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Load conditions

Tire inflation pressures

Maximum allowable driving speed

Information for your safety

Tire inflation pressures for driving up to

100 mph or 160 km/h

It is not merely the tires' service life, but also

driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving

safety that depend on the condition of the tires

and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-

sure.

For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h

and to achieve optimum driving comfort, adjust

pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-

sures listed on the following page in the col-

umns for traveling speeds up to a maximum of

100 mph or 160 km/h.

Checking pressure

Only check tire inflation pressure when the

tires are cold. This means after a maximum of

1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has

been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are

warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.

These tire inflation pressures can also be found

on the driver's-side door post when the driver's

door is open.

Check the tire inflation pressure regularly

and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a

month and before starting long trips. If you fail

to observe this precaution you may be driving

on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condi-

tion that can not only compromise your vehi-

cle's driving stability, but also lead to tire dam-

age and the risk of an accident. Do not drive on

a flat tire. A flat tire will seriously impair your

vehicle's handling and braking response.

Attempts to drive on a flat tire can lead to loss of

control over the vehicle.<

The maximum permissible speed for

these tire pressures is 100 mph or

160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed, otherwise

tire damage and accidents could occur.<

After correcting the tire inflation pressure,

reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to

page 91, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,

refer to page 92.<

Tire inflation pressures for driving

above 100 mph or 160 km/h

In order to drive at maximum speeds in

excess of 100 mph or 160 km/h, adjust

Inflation pressure specifications

pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-

sures listed on the following page in the col-

umns for traveling speeds including those

exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h. Otherwise tire

damage and accidents could occur.<

The table below provides all the correct inflation

pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient

temperature.

The inflation pressures apply to the tire

sizes approved and tire brands recom-

mended by BMW; a list of these is available

from your BMW center.<

Observe all national and local maximum speed

limits, otherwise violations of the laws could

occur.

For correct identification of the right tire infla-

tion pressures, observe the following:

>

Tire sizes for your vehicle

216

Coupe: tire inflation pressures

Tire size

Pressure specifications in psi/kPa

Traveling speeds

up to a max. of

100 mph / 160 km/h

Traveling speeds

including those exceeding

100 mph / 160 km/h

All pressure specifications in

the table are indicated in

psi/kilopascal with cold tires.

Cold = ambient temperature

235/40 R 18 M+S

33/230

36/250

33/230

36/250

38/260

44/300

Front: 245/40 ZR 18

Rear: 265/40 ZR 18

Front: 245/35 ZR 19

Rear: 265/35 ZR 19

33/230

-

33/230

-

39/270

-

33/230

-

35/240

-

33/230

-

35/240

-

41/280

-

44/300

-

35/240

44/300

More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 251.

Convertible: tire inflation pressures

Tire size

Pressure specifications in psi/kPa

Traveling speeds

up to a max. of

100 mph / 160 km/h

Traveling speeds

including those exceeding

100 mph / 160 km/h

All pressure specifications in

the table are indicated in

psi/kilopascal with cold tires.

Cold = ambient temperature

235/40 R 18 M+S

36/250

42/290

36/250

42/290

41/280

51/350

Front: 245/40 ZR 18

Rear: 265/40 ZR 18

Front: 245/35 ZR 19

Rear: 265/35 ZR 19

33/230

-

35/240

-

41/280

-

36/250

-

35/240

-

35/240

-

35/240

-

42/290

-

46/320

-

38/260

35/240

46/320

More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 251.

217

BMW recommends that you replace all tires

after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last

for 10 years.

Tire identification marks

Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire

makes it easier to identify and choose the right

tires.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Quality grades can be found where applicable

on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and

maximum section width. For example:

Tire size

e.g.

245/35 ZR 19

235/40 18 100 V

R

Tread wear 200 Traction AA

Temperature A

Nominal width in mm

Aspect ratio in Ξ

Radial belt construction

Rim diameter in inches

Load rating,

not on ZR tires

Speed code letter, in

front of the R on ZR tires

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.<

Speed code letter

Q = up to 100 mph/160 km/h

T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h

H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h

V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h

W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h

Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h

Z = over 150 mph/240 km/h

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 (1γ) times as

well on the government course as a tire graded

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 characteris-

tics and climate.

Tire Identification Number

Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of

the US Department of Transportation.

