Special characteristics of winter tires, Snow chains, Wheels and tires – BMW 745I User Manual

Page 190: Special characteristics of winter tires

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Wheels and tires

188

The correct combination of wheels
and tires is a vital factor in ensuring

reliable operation of various vehicle sys-
tems such as ABS and DSC.
It is therefore important to ensure that tires
from a single manufacturer with a single
tread configuration are always mounted on
all vehicle wheels; after a flat tire, always
remember to have the specified wheel and
tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.

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Storage

Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as pos-
sible. Always protect tires against all con-
tact with oil, grease and fuels.

Special characteristics of
winter tires

Choosing the right tire

BMW recommends winter tires – M+S tires
for use in cold winter driving conditions.
Although all-season M+S tires provide
better winter traction than standard
summer tires with H, V, W and ZR speed
ratings, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance
as winter tires.

When mounting, always install winter tires
of a single tread configuration and from a
single manufacturer on all four wheels to
ensure safe tracking and secure steering
response.

Observing speed ratings

Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.

Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents.
Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.

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Tire condition, tire pressure

Because winter tires display a noticeable
loss in their ability to cope with cold-wea-
ther driving conditions once the tread
wears to below 0.16 in (4 mm), to ensure
continued safety you should always have
such tires replaced.

Always maintain the specified inflation
pressures in all tires, and remember to
have the wheel and tire assemblies bal-
anced every time either a wheel or a tire is
replaced.

Snow chains*

BMW only tests certain snow chains, clas-
sifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more
information. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow chains.
These snow chains are approved exclusi-
vely for use in pairs on the rear wheels, and
should only be mounted on tires with the
dimensions 245/50 R 18. Observe the
manufacturer's instructions when installing
snow chains. Do not exceed a vehicle
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) with the chains
mounted.

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 197 - © 11/02 BMW AG

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