Deutsch
EnglishMobility -> Wheels and tires for your BMW 5 Series 2004-2010
Wheels and tires
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressure for your tires, observe the follow-
ing:
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
>
>
>
Tire sizes of your vehicle
Load conditions
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.
Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for speeds
up to 100 mph/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 increases.
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 Traveling speeds up to max. 100 mph/
160 km/h to achieve optimum driving comfort.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it as needed, even on the
These pressure specifications can be found on
the door post when you open the driver's door.
compact tire*: at least twice a month and before
starting long trips. Otherwise driving instability
or tire damage, and therefore accidents, can
result from incorrect tire inflation pressures.
Do not drive with depressurized, i.e. flat tires,
except run-flat tires. A flat tire will seriously
impair your vehicle's handling and braking
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can
lead to a loss of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page 95, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page 97.<
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.<
Pressure specifications
Tire inflation pressures for speeds
above 100 mph/160 km/h
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please
observe, and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures
for speeds exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from
the relevant table on the following pages.
Otherwise 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.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits, otherwise violations of the law could
occur.
220
528i
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
32/220
32/220
33/230
36/250
32/220
32/220
33/230
35/240
35/240
36/250
42/290
44/300
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
32/220
32/220
38/260
33/230
32/220
32/220
38/260
33/230
38/260
36/250
45/310
42/290
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30 R 19 96 Y XL
32/220
38/260
32/220
33/230
35/240
42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 257.
221
535i
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/45 R 17 95 W
225/55 R 16 95 H M+S
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
32/220
32/220
35/240
36/250
32/220
32/220
33/230
35/240
35/240
38/260
42/290
45/310
225/50 R 17 94 M+S W
225/50 R 17 94 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/40 R 18 93 W
32/220
32/220
38/260
38/260
32/220
32/220
35/240
38/260
38/260
39/270
45/310
46/320
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W
32/220
33/230
35/240
39/270
32/220
32/220
33/230
33/230
38/260
35/240
42/290
42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30 R 19 96 Y XL
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 257.
222
528xi
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
32/220
32/220
32/220
35/240
36/250
35/240
32/220
32/220
32/220
33/230
36/250
33/230
35/240
38/260
38/260
42/290
45/310
42/290
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/40 R 18 93 W
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 257.
223
535xi
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
32/220
32/220
35/240
36/250
32/220
32/220
33/230
36/250
35/240
38/260
42/290
45/310
225/50 R 17 94 W M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/40 R 18 93 W
33/230
35/240
36/250
38/260
33/230
35/240
36/250
38/260
38/260
38/260
45/310
45/310
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W
32/230
35/240
33/230
33/230
38/260
42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 257.
535xi Sports Wagon
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Traveling speeds
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to max. of
including those exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 W M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/45 R 17 95 W
33/230
41/280
33/230
41/280
38/260
45/310
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
245/40 R 18 93 Y
32/220
36/250
39/270
44/300
32/220
36/250
38/260
44/300
35/240
41/280
42/290
48/330
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 258.
224
550i
Tire size
Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
61/420
Compact wheel*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/40 R 18 93 Y
32/220
32/220
38/260
38/260
32/220
32/220
35/240
38/260
33/230
38/260
41/280
45/310
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL
33/230
32/220
39/270
35/240
33/230
32/220
39/270
32/220
39/270
33/230
46/320
38/260
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30 R 19 96 Y XL
35/240
39/270
33/230
38/260
38/260
45/310
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page 257.
Speed letter
Tire identification marks
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
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
e.g.
225/50
R
17 94
W
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Tire Identification Number
Belted construction – radial
Rim diameter in inches
Carrying capacity ID-code
(not in ZR tires)
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Speed code letter
(in ZR tires before the R)
e.g.
DOT xxxx xxx 3307
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire age
225
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.<
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT ... 3307 indicates that the
tire was manufactured in week 33 of 2007.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
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.
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 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.
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page 227.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
Traction
XL
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Indicates specially reinforced tires.
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
226
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 be extremely dangerous to vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
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.
Run-flat tires*
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.
You will recognize run-flat tires by the circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire.
Run-flat tires consist of partially self-contained
tires and special rims. The sidewall reinforce-
ment ensures that the tire retains some residual
safety in the event of pressure drop and driving
remains possible to a restricted degree.
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.
To continue driving with a damaged tire:
>
With Flat Tire Monitor, refer to Indication of
a flat tire, page 96
>
With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure,
page 98
Wheel/tire damage
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.
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
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.<
227
Retreaded tires
Recommended tire brands
BMW does not recommend that you use
retreaded tires, as driving safety may be
impaired. The causes for this include the possi-
bly different tire casing structures and the often
wide variations in their age, which can result in a
limited service life.<
The right 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 than the
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW
depending on the tire size. You can recognize
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with
the most demanding standards for safety and
vehicle response.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires, or changing from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-flat
tires for your own safety. In addition, no spare
tire is available in case of a flat tire. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you do not have damaged run-flat
tires repaired; they should be replaced. Other-
wise it is not possible to rule out occurrences of
consequential damage.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon
as possible.
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.
Wheels with electronics for
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When mounting new tires or converting from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics, otherwise the
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire,
refer to page 97. Your BMW center will be
happy to advise you on this subject.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
228
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 side wall of
the tire.
Rotating wheels between axles
BMW does not recommend moving the front
wheels to the rear or vice versa, as otherwise
the handling characteristics may be impaired.
With tires of different makes and types* such a
change is not permissible.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains,
classifies them as road-safe and recommends
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Use is only permissible in pairs 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.
After mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor, otherwise
incorrect displays can occur.
When driving with snow chains, it may be prac-
tical to briefly activate DTC, refer to page 92.<
229
