2010 BMW X3 Owner's Manual - Page 101

age and related safety hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are balanced.< Recommended tire brands BMW does not recommend the use of retreaded tires; otherwise, driving safety may be reduced. The causes for this include the possibly different tire casing structures and the often wide variations in their age, which can result in a limited service life.< Correct 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 manufacturing 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 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-and-tire combination. The correct wheel-and-tire combination affects various systems whose function would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive. To maintain good handling and vehicle response, use only tires of a single tread configuration from a single manufacturer. After tire damage, always remember to have the original wheel and tire combination remounted on the vehicle as soon as possible. BMW recommends particular tire brands for each tire size. You will recognize them by the clearly visible BMW identification on the tire sidewall. Controls Reference Mobility Driving tips With proper use, these tires meet the highest standards for safety and handling characteristics. Special characteristics of winter tires BMW recommends winter tires for use on winter road surfaces or at temperatures below +457/+76. Although all-season M+S tires do provide better winter traction than summer tires, they generally fail to provide the same levels of cold-weather performance as winter tires. Observing speed ratings Never exceed the maximum speed for which the winter tires are rated.< Storage Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry place, protecting them from light whenever possible. Protect the tires from contact with oil, grease and fuel. Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure indicated on the side wall of the tire. Wheels equipped with electronics for TPM Tire Pressure Monitor When installing new tires or when changing from summer tires to winter tires or vice versa, only use wheels equipped with TPM electronics; otherwise, the Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, refer to page 55. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be happy to advise you in this regard. Changing wheels from one axle to another BMW does not recommend changing the front wheels to the back or vice versa as this can impair handling characteristics. 99 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 602 348 - © 02/09 BMW AG At a glance Retreaded tires