a fair chance the flat tyre monitoring system has got confused and triggered a false alarm.

Anyone have experience of this before when driving in snow? In my 530d E60 (with similar ABS-sensor based FTM system) I had a false-alarm soon after spinning the rear wheels pulling out of a juntion covered with wet leaves.

Obviously I'll check her tyre pressures this evening when she gets home, just wondering if I should expect similar behaviour if I take the 335d out in the snow later...

No - I haven't had a problem, but it may be due to the snow

Just make sure you check the tyre pressures as it could be a puncture as well.

[Ted]

On three cars I've never had a false tyre warning due to snow or any other conditions and would have thought that these systems should take this into account. The traction control system knows the wheels are spinning after all.

I would check the tyres, once had what I thought to be a false positive, turned out to be a well hidden screw.

[Z4 Beemer]

I saw the bad weather on the news this morning - Scotland hasn't had a drop (Glasgow anyway) but seriously guys, drive safely.

[red355]

Our MINI cooper S does this all the time

[NathanJT]

I've had the same issue on loose grit on a road (ok ok, so maybe I shouldn't of been going quite so fast).

I think basically there's no feedback between the traction control and TPM. And as you know, it works on the rotational speed of the wheel (Ratio of all 4) so if one slips regularly it can "look" as though it's at a lower pressure.

As for the snow, a great excuse for slow motion hand break turn in the office car park this morning!!! Such a kid!

[ES-Jet]

I switched the DSC off and had a slide around our car park this morning (no other cars in there). Didn't touch the handbrake though! Tail out, foot down and hold it there with the power. I felt like a Scandinavian rally driver - at 5 mph.

No problems with the RFT sensor on my car either.

[NathanJT]

5 mph? that fast!!! I don't think I got over 1!

There was so much ice I was a case of a quick blip to get you moving, turn and yank! lol!

[Z4 Beemer]

Originally Posted by NathanJT

5 mph? that fast!!! I don't think I got over 1!

There was so much ice I was a case of a quick blip to get you moving, turn and yank! lol!

Knowing how accident prone you are, I thought you might have stayed at home today Not a whiff of the white stuff up here I'm afraid to say. Seriously, drive carefully everyone.

[NathanJT]

It's not so much accident prone. In all honesty I'm normally the complete opposite. It just seems to be something about this damn car!

All the guys at work were giving me stick for even tinking abut buying a black car... think I may have been jinxed!

[red-max]

Well, one of the back tyres is completely flat and won't hold air. I felt around the outside, and there's a bit chunk of metal sticking out of the tread!

Having been a run-flat skeptic in the past, I have to admit that this time around, the RFT saved my wife from having to be rescued, and got her home on one of the worst days of the year (snow's still coming down). Maybe I'm a run-flat believer now ...

Luckily MINI tyres are easy to get, so the tyre should be replaced tomorrow.

[Z4 Beemer]

Bummer about that wheel/puncture, but good to hear the RF's did their job. Are those the "bullet style" alloys (I think thats the style I'm thinking of?). My mate has those on his CoopS - gorgeous wheels!

[red355]

Originally Posted by red-max

..

Luckily MINI tyres are easy to get, so the tyre should be replaced tomorrow.

easy to get maybe...but not cheep

like you say...who wants to be changing a tyre on day like today

[red-max]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Bummer about that wheel/puncture, but good to hear the RF's did their job. Are those the "bullet style" alloys (I think thats the style I'm thinking of?). My mate has those on his CoopS - gorgeous wheels!

Yes, they are. I seem to remember reading that they're lighter than the previous MCS standard wheels, easier to keep clean too (bonus) and seem to suit the car well from a looks point of view.

[SoYank]

Don't RFTs have a steel belt like regular tires? Seems there are alot of punctures on these things in the middle of the tread that some kind of armor belt would prevent.

[red-max]

Originally Posted by red355

easy to get maybe...but not cheep

£265 for a new pair of Dunlop SP Sport 9000 205/45R17V, fitted, incl VAT. They're not exactly economy tyres, but it's not a cheap car. Cheaper than the RFT tyres on our BMWs though I guess. I had the two new tyres put on the front, and brought home the non-punctured rear tyre to keep as a part-worn replacement.

Originally Posted by red355

like you say...who wants to be changing a tyre on day like today

Yes, this incident really has driven home to me the value of RFTs. Maybe it's worth putting up with them on my 335 for the peace of mind that you can get home, or at least drive to a more convenient place to wait for rescue.

[red-max]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Don't RFTs have a steel belt like regular tires? Seems there are alot of punctures on these things in the middle of the tread that some kind of armor belt would prevent.

They gave me the chunk of metal that had pierced the tyre. It's an ugly thing, and went in pointed end first: I don't think the tyre stood a chance...