2011 BMW 3 SERIES tires

Things to remember when driving
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Breaking-in period
General information
Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other.
The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.
Engine and differential
Always obey the official speed limit.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Do not exceed the maximum engine and road
speed:
▷For gasoline engine, 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode for the initial
miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac‐
tion potential until after an initial breaking-in pe‐
riod.
Drive conservatively for the first 200 miles/
300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and discs. Drive moderately during this break-in
period.
Following part replacement
The same breaking in procedures should be ob‐
served if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Closing the trunk lid
Drive with the trunk lid closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, in the event of an accident or braking or
evasive maneuvers, passengers or other road
users may be injured or the vehicle may be dam‐
aged. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter the
passenger compartment.◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:
▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
▷Greatly increase the blower speed.
▷Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust system
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
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Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. When driv‐
ing, standing at idle and while parking, take care
to avoid possible contact between the hot ex‐
haust system and any highly flammable materi‐
als such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, and with it the risk of serious
personal injury as well as property damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise, there
is the danger of getting burned.◀
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is advised that you do not use mobile commu‐
nication devices, e.g., mobile phones, inside the
vehicle without connecting them directly to the
external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle elec‐
tronics and mobile communication devices can
interfere with each other. In addition, there is no
assurance that the radiation generated during
transmission will be discharged from the vehicle
interior.◀
Hydroplaning
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning.◀
Driving through water
Drive though calm water only if it is not deeper
than 9.8 inches/25 cm and at this height, no
faster than walking speed, up to 6 mph/10 km/h.
Adhere to water depth and speed limita‐
tions
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the elec‐
trical systems and the transmission may be
damaged.◀
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations when this is neces‐
sary.
The vehicle maintains steering responsiveness.
You can still avoid any obstacles with a minimum
of steering effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.
Objects in the area around the pedals
No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Only use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be properly fixed in place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again after they were removed for cleaning, for
example.◀
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry the
brake discs and pads.
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Loading
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
General information
Overloading the vehicle
To avoid exceeding the approved carrying
capacity of the tires, never overload the vehicle.
Overloading can lead to overheating and in‐
creases the rate at which damage develops in‐
side the tires. This could result in a sudden loss
of tire inflation pressure.◀
No fluids in the trunk
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
trunk; otherwise, the vehicle may be damaged.◀
Determining the load limit
1.Locate the following statement on your ve‐
hicle’s placard:
▷The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to the ve‐
hicle and unstable driving situations may
result.
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,000 lbs and there will be four 150 lbs pas‐
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail‐
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
400 lbs: 1,000 lbs minus 600 lbs = 400 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
Load
The maximum load is the sum of the weight of
the occupants and the cargo.
The greater the weight of the occupants, the
less cargo that can be transported.
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Mobility
To ensure that you remain mobile at all times, this
chapter supplies you with important information
on the topics of fuels and lubricants, wheels and
tires, service, maintenance, and Roadside
Assistance.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 608 633 - 11 09 490

Wheels and tires
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Tire inflation pressure
Safety information
The tire characteristics and tire inflation pres‐
sure influence the following:
▷The service life of the tires.
▷Road safety.
▷Driving comfort.
Checking the pressure
Only check the tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. This means after driving no more
than 1.25 miles/2 km or when the vehicle has
been parked for at least 2 hours. When the tires
are warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
Regularly check the tire inflation pressure
and correct it as needed: at least twice a month
and before a long trip. If you fail to observe this
precaution, you may be driving on tires with in‐
correct tire pressures, a condition that may not
only compromise your vehicle's driving stability,
but also lead to tire damage and the risk of an
accident.◀
After correcting the tire inflation pressure:
▷Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
▷Reinitialize the Tire Pressure Monitor.
Pressure specifications
The tire inflation pressure table, refer to
page 264, contains all pressure specifications
for the specified tire sizes at the ambient tem‐
perature. Pressure specifications apply to ap‐
proved tire sizes and recommended tire brands.
This information can be obtained from your
service center.
To identify the correct tire inflation pressure,
please note the following:
▷Tire sizes of your vehicle.
▷Maximum allowable driving speed.
Tire inflation pressures up to 100 mph/
160 km/h
For speeds of up to 100 mph/160 km/h and for
optimum driving comfort, note the pressure val‐
ues in the tire inflation pressure table, refer to
page 264, and adjust as necessary.
These pressure values can also be found on the
tire inflation pressure label on the driver's door
pillar.
