BMW X5 2002 Manuel D’Utilisation

138

Tire replacement

Temperature

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 condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to a sudden flat
tire. The grade C corresponds to a level
of performance which all passenger
vehicle tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.

The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is

properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible a tire failure.

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

Do not use retreaded tires, since
driving safety may be impaired by

their use. This is due to the possible
variations in casing structures and, in
some cases, to their extreme age,
which can lead to a decrease in their
durability.

Tire age

The date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 4101 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 41 of 2001.

BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when the tires are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.