tire size BMW 335I 2008 User Guide

Wheels and tires
220
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 … 3006 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 30 of 2006.
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 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.<
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.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
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.
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 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 0705

Wheels and tires
222 The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 0705 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 07 of 2005.
Run-Flat Tires
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-Flat Tires comprise a conditionally self-
supporting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page93.
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
h a z a r d s . M a k e s u re t h a t t h e n e w w h ee l s a r e b a l-
anced.<
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.<
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.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced
rather than repaired. Otherwise, subsequent
damage cannot be ruled out.<
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. 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 com-
bination 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
RPA.
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.
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 page93. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.

Mobility
223Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Recommended tire brands
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.
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
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.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
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.
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. If the tires are of mixed sizes,
swapping wheels between the axles is not per-
missible.
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.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, otherwise the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page90.<

Everything from A - Z
266 Summer tires, refer to Wheels
and tires212
Surface ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning74
"Surround Settings", refer to
Tone control162
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching off
– engine60
Switching off the engine
– start/stop button59
Switching on
– audio160
– CD changer160
– CD player160
– radio160
Switching on the hour
signal82
Switching the cooling function
on and off107
Switch-on times of parked car
ventilation, preselecting108
Symbols4
– navigation system154
– status information20
– traffic info for navigation
system151
T
Tachometer74
Tail lamps233
– replacing bulb233
Tank contents, refer to
Capacities247
Technical data244
– capacities247
– dimensions245
Technical modifications, refer
to For your own safety5
Telematics, refer to
TeleService, BMW
Assist201
Telephone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest114
– refer to separate Owner's
ManualTelephone, refer to Mobile
phone186
"Telephone list"54
TeleService203
Temperature
– automatic climate
control105
– changing unit of measure78
– coolant, refer to Coolant
temperature75
Temperature display
– outside temperature74
– outside temperature
warning74
– setting the units78
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control66
Tensioning straps, refer to
Securing cargo128
"Terminate services"206
"Text language"86
"Theater" for Tone
control162
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp234
Through-loading opening with
integrated transport
bag120
Through-loading system117
Tilt alarm sensor36
Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror53
"Time"82
"Time / Date"82,83
"Time format"82
Timer, refer to Preselecting
switch-on times108
"Timer 2" for parked car
ventilation/heating109
"Timer 1" for parked car
ventilation/heating109
Tire inflation pressure212
– loss93,94
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor92Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM93
– resetting the system94
– system limitations93
– warning lamp95
Tire puncture, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor93
Tire Quality Grading220
Tires
– age220,221
– air loss95
– breaking in124
– changing, refer to Changing
wheels234
– condition221
– damage221
– inflation pressure212
– labels220
– minimum tread depth221
– new wheels and tires222
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor92
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM93
– puncture93
– replacing222
– Run-Flat222
– size220
– storage223
– tread depth221
– wear indicators, refer to
Minimum tread depth221
– wheel/tire combination, refer
to Correct wheels and
tires222
– winter tires223
TMC station, refer to Traffic
information151
"Tone"161
Tone in audio mode
– adjusting161
– middle setting163
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit231
Top, refer to Retractable
hardtop41
"Top 8" for mobile phone194