Page 79 of 155

79n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
In the event of a flat tireIf there is a tire failure with loss of pres-
sure, the indicator lamp comes on with 
a red lamp. In addition, an acoustic 
signal is sounded.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed 
immediately and stop the vehicle in a 
safe location. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Do not oversteer. Replace the 
wheel and flat tire.
The space-saver spare tire is 
provided for temporary use only in 
the case of a tire failure. It does not 
have RDC electronics and is not moni-
tored. The spare tire
 that has the same 
dimensions as the tires already 
mounted on the vehicle is equipped 
with the necessary RDC electronics 
and will be also monitored once the 
tires have been mounted and the 
system activated.<
RDC cannot alert you to severe 
and sudden tire damage caused 
by external factors.<
Have the tires changed by your 
BMW center.
Your BMW center has the information 
needed for working with RDC and is 
equipped with the necessary special 
tools.<
System interferenceLocal devices using the same radio 
frequency can interfere with RDC.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on 
during the malfunction. 
The indicator lamp also comes on
>in the event of a system fault 
>if a wheel is mounted without the 
appropriate electronics 
>if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics 
are on board.
Please contact your BMW center for 
additional information. 
     
        
        Page 107 of 155

107n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires are 
matched to the vehicle and have been 
selected to provide optimum safety and 
driving comfort.
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 inflation 
pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is 
a frequent cause of tire damage. It 
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. Be sure to 
check the tire inflation pressure, 
including the space-saver spare tire or 
the spare tire, on a regular basis, at 
least twice a month and before every 
extended journey, refer to page 24. If 
this is not done, incorrect tire pressures 
can cause driving instability and tire 
damage, ultimately resulting in an 
accident.<
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 0.063 in (1.6 mm). Tread wear 
indicators (arrow) are embedded in the 
base of the tire's tread. Their locations 
are indicated by the legend TWI Ð Tread 
Wear Indicator Ð at various points on 
the tire's shoulder. When the tread 
reaches a depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), 
these indicators appear to signal that 
the tires have worn to the minimum 
legal level. 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.
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 leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the 
tires. The ultimate result can assume 
the form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during 
normal vehicle operation can indicate a 
flat tire or some other vehicle malfunc-
tion. The type of problem can be 
caused by contact with curbs, etc.  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, its 
wheels and tires inspected.
Tire inflation pressure
 
Tire condition 
     
        
        Page 132 of 155

132n
Changing a wheel
Only use original BMW full wheel 
covers, otherwise, the trim piece 
may not fit securely. The full wheel 
cover may not be installed on the 
space-saver spare tire, since this could 
damage the cover.<
The vehicle jack is designed for 
changing wheels only. Do not 
attempt to raise another vehicle model 
with it or to raise any load of any kind. 
To do so could cause accidents and 
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the 
tightness of the lug bolts checked with 
a calibrated torque wrench [torque 
specification: 72 lb ft (100 Nm)] at the 
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire 
recess take care to avoid bending the 
threaded rod.
If the original BMW light-alloy wheels 
have been replaced with other light-
alloy wheels, different lug bolts may be 
required.
Replace the defective tire as soon as 
possible and have the new wheel/tire 
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver 
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
You can anticipate changes in vehicle 
handling such as delayed braking 
response, longer braking distances and 
sacrifices in roadholding.
The changes in handling characteristics 
will be even more pronounced if winter 
tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire 
may be mounted at a time. Rein-
stall wheels and tires of the same size 
and specification as soon as possible. 
Maintain correct tire pressures, refer to 
page 24.<
Safety tires
*
Safety tires consist of self-supporting 
tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains 
some residual safety in the event of 
pressure drop and driving remains 
possible to a restricted degree. The 
vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure 
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor, 
which indicate a flat tire.Flat tireIf there is a tire failure, the red warning 
lamp symbol lights up. A supplemen-
tary gong is also heard.
For additional information on Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor 
refer to page 78 or 80.
Reduce vehicle speed carefully to 
under 50 mph (80 km/h), avoiding hard 
brake applications and steering maneu-
vers.
With the safety tires, you can drive 
another approx. 155 miles (250 km) to 
reach a safe parking location, a service 
station or the nearest BMW center. 
With a low vehicle load, this can also be 
considerably more than 155 miles 
(250 km).