Hi all! I'm new to the forum and new to minis. For my 18th birthday last month my parents bought me the car of my dreams, a 1976 Mini!! Unfortunately me and my folks aren't good with cars (I'm studying to be a nurse) and I've got a couple of questions.

1. One of the tyres is bald (according to one of the guys at uni), can I get tyres from Bob Jane or something (I'm in south west Sydney)?

2. What is the best kind of petrol for my mini?

Thanks!!

Hi Fionaand welcome to ausmini. Happy belated birthday and what a kicking present.
10 inch mini tyres are readily available from most major retailers and as for fuel, do the experiment and see which is best for your car.

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

The tyres and fuel will depend on how standard the car is.
These days there is an eual chance the car has mags more than the old pizza cutters, and some 12" tyres can be tricky to find.

Fuel is dependant on if the engine has been rebult and modified for unleaded.
It's best to play it safe and run the car on 98 octane with a suitable valve additive.

Hi Fee and welcome... you should be fine with all the petrol around but I would stay clear of the E10. It only when the Engine has been give changes that you need to run the higher fule.
As mention try out differant fuels 91, 95 & 98 you may find that your Mini will like one of them.

Id stay clear of the Faulken 10's tyres also as I dont like them in the wet

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Welcome to Ausmini Fiona, unleaded 91 is fine you do need to use a lead replacement additive about 10ml a full tank, this is to protect your valves, unless the previous owner converted it to run on unleaded. Your tyres should be 4.5 x 10 size, you may have to order them in, dont let the sales staff bully or bullshit you because your female either, they are not rare or hard to get, its just sometimes they may not have a lot in stock, tyre pressure should be at 26-28 psi.If you are not a member of the NSW Mini Club I highly recommend it.

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Can be purchased at all Petrol Stations

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Tell us more about your mini too- how much, what's done etc

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howdy and welcome to ausmini! Sounds like an awesome birthday present! would love to see photos of the beast. don't worry about not being good with cars, more than helpful people on here will help you out if ever you get stuck.

yep, you can get tyres from bob jane's, i got some from them not to long ago for my clubby, 95 bucks each, took around a week and a half to get in stock though. As harley said its dependant on the car, make sure its able to run on unleaded otherwise you'll need to get lead sustitute stuff from supercheap, repco etc. i would follow harley's advice for the time being, 98 octane and the valve additive until you know for sure.

Happy belated birthday aswell, if ever you get stuck dont be scared to ask for help, you shouldve seen the very embarrasing questions i asked when i first joined here just before i turned 18, so dont worry, your definately not alone there. Where abouts in s/w sydney are you? me a few of the other members go on random cruises or meet up's every now and then, but look forward to seeing you out and about enjoying your mini on cruises!

Robbie.

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'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

too true, if anything else is available get them as your first choice, ive got them on mine at the moment, terrible in the wet!

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'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

noo they just make your car more powerful!

loss of traction in 3rd? awesome!!

(dont get falkens)

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

Hi Fiona, Welcome to Ausmini.

Khumo 145/10 tyres are good value and are not a bad tyre for a std mini.
I would recommend using a higher octane fuel than std 91 ULP as mini engines seem to run better with 95 or 98 octane. I dont use an additive, when the time comes to have the cylinder head reconditioned, have it reco'ed to suit ULP. I also recommend that when you have some spare money purchase some disc brakes for your car, as mini drum brakes wear out quickly and are not that reliable for a new P plater.
Show us some pics of you & your Mini too!
Regards
David.

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Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

really? what makes you say that? I'm only 19 and have had my clubby for 3 years now on drums, never really had a problem with them other than the adjustment and shoe replacement.

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'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

I would guess that it would be his years of experience.

Wait till your brakes decide to de-adjust all at once and you hit the pedal straight to the floor. Mine did when I was on P's (many, many years ago), and the next day I bought a set of Cooper S Disks and will never drive a drum brake Mini again.

Dicko

Welcome new ausminier

Falkens last a long time, squeel in the dry, work well on dirt and grip better than yoko A008 in the wet.
A008 great in the dry, terrible on wet or dirt.
I just got Dunlop formula R, great dry, yet to test on wet or dirt (heard their good though).
145 tyres are just slippery.

I use premium 98 fuel and additive in my minis.

Have fun

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.