2008 BMW 550I SEDAN tire size

Mobility
225Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
550i
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire sizeSpeed letter
Q= up to 100 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/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds
up to 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
245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 38/260 32/220 35/240 33/230 41/280
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W32/220 38/260 32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL 33/230 39/270 33/230 39/270 39/270 46/320
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y
Rear: 275/35R1895Y32/220 35/240 32/220 32/220 33/230 38/260
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30R1996YXL35/240 39/270 33/230 38/260 38/260 45/310
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page257.
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Belted construction – radial
Rim diameter in inches
Carrying capacity ID-code
(not in ZR tires)
Speed code letter
(in ZR tires before the R)225/50 R1794 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3307

Wheels and tires
228
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use
retreaded tires, as driving safety may be
impaired. The causes for this include the possi-
bly different tire casing structures and the often
wide variations in their age, which 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 factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon
as possible.
Wheels with electronics for
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When mounting new tires or converting from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics, otherwise the
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire,
refer to page97. Your BMW center will be
happy to advise you on this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW
depending on the tire size. You can recognize
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with
the most demanding standards for safety and
vehicle response.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires, or changing from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-flat
tires for your own safety. In addition, no spare
tire is available in case of a flat tire. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you do not have damaged run-flat
tires repaired; they should be replaced. Other-
wise it is not possible to rule out occurrences of
consequential damage.<
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.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise
t i re d a m a g e m a y o c cu r , w h ic h c a n re s u l t i n a c c i-
dents.<

Mobility
245Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Protect valve stems with valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page95, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page97.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a speed of
50 mph/80 km/h.
The driving characteristics change, for example
reduced track stability on braking, extended
braking distance, and altered self-steering
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction
with winter tires, these characteristics are more
pronounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure
to do so is a safety risk.<
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be glad to advise in
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine switched off. Connections, refer to
Jump starting on page248.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright
position for transport and storage. Always
restrain the battery to prevent it from tipping
over during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power supply interruption,
some settings are lost. Take the following
steps:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
Store the positions again, refer to page48.
>Time and date
Reset, refer to text starting on page86.
>Radio
Store stations again, refer to page174.
>Navigation system
Wait until the system starts, refer to
page142.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub-
stitute of another color or amperage rating, as
this could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately
resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
Sedan
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and fuse alloca-
tion diagram are located in the compartment for
the onboard tool kit, refer to page237.
Sports Wagon
Spare fuses and a pair of plastic tweezers are
contained in the onboard tool kit, refer to
page237. A fuse allocation diagram is located
in the cargo bay behind the right-hand side
panel.

Reference 281
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Tilting down passenger-side
exterior mirror53
"Time"87
"Time format"87
Timer, refer to Preselecting
activation times119
"Timer 1" for parked-car
ventilation119
"Timer 2" for parked-car
ventilation119
Tire inflation pressures220
Tire pressure loss96,97
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM97
Tire Quality Grading226
Tire replacement, new wheels
and tires227
Tires
– age226
– air loss96,98
– breaking-in134
– changing227
– condition227
– damage227
– flat tire, refer to Changing
wheels242
– inflation pressure220
– new wheels and tires227
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor95
– pressure monitoring, refer to
TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor97
– replacing242
– retreaded tires228
– run-flat tires227
– size225
– tread227
– wear indicators227
– wheel/tire combination227
– winter tires228
Tire trouble
– changing wheels242
– compact wheel244
TMC station, refer to Traffic
information160"Tone"169
Tone dialing method204
Tone in audio mode
– adjusting169
– middle setting171
Tone on locking/unlocking31
Tools, refer to Onboard
toolkit237
"Top 8" for mobile phone202
Torque
– lug bolts, refer to After
mounting
244
– refer to Engine data254
Touch tone dialing, refer to
Tone dialing method204
Tow bar250
Tow fitting249
Towing249
– methods250
– tow fittings249
– with automatic and sport
automatic transmission250
– with manual
transmission250
"Town / City" for destination
entry145
Tow rope251
Tow-starting249
"TPM"97
TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor97
– resetting system97
– system limits97
– warning lamp98
Tracks
– random sequence185
– sampling on CD184
– selecting with CD183
Track width, refer to
Dimensions255
Traction-assist feature, refer
to DSC Dynamic Stability
Control92
Traction control, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control92Traffic information for
navigation160
– depiction in route map162
– displaying161
– during destination
guidance163
– symbols162
"Traffic Info settings"161
Traffic jam
– displaying traffic
information160
– refer to Bypassing route
sections160
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic63
– manually unlocking and
locking transmission lock65
– manual transmission63
– sport automatic
transmission66
– starting assistant94
– towing250
Transporting children
safely56
Transport securing device,
refer to Securing cargo138
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tire tread
227
Treble, refer to Tone
control169
"Treble", tone control170
"Trip computer"81
Trip computer80
Trip-distance counter
– refer to Trip computer80
– refer to Trip meter78
"Triple turn signal"67
Trip meter78
– also refer to Trip
computer80
Trunk, refer to Cargo bay
Trunk lid, refer to Tailgate35
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions255