144n
Tire inflation pressureBMW Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
up to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those exceeding
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires,
cold = ambient temperature
X5 4.4i235/65 R 17 104 H M+S
255/55 R 18 105 H M+S32/220 33/230 32/220 33/230 32/220 39/270
Front: 255/50 R 19 103 V
Rear: 285/45 R 19 107 V
Front: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W32/220
–
32/220
––
32/220
–
32/22032/220
–
32/220
––
32/220
–
32/22032/220
–
32/220
––
39/270
–
39/270
X5 4.8isFront: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W
255/55 R 18 105 H M+S32/220
–
32/220–
35/240
35/24032/220
–
32/220–
35/240
35/24033/230
–
33/230–
39/270
39/270
Compact wheel:
T 155/80 R 19 114 M61/420
You will find more information on permissible loads and weights on page182.
145n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire identification marksKnowledge of the labeling on the side
of the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.Tire sizeSpeed code letter:
Q = up to 105 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/hTire Identification Number Tires with DOT codes meet the guide-
lines of the U.S. Department of Trans-
portation. e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Cross-sectional ratio
in Ξ
Belted construction
radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not with ZR tires
Speed code letter,
with ZR tires before the R
235/65 R
17104H
DOT code: Tire age The manufacturer of your BMW recom-
mends that all tires, i.e. including the
spare wheel, be replaced regardless of
the actual wear after 6 years at the lat-
est.
The tire's date of manufacture is indi-
cated on the sidewall:
DOT... 2605 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 26 of 2005. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example: e.g.
Manufacturer's code
for tire brand
Tire size and tire model
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 2605
DOT Quality Grades Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments 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 condi-
tions on a specified government 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 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.
146n
Tire identification marks Wheel/tire condition 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 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, hydro-
planing, or peak traction characteris-
tics.< TemperatureThe temperature grades are A, the
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 tem-
perature can lead to a sudden flat tire.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
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 a tire failure.< M+SWinter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties
than summer tires.
Wheel/tire damage Inspect your wheels and tires frequently
for tread wear, signs of damage and for
foreign objects lodged in the tread.
Check the tread pattern depth.
Please note that low-profile tires
make your wheels, tires and sus-
pension parts more susceptible to road
hazard and consequential damages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle mal-
function. This can, for example, be
caused by driving over curbs. This is
also true for irregularities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a
pronounced tendency to pull to the left
or right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed.
Carefully proceed – or have your vehicle
towed – to the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center or tire dealer to
have the wheels or tires inspected.
Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal
safety hazard for the vehicle's occu-
pants and other road users alike.<
147n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Wheel/tire conditionTire tread The tread depth should not fall below
0.12 in/3 mm although, for example,
European regulations only require 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.
As winter tires display a noticeable
loss in their ability to cope with cold-
weather driving conditions once the
tread wears to below 0.16 in/4 mm, you
should always have such tires replaced
to ensure continued safety.Wear indicators at the tread-groove
base are distributed over the tire's cir-
cumference and are marked on the side
of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear Indi-
cator. If the tire tread has worn down
to the wear indicators, then the legally
permissible tread depth limit of
0.063 in/1.6 mm has been reached.
530de423
148n
Replacing wheels/tires
Have new wheels and tires
installed only by your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center or tire shop that
works according to BMW repair proce-
dures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subse-
quent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend the
use of retreaded tires, otherwise
driving safety may be reduced. The rea-
son for this is that possible variations in
the design and aging – which could be
substantial – of the tire casing can
result in a limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use
only wheel and tire combinations
that BMW has tested and approved for
your particular vehicle. Variations in fac-
tors such as manufacturing tolerances
mean that even wheels and tires with
identical official size ratings could actu-
ally have different dimensions than the
approved units – these differences
could lead to body contact, and with it
the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used,
BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for
driving safety.<
You can ask your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center for the correct wheel/tire
combination.
The correct wheel/tire combination also
affects various systems whose function
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS,
DSC, xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. After tire damage, always
remember to have the original wheel
and tire combination remounted on the
vehicle as soon as possible.
Recommended tire brands:
BMW recommends particular tire
brands for each tire size. You will rec-
ognize them by the clearly visible BMW
identification on the tire sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the
highest standards for safety and han-
dling characteristics.530de424
149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Replacing wheels/tires Snow chains
*
Special features 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 perfor-
mance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe
the description under Tire condition,
page146, and Replacing wheels/tires.
Observing speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated. Unprofessional attempts by
laymen to service tires can lead to dam-
age and accidents. Have this work per-
formed by skilled professionals only.
The technicians at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with the required profes-
sional knowledge and specialized
equipment.<
Storage Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry
place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Always protect tires
against all contact with oil, grease and
fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.Only certain fine-link snow chains are
tested, classified as road-safe, and rec-
ommended by BMW. Consult your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. Use is only permitted in pairs on
the rear wheels with the following tire
sizes:
X5 4.8is: 255/55 R 18
All other models: 235/65 R 17
Follow the manufacturer's instructions
when installing snow chains. Do not
exceed a maximum speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Moni-
tor after mounting snow chains, as
the monitor may then incorrectly indi-
cate flat tires.
When you are driving with snow chains,
it can be beneficial to switch off DSC
briefly, refer to page93.<
165n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Lamps and bulbs Changing a wheel Light-emitting diodes LEDs Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light
source for many of the controls and dis-
plays in your vehicle. The concept
behind their operation is related to that
employed for lasers.
Do not remove the covers, and
never stare into the unfiltered light
several hours, as irritation of the retina
could result.<
Safety precautions to observe in
the event of a flat and during all
tire changes:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, sur-
face. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and
engage the steering lock. Shift into 1st
or reverse, selector lever in Park with
automatic transmission, and engage the
handbrake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area, behind a guardrail,
for instance.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is required, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface that is not slippery. The vehicle
or the jack could slip to the side if you
attempt to raise the vehicle on a soft
or slippery surface such as snow, ice,
tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. If this is done,
the jack might not be able to reach its
full support capacity because of the
limited height. To avoid serious or fatal
injury: never lie under the vehicle, and
never start the engine while it is sup-
ported by the jack.<
Your BMW has either a compact wheel
for temporary use to ensure your mobil-
ity, or a spare wheel of the size 235/
65 R 17. Please observe the differences
in handling when removing the wheel
from the cargo area.
166n
Changing a wheel What you will need In order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>Two wheel chocks
Open liftgate and tailgate.
Raise the floor panel flap or pull-out
cargo floor in the cargo area, refer to
page128 or129. On vehicles with a
compact wheel, remove the cover,
refer to page167.
Remove the wheel chocks, refer to
arrow, next to the spare wheel 530us117
>Lug wrench
Located beside the spare wheel 530us120
>Handle for the jack
Remove from its holder530de405