DOT code:

Traction

e.g.

DOT xxxx xxx 4607

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are

AA, A, B, and C.

Manufacturer's code

for tire make

Tire size and

tire design

Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop

on wet pavement as measured under controlled

conditions on specified government test sur-

faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C

may have poor traction performance.

Tire age

The traction grade assigned to this tire is

based on straight-ahead braking traction

tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-

nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-

teristics.<

The manufacturing date of tires is contained in

the tire coding: DOT … 0708 means that the

tire was manufactured in week 7 of 2008.

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suitable for winter conditions. In the interest of

safety, new tires should be installed.

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

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 Vehi-

cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A

represent higher levels of performance on the

laboratory test wheel than the minimum

required by law.

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. Once the tire tread has

worn down to the wear indicators, the tire has

worn to a depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm.

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 sep-

arately or in combination, can cause heat

buildup and possible tire failure.<

Wheel/tire damage

Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,

tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-

tible to road hazard and consequential dam-

ages.

Unusual vibrations encountered during normal

vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or

some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-

ple, be caused by driving over curbs. The same

applies to any other abnormal road behavior,

such as pulling severely to the right or left.

M+S

Winter and all-season tires.

These have better winter properties than sum-

mer tires.

XL

Designation for specially reinforced tires.

In these cases, reduce speed immedi-

ately and have wheels and tires thor-

Tire condition

Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,

signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged

in the tread. Check the tread depth.

oughly checked. To do so, drive carefully to the

nearest BMW center or tire shop that works

according to BMW repair procedures with cor-

respondingly trained personnel. If necessary,

have the vehicle towed there.

Otherwise, tire damage can pose a lethal hazard

to vehicle occupants and other road users.<

Minimum tread depth

The tread depth should not drop below 1/8 in/

3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-

tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of

1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tread 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.

New wheels and tires

Have new wheels and tires installed only

by your BMW center or tire shop that

works according to BMW repair procedures

with correspondingly trained personnel. If this

When winter tires wear down past a tread depth

of 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less

219

work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-

ger of subsequent damage and related safety

hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-

anced.<

Recommended tire brands

Retreaded tires

BMW recommends that you do not use

retreaded tires, since driving safety may

be impaired. The causes for this include poten-

tially different tire casing structures and often

wide variations in tire age, which can result in a

limited service life.<

Certain makes of tire are recommended by

BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a

clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall

of the tire.

Correct wheels and tires

BMW recommends that you use only

wheel and tire combinations that BMW

has tested and approved for your particular

vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-

turing tolerances mean that even wheels and

tires with identical official size ratings could

actually have different dimensions, which could

lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-

dents. When selecting tires, also take their load

capacity into account. If non-approved wheels

and tires are used, BMW cannot evaluate their

suitability, and therefore cannot guarantee their

driving safety.<

When properly used, these tires meet the high-

est standards in terms of safety and handling

characteristics.

Special characteristics of winter tires

BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold

winter driving conditions. 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

You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-

bination at your BMW center.

Always comply with the speed limit for the

winter tires mounted on your car; failure

to do so could result in tire damage and acci-

dents.<

The correct combination of wheels and tires is

also necessary to ensure reliable operation of

various vehicle systems such as ABS or DSC.

To maintain good handling and vehicle

response, use only tires of a single brand and

tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-

aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-

nation again as soon as possible.

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 pressure indicated on the sidewall of

the tire.

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 92. Your BMW center

will be glad to advise you.

Swapping wheels between axles

BMW advises against swapping wheels

between the front and rear axles, even if all tires

have the same size, as this could impair driving

characteristics. With standard-equipment tires

220

and other mixed tire sizes, swapping wheels

between the axles is not permissible.

Snow chains*

Only certain fine-link snow chains have been

tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and

recommended. Consult your BMW center for

more information.

Snow chains must be mounted in pairs and on

the rear wheels only. Observe the manufac-

turer's instructions when mounting snow

chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or

50 km/h.

Ensure that the snow chains are sufficiently

tensioned at all times. If necessary, retension as

specified by the snow chain manufacturer.

Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if

snow chains are mounted, otherwise the

instrument might issue an incorrect reading.<

221

Mobility -> Wheels and tires for Your BMW M3 4 Door Fourth Generation (2007-2013)

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