2001 BMW 325i SEDAN tires

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety that depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures
regularly Ð include the space-
saver spare tire or spare tire Ð at least
twice a month and before beginning a
longer trip (refer to page 29). If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an acci-
dent.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively
moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the
tires. You could have a blowout as a
result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have the vehicle towed in to have it and
its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

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To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel/tire combinations, beginning on
page 130.
DOT Quality GradesTreadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger vehicle tires must
conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1g) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
TractionThe 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 speci-
fied government test surfaces 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, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics. highest), B and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions 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 vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel 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
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure. applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires. Driving
safety may be impaired by their
use. This is due to the possible varia-
tions in casing structures and, in some
cases, to their extreme age, factors that
can lead to a decrease in their dura-
bility.<
Tire replacement

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotationTire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 4100 means that the tire was
manufactured in week 41 of 2000.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when the tires are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. A tire
in this condition should be replaced by
a new tire immediately, and should not
be mounted together with new tires.
Between the axlesThe tread wear patterns at the front end
differ from those at the rear Ð the actual
patterns will vary according to indi-
vidual driving conditions. In the inter-
ests of safety and maintaining optimal
handling characteristics, tire rotation is
not recommended.
If a proposed interaxle rotation of tires
is based on economic considerations,
one should consider whether the costs
for the rotation are likely to be recap-
tured by any increase in the service life
of the tires that might be realized. In
principle, interaxle rotation must be
performed in short intervals, with a
maximum of 3,000 miles (5,000 km).
Consult your BMW center for more
information.
Should you decide to rotate the tires, it
is essential to comply with the following:
Rotate tires on the same side only, since
braking characteristics and road grip
could otherwise be adversely affected.
Following rotation, the tire inflation
pressure should always be corrected.If different tire sizes are mounted
on the front and rear axles (refer to
page 130), the wheels may not be
rotated from one axle to the other.<

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Wheel and tire combinations The right choice Use only BMW-approved tires. Refer to
page 130.
Due to the high speeds this vehicle can
reach, the use of specific brands, spec-
ifications and sizes is mandatory.
Consult any BMW center for details.
Comply with local/national regulations.
The correct wheel-tire combina-
tion affects different systems such
as ABS, ATC and ASC+T/DSC. The
function of these systems is impaired if
improper wheel-tire combinations are
used.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same brand and tread pattern. In the
event of a flat tire, for example, remount
the approved wheel-tire combination as
soon as possible.<
Codes on tires and wheels The tire codes will aid you in selecting
the correct tire.
The codes on radial tires:
The speed rating indicates the approved
maximum speed for the tire.
Summer tires:
S = up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V = up to 150 mph (240 km/h)
W = up to 167 mph (270 km/h)
Y = up to 187 mph (300 km/h)
ZR = above 150 mph (240 km/h) Example:
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in %
Radial tire ID code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)
205/60 R
1591W
Winter tires and all-season tires:
Q M+S = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
Codes stamped on light-alloy wheels:
Protect tire valve from dirt by using
screw-on valve stem caps. Dirt in the
valves frequently leads to slow leaks. Example:
Rim width
in inches
Code letter for
flange type
Symbol for full-drop
center rim
Rim diameter in inches
Hump on the 2 rim shoulders
7 x 15 H 2
J

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

Winter tires

Choosing the right tire

BMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction
than standard summer tires with H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed ratings, they gener-
ally fail to provide the same levels of
performance as standard snow tires in
winter driving.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels.
Mount only winter tires approved by
BMW. Any BMW center will be glad to
provide you with information on the
best winter tires for your particular
driving conditions.

Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds

Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.

<

Tire condition, tire pressure

Winter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 inches (4 mm), and should
thus be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ð and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.

Storage

Always store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against
contact with oil, grease and fuel.

Snow chains

*
The use of narrow-link BMW snow
chains on winter tires is approved only
in pairs and only on the rear wheels.
BMW 325xi, 330xi: in a worst-case
scenario, if your vehicle is stuck on one
side or you cannot access one tire, then
a chain may be attached to one rear
wheel for a short period of time.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.

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Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim Alu-wheel
(black)Light-alloy
wheel
BMW 320i
All season tires
195/65 R 15 91 H M+S
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
205/50 R 17 93 V M+S extra load6.5Jx15
7Jx16
7Jx176.5Jx15
Ð
Ð6.5Jx15
7Jx16
7Jx17
Summer tires
195/65 R 15 91 H Ð Ð 6,5Jx15
205/60 R 15 91 H Ð Ð 6.5Jx15
7Jx15
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16Ð Ð 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load Ð Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 W Ð Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17 Ð Ð 7.5Jx17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17 Ð Ð 8.5Jx17

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim Alu-wheel
(black)Light-alloy
wheel
Winter tires
195/65 R 15 91 Q M+S 6.5Jx15 6.5Jx15 6.5Jx15
205/60 R 15 91 Q M+S 6.5Jx15 6.5Jx15
Ð6.5Jx15
7Jx15
205/55 R 16 91 Q M+S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S7Jx16 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 Q M+S extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S Ð Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire Ð
T 125/90 R 15 96 M 3.5Bx15 Ð Ð
T 115/90 R 16 92 M 3.0Bx16 Ð Ð
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 Ð Ð
T 125/80 R 17 99 M 3.5Bx17 Ð Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's manuals.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the
vehicle documents may be necessary.
Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains with
the following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16
225/45 R 17 91 W
245/40 ZR 17
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+SMixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufac-
turers for mixed tires, refer to the
vehicle documents.

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Approved wheel and tire specificationsTire specifications Steel rim Light-alloy wheel
BMW 325i/330xi
All season tires
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 7Jx16 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 V M+S extra load 7Jx17 7Jx17
Summer tires
205/55 R 16 91 V
225/50 R 16 92 W (not on 325xi)
225/50 ZR 16 (not on 325xi)Ð 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 W Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17Ð
Ð7.5Jx17
8.5Jx17
Winter tires205/55 R 16 91 Q M+S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S (not on 325xi)
7Jx16 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 Q M+S extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 115/90 R 16 92 M 3.0Bx16 Ð
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 Ð
T 125/80 R 17 99 M 3.5Bx17 Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's manuals.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the vehicle
documents may be necessary.
BMW 325xiFor all tires, only light-alloy wheels must
be used.Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains
with the following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16 92 Q M+S
225/50 ZR 16
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S
245/40 ZR 17Mixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufac-
turers for mixed tires, refer to the
vehicle documents.