Tires BMW 1 SERIES 2013 E82 User Guide

127
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least br aking is required. Even
light but consistent brak e pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. <
You can increase the engine's braking effect
by shifting down, all the way to first gear if nec-
essary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mo de of the automatic
transmission, refer to page 65.
Sport automatic transm ission with double
clutch: never drive with the transmission
in neutral or with the en gine switched off; other-
wise, there will be no en gine braking action and
no power assistance to the brakes and steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise,
there will be no engine braking action and no
power assistance to the brakes and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired. <
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driv en only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are le ss frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminan ts accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic
climate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying ca pacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overlo ading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. In some situations,
this can result in sudden loss of tire pressure. <
Avoid fluid spills in the trunk as they could
damage the vehicle. <
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise damage to
the vehicle may occur and unstable driving
conditions may result.<
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals

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This section helps you maintain your car's
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, serv ice, maintenance and
Roadside Assistance.
Mobility

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223
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Wheels and tires
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to
the special options or national-market version
selected. This also app lies to safety related
functions and systems.
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire s' service life, but also
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving
safety that depend on th e condition of the tires
and the maintenance of th e specified tire pres-
sure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it, if nece ssary: 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
with deflated, i.e. flat tires, except when using
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 loss of
control over the vehicle. <
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.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to
page 93, or reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page 91.<
Inflation pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The inflation pressure s apply to the tire
sizes approved and tire brands recom-
mended by BMW; a list of these is available
from your BMW center. <
For correct identificati on of the right tire
inflation pressures, observe the following:
> Tire sizes for your vehicle
> Maximum allowable driving speed

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224
MobilityWheels and tires
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
and to achieve optimum driving comfort, adjust
pressures to the respecti ve tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds up to a maximum of
100 mph or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pre ssures can also be found
on the driver's side door pillar when the driver's
door is open.
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. <
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
pressures to the respecti ve tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds including those
exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h. Otherwise,
tire damage and accidents could occur. <
Observe all national an d local maximum speed
limits; otherwise, violations of the laws could
occur.

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225
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Coupe: tire inflation pressures for the 128i
Coupe: tire inflation pressures for the 135i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi
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 bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.5/36 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.4/35 - 3.0/44
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.2/32 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.7/39 - 2.9/42
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi
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 bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.3/33 2.5/36
2.6/38 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.5/36 -2.6/38 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.7/39- 2.9/42
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60

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226
MobilityWheels and tires
Convertible: tire inflation pressures for the 128i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi
Traveling speeds up to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h Traveling speeds
including those exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specificat ions in the table are
indicated in bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
without Sport Package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S A/S RSC
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.2/32 2.7/39
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.5/36 - 2.8/41
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.4/35 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 2.8/41
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
with Sport Package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.2/32 2.7/39
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.5/36 - 3.2/46
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.4/35 - 2.6/38 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 3.1/45
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60

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227
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Convertible: tire inflation pressures for the 135i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi
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 bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
without Sport Package
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.5/36 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.7/39 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 2.8/41
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
with Sport Package
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.5/36 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.7/39 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 3.1/45
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60

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MobilityWheels and tires
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 1013 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 10 of 2013.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall betw een 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 Requir ements in addition
to these grades. <
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditio ns on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 γ) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditio ns 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.
Traction
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 con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
e.g.
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
225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's
code for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 4012

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Wheels and tires
Mobility
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahe
ad braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics. <
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the ti re'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 whee l than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or exce ssive loading, either
separately or in combin ation, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure. <
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 page230.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better wint er properties than
summer tires.
XL
Designation for specia lly reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
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.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they be come perceptibly less
suitable for winter condit ions. In the interest of
safety, new tires sh ould be installed.
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around th e tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. On ce the tire tread has
worn down to the wear indicators, the tire has
worn to a depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
Wheel/tire damage
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces,
as well as debris, curbs and other obstacles can
cause serious damage to wheels, tires, and sus-
pension parts. This is more likely to occur with
low-profile tires, which provide less cushioning
between the wheel and th e road. Be careful to
avoid road hazards and reduce your speed,
especially if your vehi cle is equipped with low-
profile tires.

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MobilityWheels and tires
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.
In these cases, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires thor-
oughly checked. To do so , drive carefully to the
nearest BMW center or tire dealer. If necessary,
have the vehicle towed there.
O t h e r w i s e , t i r e d a m a g e c a n p o s e a l e t h a l h a z a r d
to vehicle occupants and other road users. <
Tire age
For various reasons, such as the development
of brittleness, BMW recommends tire replace-
ment after no more than 6 years, regardless of
the actual wear of the tires.
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 1013 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 10 of 2013.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires mounted only
by your BMW center or by a tire dealer. If
this work is not carried out properly, there is a
danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards. Make sure that the new wheels
are balanced. <
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 ag e, which can result in a
limited service life. <
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount run-flat tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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 offi cial size ratings could
actually have different dimensions, which could
lead to body contact an d thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving
safety. <
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire
combination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS, DSC or
FTM.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. Af ter a tire has been
damaged, mount the previous wheel and tire
combination again as soon as possible.
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 Monito r may not be able to
detect a puncture, refer to page 94. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.

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