BMW 2004 M3 Convertible Manual Do Proprietário

119

Do not drive on a deflated – flat – 
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs 

steering and braking response, and can 
lead to complete loss of control over 
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that 
the permitted load on the tires is not 
exceeded. Overloading can lead to 
overheating and internal tire damage.
This can result in a sudden loss of tire 
inflation pressure.
Unusual vibrations encountered during 
normal vehicle operation can indicate 
tire failure or some other vehicle defect. 
This type of problem can be caused by 
contact with curbs, etc. This is also true 
for irregularities in the vehicle's han-
dling characteristics, such as a pro-
nounced tendency to pull to the left or 
right. Should this occur, respond by 
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have 
the vehicle towed in to have it, its 
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage, up to and including blow-
outs, can endanger the lives of both the 
vehicle occupants and other road 
users.

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To maintain good handling characteris-
tics, only use a full set of tires of the 
same brand and tread configuration.

Comply with the specified tire inflation 
pressures, and be sure to have the 
wheel and tire assembly balanced 
every time you change a tire or wheel.

> Treadwear
> Traction AA A B C
> Temperature A B C

All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-

ments in addition to these grades.

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The treadwear grade is a comparative 
rating based on the wear rate of the tire 
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test 
course.

For example, a tire graded 150 would 
wear one and one-half – 1 

1

/

2

 – times as 

well on the government course as a tire 
graded 100. The relative performance 
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may 

depart significantly from the norm due 
to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.

The traction grades, from highest to 
lowest, are AA, A, B and C.

Those grades represent the tire's ability 
to stop on wet pavement as measured 
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of 
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction performance.

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 charac-
teristics.

<

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.

Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 157 596 - © 09/03 BMW AG