Get Mobility -> Wheels and tires Guide for BMW M6 4 Door Second Generation (2005-2010)

Wheels and tires

Tire inflation pressures for driving

up to 100 mph/160 km/h

Tire inflation pressure

Information for your safety

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

adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation

pressures listed on the following pages in the

column for traveling speeds up to a max. of

100 mph/160 km/h to achieve optimum driving

comfort.

The condition of the tires and the maintenance

of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only

to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-

fort and most importantly, driving safety.

Checking pressure

These pressure specifications can be found on

the door post when you open the driver's door.

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 increases.

Check the tire inflation pressure regularly

and correct if necessary, including on the

spare wheel*: at least twice a month and before

starting long trips. If you fail to observe this pre-

caution, you may be driving on tires with incor-

rect tire pressures, a condition that can not only

compromise your vehicle's driving stability, but

also lead to tire damage and the risk of an acci-

dent.<

The permissible top speed for these tire

inflation pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h.

Do not exceed this speed; otherwise, tire dam-

age and accidents may result.<

After correcting the inflation pressure(s),

always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,

refer to page 74.<

Tire inflation pressures for driving

above 100 mph/160 km/h

In order to drive at maximum speeds in

excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please

Pressure specifications

The tables below provide all the correct inflation

pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient

temperature.

note the tire pressures for speeds exceeding

100 mph/160 km/h listed in the relevant column

of the table on the following pages and adjust

your tire inflation pressures as needed. Other-

wise, tire damage and accidents could occur.<

The inflation pressures apply to the tire

sizes and tire brands respectively

approved and recommended by BMW; a list of

these is available from your BMW center.<

For correct identification of the right tire infla-

tion pressure for your tires, observe the follow-

ing:

Tire sizes for your vehicle

Load conditions

Maximum allowable driving speed

170

Observe all national and local maximum speed

limits, otherwise violations of the law could

occur.

Tire size

Pressure specifications in psi/kPa

Traveling speeds

including those exceeding

100 mph/160 km/h

up to max. of

100 mph/160 km/h

All pressure specifications

in the table are indicated in

psi/kilopascal with cold tires.

Cold = ambient temperature

245/45 R 18 100 V XL M+S

255/40 ZR 19

35/240

33/230

38/260

35/240

33/230

38/260

41/280

46/320

285/35 ZR 19

36/250

46/320

More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 200.

Tire Identification Number

Tire identification marks

Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire

makes it easier to identify and choose the right

tires.

Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of

the U.S. Department of Transportation.

DOT code:

e.g.

DOT xxxx xxx 0806

Tire size

Manufacturer code

for tire make

e.g.

285/35

245/45 R 18 100 V

Tire size and tire design

Tire age

Nominal width in mm

Aspect ratio in Ξ

Belted construction – radial

Rim diameter in inches

Carrying capacity ID-code

(not in ZR tires)

Speed code letter

(in ZR tires before the R)

Tire age

The tire's date of manufacture is indicated on

the sidewall:

DOT ... 0806 indicates that a tire was manufac-

tured in week 8 of the year 2006.

BMW recommends replacing all tires at least

every 6 years, even if some tires may last for

10 years. This also concerns the tire of the

spare wheel*.

Speed letter

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

171

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.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Quality grades can be found where applicable

on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and

maximum section width. For example:

Tread wear 200 Traction AA

Temperature A

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.<

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.<

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 govern-

ment course as a tire graded 100. The relative

performance of tires depends upon the actual

conditions of their use, however, and may

depart significantly from the norm due to varia-

tions in driving habits, service practices and dif-

ferences in road characteristics and climate.

M+S

Winter and all-season tires.

These have better winter properties than sum-

mer tires.

Indicates specially reinforced tires.

Tire condition

Traction

Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,

signs of damage and foreign objects lodged in

the tread, and check the tread depth.

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are

AA, A, B, and C.

These 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.

Minimum tread depth

The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/

3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-

tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of

0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 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.

Winter tires noticeably loose their suitability for

winter use below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm.

New tires should be mounted in the interest of

safety.

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.<

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

172

New wheels and tires

Only have new wheels and tires mounted

by a BMW center or a repair shop that

works in accordance with BMW guidelines and

uses appropriately trained personnel. If this

work is performed inexpertly, there is a danger

of damage and associated safety risks. Make

sure that the new wheels are balanced.<

Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer

to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-

ference and are marked on the side of the tire

with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the tire tread

has been driven down to the wear indicators, a

tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm has been

reached.

Retreaded tires

BMW does not recommend the use of

retreaded tires; otherwise, driving safety

may be reduced. Potentially substantial varia-

tions in the design and the age of the carcasses

can result in a reduced service life.<

The right wheels and tires

Wheel/tire damage

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 than the

approved units – these differences could lead to

body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-

dents. When selecting the tires, also ensure

that they have a sufficient load-carrying capac-

ity. If non-approved wheels and tires are used,

BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, and

therefore cannot be held liable for driving

safety.<

Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,

tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-

tible to road hazards 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. These

kinds of problems may also be signaled by other

changes in vehicle response, such as a strong

tendency to pull to the left or right.

In these cases reduce your speed imme-

diately and have the wheels and tires

inspected immediately. To do this, carefully

drive to the nearest BMW center or a special-

ized tire dealer that works in accordance with

BMW guidelines and uses appropriately trained

personnel. Have the vehicle towed to the repair

shop if necessary. Tire damage can be

extremely dangerous to vehicle occupants and

other road users.<

You can find out the right wheel-tire combina-

tion from your BMW center.

The right wheel-and-tire combination is

another vital factor in ensuring reliable opera-

tion of various vehicle systems such as ABS

and DSC.

To maintain good handling and vehicle

response, use only tires of a single tread config-

uration from a single manufacturer. After a tire is

damaged, always remember to have the original

wheel and tire combination remounted on the

vehicle as soon as possible.

173

Recommended tire brands

Storage

Always 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 side wall

of the tire.

Snow chains*

BMW recommends particular tire brands for

each tire size. You can recognize these from the

clearly visible BMW marking on the tire sidewall.

BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains,

classifies them as road-safe and recommends

them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-

mation.

With proper use, these tires meet the highest

standards for safety and handling characteris-

tics.

Use is only permitted in pairs, with winter tires

of the size 245/45 R 18 on the rear wheels.

Observe the manufacturer's instructions when

mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed

of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.

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.

Make sure that the snow chains are always suf-

ficiently tensioned. Retension in accordance

with the chain manufacturer's specifications if

necessary.

Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor after

installing snow chains as this could cause

the Flat Tire Monitor to malfunction.

After mounting or removing snow chains, the

slip detection of the Sequential Manual Trans-

mission must become familiar with the altered

state. To do this, reinitialize the system, refer to

After changing wheels/tires.<

Watch speed

Always observe the maximum permissi-

ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise

tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-

dents.<

After changing wheels/tires

After changing tires or wheels, the slip detec-

tion of the Sequential Manual Transmission

must become familiar with the changed state.

Reinitialize the system for this purpose:

1. Move the selector lever into the idling

position N on a straight stretch of road at a

speed between 20 mph/30 km/h and

90 mph/150 km/h.

2. Pull both shift paddles for approx. 2 sec-

onds.

If you do not carry out initialization, the system

will automatically learn the changed state grad-

ually during driving. This may be noticeable

from the clutch opening and closing briefly.

174

Mobility -> Wheels and tires for Your BMW M6 4 Door Second Generation (2005-2010)

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