BMW Tires 101: Frequently Asked Questions

When we talk about a car’s performance, there are many features we can consider. How much horsepower does it have? How much torque? CCs? What about aerodynamic capability? What’s the engine’s compression ratio? What even is a compression ratio!?

After a while, it feels like you have to go and get an engineering degree just to understand half of this stuff. Instead, let’s focus on something we can all wrap our heads around: tires.

Tire quality sometimes gets overlooked when we talk about vehicle performance, but as the vehicle’s point of contact with the street, it turns out they’re pretty important. Having suboptimal tires will affect everything from acceleration to fuel economy, and the  overall general safety of operating the vehicle. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions, so if you’re curious about luxury car tires, you’ve come to the right place.

What Kind of Tire is Best for My BMW?

Much like snowflakes, every tire model is unique in its own way. Some tires are meant to be jack-of-all-trades workhorses, while others are designed with an explicit purpose in mind.

Here are a few common types of tire you’ll find on BMW models:

• All-season tires – the most common type, with decent all-around performance on pavement in good weather conditions
• Summer tires – optimized for performance in wet and dry conditions
• Winter tires – optimized to provide better traction in snowy conditions
• Touring tires – made of more rigid material, these typically last longer and have a higher speed rating
• Performance/UHP tires – designed to deliver maximum traction and responsiveness on pavement

Like tires, every driver is different. The best type of tire for your BMW will be the one that best fits your driving needs.

If you do some research and you’re still a little murky on things, it’s a great idea to visit a BMW parts center and speak with a tire specialist, who will be able to answer all of your questions about BMW tires for sale.

Do I Need to Change Out for Winter and Summer Tires on My BMW?

It depends where you live.

Winter tires should only be put on a car when the temperature drops consistently below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter tires (a.k.a. snow tires) are made of softer rubber, which retains better grip in colder temperatures. However, once the temp gets above 50, you should have them swapped out and stored for the next cold season, because running winter tires in warm weather will severely hamper performance and wear the tires out very quickly. If you live in a warm climate (near our South Florida dealership, for instance), winter tires aren’t necessary unless you plan on taking a long road trip to a snowy locale.

Summer tires, on the other hand, have a directional tread pattern and shallower grooves, which gives them much more precise handling on both wet and dry pavement. Because of their smaller profile, they tend to wear out a bit quicker than all-season tires, but they’re fantastic if you want the best control and drivability—just don’t try to drive them on icy surfaces.

What Tire Brands Should I Put on My BMW?

Like most manufacturers, BMW doesn’t make their own tires—instead, they let the rubber experts at the tire companies handle it.

In order to avoid any unwanted performance issues, the safest bet is to shop brands that are available at official BMW Tire Centers. Doing this will ensure competitive prices and professional installation for your new BMW recommended tires.

Quality brands found at BMW centers include Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Dunlop, and Continental.

What is the Correct Tire Pressure for My BMW?

Proper tire pressure depends on the kind of tire you have, but nearly all common passenger car tire types have an optimal range between 30 and 35 psi.

There are a few ways to check tire pressure. In a luxury SUV like the BMW X5, it’s as easy as looking at the infotainment system, which will give you a reading of all four tires before your very eyes on the driver information screen. If you have an older model, you can use a pressure gauge, which is a device that’s built into most modern air compressors.

It’s recommended to check your tire pressure about once a month, because air can leak out slowly, and pressure fluctuates with temperature. Checking regularly will guarantee that you’re never driving with low pressure, which is dangerous, and also causes the tires to wear unevenly. Always remember: even if your tire looks like it has enough air, it may still be running low.

When Should I Get New Tires for My BMW?

Overall tire life is another thing that depends on the exact type and brand of tires themselves, as well as other factors, like climate conditions and how well the tires are taken care of. Like tire pressure, it’s pivotal to keep an eye on tread depth—you can easily check both at the same time.

Tire tread is measured in 32nds. Your average new tire will have a tread depth of 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch. All other things being equal, a tire with this depth will likely have tens of thousands of miles left to go.

Once the tread gets down to about 5/32 or 6/32 of an inch, you should start thinking about replacement in the near future. This depth isn’t considered dangerous, but the tires have still been worn down enough that it can affect stopping distance and performance in bad weather.

Below 4/32 of an inch is when you will start seeing dramatically reduced performance. At this point, the tires are likely starting to show other signs of wear, like small cracks or rounded edges. Below this tread depth, you run a significant risk of a blowout, which can cause a wreck.

Having your tires checked during routine maintenance is the easiest way to keep an eye on the tread depth, but there’s also a good way to do it at home: the penny test. Simply take a one-cent piece and place it into one of the ribs, with the top of Lincoln’s head pointing down toward the middle of the wheel. If the tread rises up and covers part of his head, your tires still have some life left, and if it doesn’t, it’s time to schedule a service appointment.

Do I Need to Rotate My BMW Tires?

Absolutely.

Having tires rotated is an essential aspect of tire health. Some people think it’s just another way for mechanics to squeeze extra cash out of them every few months, but it actually saves you money in the long run by prolonging tire life.

In almost all vehicles, front tires and rear tires wear at different rates, and in slightly different ways. This is partially because the front tires turn from side to side, whereas the rear tires remain static and only roll forward and backward. Drivetrain also affects wear—for instance, if you have a BMW X3 with RWD, the back tires will wear out quicker than the front, because the back wheels are the ones generating all the torque. Tires on an X3 with BMW xDrive, on the other hand, will wear more evenly.

Generally speaking, it’s recommended to have your tires rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, or roughly every other oil change.

What About Run-Flat Tires for My BMW?

These are a specialized type of tire that can help prevent blow-outs.

Run-flats are designed with a semi-rigid internal “skeleton” of sorts, which holds the tire’s structure in place after a loss of pressure. They can be an absolute lifesaver in the event of a puncture, because they greatly increase the chance that you’ll be able to get the car to a shop without having to call a wrecker or put a donut on.

You can read more about run-flat tires here.

Any More Questions? Contact Braman!

Our BMW tire shop in Miami has an excellent selection of tires from major brands, and they’re available at a great price. Our team is standing by to hook you up with the perfect set for your needs—all you have to do is stop on by, or give us a call at (786) 577-5220. Be sure to ask about our parts and service specials, too.