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Wheels and tyres
Tyre pressures
Information for your safety
The tyres approved for your vehicle are
matched to its characteristics and, if
used correctly, ensure not only opti-
mum road safety but also the desired
level of ride comfort.
The condition of the tyres and mainte-
nance of the correct tyre pressures not
only influence tyre life but are also deci-
sive factors in ride quality and above all
in road safety.
Incorrect pressures are often a cause of
tyre problems. They also have a consid-
erable effect on the roadholding of your
BMW.
Check tyre pressures regularly,
see page 24 – including your
BMW's compact or full-size spare
wheel – at least every two weeks and
before you start a long journey. Incor-
rect tyre pressures can adversely affect
the car's roadholding and cause tyre
damage, which could result in an acci-
dent.<
Condition of tyres
Tyre tread – tyre damage
Inspect the tyres frequently for damage,
the presence of foreign objects, unu-
sual wear and sufficient tread depth.
Tread depth should, if possible, not be
allowed to drop below 3 mm (approx.
1/8 in), despite the fact that European
legislation, for example, specifies a
minimum tread depth of only 1.6 mm
(approx. 1/16 in).
Below a tread depth of 3 mm (approx.
1/8 in) there is a risk of aquaplaning at
fairly high road speeds even if the water
is not very deep. There are wear indica-
tors in the tread, see arrow, at points
around the circumference of the tyre, as
indicated by the letters TWI – for Tread
Wear Indicator – on the shoulder of the
tyre. They become visible when the
tread wears to 1.6 mm (approx.
1/16 in), indicating that the minimum
tread depth allowed by law has been
reached.
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 158 017 - © 03/04 BMW AG