2010 BMW M3 wheel size

Wheels and tires
132
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 3209 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 32 of 2009.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements 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 conditions on a specified gov-
ernment 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 conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
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 specified government test sur-
faces 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, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires
225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's
code for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3209

Wheels and tires
134 The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 3209 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 32 of 2009.
Run-flat tires
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-flat tires comprise a conditionally self-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page73.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW center or tire shop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel. If this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
h a z a r d s . M a k e s u re t h a t t h e n e w w h ee l s a r e b a l-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often
wide variations in tire age, which can result in a
limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount run-flat tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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, which could
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS, DSC or
FTM.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only
use wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise,
the Tire Pressure Monitor may not be able to
detect a puncture, refer to page73. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
135
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for winter roads
or at temperatures below +45°F/+76.
Although all-season M+S tires provide better
winter traction than summer tires, they gener-
ally fail to provide the same levels of cold-
weather performance as winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum
tire inflation pressure indicated on the sidewall
of the tire.
Swapping wheels between axles
BMW advises against swapping wheels
between the front and rear axles, even if all tires
have the same size, as this could impair driving
characteristics. If the tires are of mixed sizes,
swapping wheels between the axles is not per-
missible.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your BMW center for
more information.
Snow chains must be mounted in pairs and on
the rear wheels only. Observe the manufac-
turer's instructions when mounting snow
chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or
50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted; otherwise, the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page70.<

Everything from A to Z
190 Tailgate23
– Comfort Access27
– emergency operation, refer
to Opening manually24
– opening manually24
– remote control20
Tailgate, refer to Trunk lid/
tailgate23
Tail lamp
– replacing bulb152
Tail lamp, refer to Tail
lamps150
Tail lamps150
– replacing bulb151,152
Tank contents, refer to
Capacities178
Technical data174
– dimensions175
Technical modifications, refer
to For your own safety5
Telephone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest95
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Temperature
– air conditioner86
– automatic climate control87
– coolant, refer to Coolant
temperature62
Temperature display
– outside temperature61
– outside temperature
warning61
– setting the units64
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control53
Tensioning straps, refer to
Securing cargo110
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp152
Through-loading system97
Through-loading system,
refer to Expanding the cargo
area99
Tilt alarm sensor26
Tilt function, passenger side
mirror40Tire inflation pressure119
– loss73
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor72
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM73
– resetting the system74
– system limitations74
– warning lamp74
Tire puncture, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor73
Tire Quality Grading132
Tires
– age132,133
– air loss74
– breaking in106
– changing, refer to Changing
wheels153
– condition133
– damage133
– inflation pressure119
– labels132
– minimum tread depth133
– new wheels and tires134
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor72
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM73
– puncture73
– replacing134
– run-flat134
– size132
– storage135
– tread depth133
– wear indicators, refer to
Minimum tread depth133
– wheel/tire combination, refer
to Correct wheels and
tires134
– winter tires135
Tools, refer to Onboard
vehicle tool kit147
Torque, refer to Engine
data174
Tow bar158
Tow fitting157
– screw thread158Tow fittings for tow-starting
and towing away157
Towing157
– car with automatic
transmission157
– methods158
Towing and tow-starting157
Tow rope158
Tow-starting157,159
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor73
Traction control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC70
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic48
– manual transmission48
– overriding selector lever lock
for automatic transmission
with Steptronic50
Transmission interlock
– refer to Changing selector
lever position
49
– refer to P Park49
Transporting children
safely42
Transport securing devices,
refer to Securing cargo110
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tire tread133
Trip-distance counter, refer to
Trip odometer61
Triple turn signal activation51
Trip odometer61
Trunk, refer to Cargo area98
Trunk lid23
– Comfort Access27
– emergency release24
– locking or unlocking
separately24
– opening from inside23
– opening from outside23
– remote control20
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions175
Turn signal indicators
– indicator/warning lamp12