Wheels and tires -> Tire tread for your BMW 6 Series 2011-2017
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Temperature grade for this tire
Treadwear
The treadwear 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, 1 g,
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, however, and may depart signifi‐
cantly from the norm due to variations in driv‐
ing habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
The temperature grade for this tire is es‐
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla‐
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
If necessary, have the vehicle towed.◀
RSC – Run-flat tires
Run-flat tires, refer to page 208, are labeled
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC marked on the sidewall.
Traction
M+S
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.
Winter and all-season tires with better cold
weather performance than summer tires.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance.
Tire tread
Summer tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.12 in/3 mm.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if
the tire tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm.
Temperature
Winter tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.16 in/4 mm.
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
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the ma‐
terial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds
to a level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band
A represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the minimum re‐
quired by law.
Below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, tires are
less suitable for winter operation.
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Mobility
Wheels and tires
In case of tire damage
Minimum tread depth
If there are indications of tire damage, re‐
duce your speed immediately and have the
rims and tires checked right away; otherwise,
there is the increased risk of an accident.
Drive carefully to the nearest service center. If
necessary, have the vehicle towed or trans‐
ported there. Otherwise, tire damage can be‐
come life threatening for vehicle occupants
and also other traffic.◀
Wear indicators are distributed around the
tire's circumference and have the legally re‐
quired minimum height of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
Repair of tire damage
For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your vehicle recommends that you do not have
damaged tires repaired; they should be re‐
placed. Otherwise, damage can occur as a re‐
sult.◀
They are marked on the side of the tire with
TWI, Tread Wear Indicator.
Tire damage
Changing wheels and tires
General information
Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign
objects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Mounting
Information on mounting tires
Have mounting and balancing performed
only by a service center.
Hints
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces,
as well as debris, curbs and other obstacles
can cause serious damage to wheels, tires and
suspension parts. This is more likely to occur
with low-profile tires, which provide less cush‐
ioning between the wheel and the road. Be
careful to avoid road hazards and reduce your
speed, especially if your vehicle is equipped
with low-profile tires.
If work is not carried out properly, there is a
danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.◀
Wheel and tire combination
You can ask the service center about the right
wheel/tire combination and wheel rim versions
for the vehicle.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle de‐
fects:
Incorrect wheel and tire combinations impair
the function of a variety of systems such as
ABS or DSC.
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Unusual vibrations while driving.
Unusual handling such as a strong ten‐
dency to pull to the left or right.
To maintain good handling and vehicle re‐
sponse, use only tires with a single tread con‐
figuration from a single manufacturer.
Damage can, e. g., be caused by driving over
curbs, road damage, or similar things.
Following tire damage, have the original wheel
and tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
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