BMW 2004 525i Sedan Manual Do Proprietário

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Wheels and tires
174
even when only small amounts of water are 
present on the road surface. 
As winter tires display a noticeable loss in 
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv-
ing conditions once the tread wears to 
below 0.16 in/4 mm, to ensure continued 
safety you should always have such tires 
replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, 
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's 
circumference and are marked on the side 
of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. 
These indicators signal at a tread depth of 
0.063 in/1.6 mm that the legal wear limit 
has been reached.
Tire damage 
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can indi-
cate tire failure or some other vehicle 
defect. This can, for example, be caused by 
driving over curbs. These kinds of prob-
lems may also be signaled by other 
changes in vehicle response, such as a 
strong tendency to pull to the left or right. 
Should this occur, respond by immediately 
reducing your speed. Carefully proceed – 
or have your vehicle towed – to the nearest 
BMW center or tire dealer to have the 
wheels or tires inspected. Tire damage, 
extending to sudden and complete loss of 
pressure in extreme cases, can pose a 
potentially lethal safety hazard for the vehi-
cle's occupants and other road users 
alike.
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Replacing wheels/tires 
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to 
service tires can lead to damage and 
accidents. Have this work performed by 
skilled professionals only. The technicians 
at your BMW center will be glad to assist 
you with the required professional knowl-
edge and specialized equipment.
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The correct combination of wheels and 
tires is another vital factor in ensuring reli-
able operation of various vehicle systems 
such as ABS and DSC.
Have the wheel and tire assemblies bal-
anced every time either a wheel or a tire is 
replaced. 
BMW does not recommend the use of 
retreaded tires, as otherwise driving 
safety may be reduced. Possible variations 
in the design and the age – which could be 
substantial – of the carcasses can lead to 
unusually rapid wear.
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The right wheels and tires 
BMW recommends that you use only 
wheel and tire combinations that 
BMW has tested and approved for your 
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such 
as manufacturing tolerances mean that 
even wheels and tires with identical official 
size ratings could actually have different 
dimensions than the approved units – these 
differences could lead to body contact, and 
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW 
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving 
safety.
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To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single tread 
configuration from a single manufacturer. 
After a flat tire, always remember to have 
the specified wheel and tire combination 
remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible. 
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire 
size, classifies them as road-safe and 
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