Tire Identification Marks; Tire Size; Uniform Tire Quality Grading; Tread Wear - BMW 3 Series Owner's Manual

Mobility

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

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
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:
e.g. DOT xxxx xxx 4012
Manufacturer's
code for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire age
250
Wheels and tires
1
225/45 R 7 91 V
Online Edition for Part no. 01402911383 - © 06/13 BMW AG
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT ... 1013 means that the tire
was manufactured in week 10 of 2013.
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.
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.