Maximum permissible speed
Do not exceed 100 mph/160 km/h; other‐
wise, tire damage and accidents may result.◀
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Tire inflation pressure values up to
100 mph/160 km/h
320i
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
Specifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires
225/50 R 17 94 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/50 R 17 94 V
RSC
225/50 R 17 94 H M
+S RSC
2.2 / 32 2.2 / 32
225/45 R 18 91 V M
+S RSC
225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
225/45 R 18 95 V M
+S XL RSC
2.2 / 32 2.4 / 35
F: 225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
R: 255/45 R 17 98 W
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
F.: 225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
R: 255/40 R 18 95 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
F: 225/40 R 19 89 Y
RSC
R: 255/35 R 19 92 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.4/ 35
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
F: 225/35 R 20 90 Y
XL RSC
R: 255/30 R 20 92 Y
XL RSC
2.4 / 35
-
-
2.8/ 41
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 18 104
M
Speed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60
328i
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
Specifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires
225/50 R 17 94 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
225/50 R 17 94 H M
+S RSC
2.2 / 32 2.2 / 32
225/45 R 18 91 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
225/45 R 18 95 V M
+S XL RSC
2.2 / 32 2.4 / 35
F: 225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
R: 255/45 R 17 98 W
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
F: 225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
R: 255/40 R 18 95 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
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Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
F: 225/40 R 19 89 Y
RSC
R: 255/35 R 19 92 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.4 / 35
F: 225/35 R 20 90 Y
XL RSC
R: 255/30 R 20 92 Y
XL RSC
2.4 / 35
-
-
2.8 / 41
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 18 104
M
Speed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60
335i
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
Specifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires
225/45 R 18 91 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
225/45 R 18 95 V M
+S XL RSC
2.2 / 32 2.6 / 38
F: 225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
R: 255/40 R 18 95 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.4 / 35
F: 225/40 R 19 89 Y
RSC
R: 255/35 R 19 92 Y
RSC
2.4 / 35
-
-
2.6 / 38
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
F: 225/35 R 20 90 Y
XL RSC
R: 255/30 R 20 92 Y
XL RSC
2.6 / 38
-
-
3.0 / 44
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 18 104
M
Speed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60
Tire inflation pressures at max. speeds
above 100 mph/160 km/h
Speeds above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in ex‐
cess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please observe, and,
if necessary, adjust tire pressures for speeds
exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from the relevant
table on the following pages. Otherwise tire
damage and accidents could occur.◀
Tire inflation pressure values over
100 mph/160 km/h
320i
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
Specifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires
225/50 R 17 94 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/50 R 17 94 V
RSC
225/50 R 17 94 H M
+S RSC
2.2 / 32 2.7 / 39
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Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
225/45 R 18 91 V M
+S RSC
225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
225/45 R 18 95 V M
+S XL RSC
2.4 / 35 2.9 / 42
F: 225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
R: 255/45 R 17 98 W
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
F: 225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
R: 255/40 R 18 95 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.2 / 32
F: 225/40 R 19 89 Y
RSC
R: 255/35 R 19 92 Y
RSC
2.2 / 32
-
-
2.5 / 36
F: 225/35 R 20 90 Y
XL RSC
R: 255/30 R 20 92 Y
XL RSC
2.4 / 35
-
-
2.9 / 42
Compact wheel
T 135/80 R 18 104
M
Speed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60
328i
Tire sizePressure specifications
in bar/PSI
Specifications in
bar/PSI with cold
tires
225/50 R 17 94 V M
+S A/S RSC
225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
225/50 R 17 94 H M
+S RSC
2.3 / 33 2.8 / 41
225/45 R 18 91 V M
+S RSC
225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
225/45 R 18 95 V M
+S XL RSC
2.5 / 36 3.0 / 44
F: 225/50 R 17 94 W
RSC
R: 255/45 R 17 98 W
RSC
2.3 / 33
-
-
2.5 / 36
F: 225/45 R 18 91 Y
RSC
R: 255/40 R 18 95 Y
RSC
2.3 / 33
-
-
2.5 / 36
F: 225/40 R 19 89 Y
RSC
R: 255/35 R 19 92 Y
RSC
2.5 / 36
-
-
2.7 / 39
F: 225/35 R 20 90 Y
XL RSC
R: 255/30 R 20 92 Y
XL RSC
2.7 / 39
-
-
3.2 / 46
Compact wheel
T 135/80 R 18 104
M
Speed up to a max. of
50 mph / 80 km/h
4.2 / 60
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