Wheels and tires (BMW 5 Series E34)

Use only BMW certified tyres.

For vehicles with a maximum speed of 240 km/h, only tyres of strictly defined types and sizes may be used. For more information, please contact your BMW service station.

Follow the rules for using certain tires established in the country you are staying in.

Knowing how to read the markings helps you choose the right tires. Below is an example of markings for radial tires.

195/65 R 15 91 H

• 195 - Nominal profile width in mm
• 65 - Profile height to width ratio in %
• R - Letter designation corresponding to the radial construction of the tire
• 15 - Rim diameter in inches (for TRX and TD type tires in mm)
• 91 - Load capacity code (not applicable for ZR type tyres)
• H - Speed cipher (for ZR type tires it is placed before the letter R)

The last of the ciphers named in the example contains information about the maximum speed allowed for this bus,

For tires with summer tread pattern

• S = up to 180 km\h
• T = up to 190 km\h
• H = up to 210 km\h
• V = up to 240 km\h
• ZR = over 240 km\h

For tires with winter tread pattern

• Q M+S=up to 160 km\h
• T M+S = up to 190 km\h
• H M+S = up to 210 km\h

Example of tire marking for alloy wheels

6 J x 14 H 2

• 6 - Rim width in inches*
• J - Profile letter designation
• x - Designation corresponding to deep rim
• 14 - Rim diameter in inches*
• H 2 - Hump on 2 rim landing shelves

*For TR and TD type tires in mm

To avoid contamination, the valve cores must be covered with threaded caps. Dirt that gets into the core is often the cause of gradual air leakage.

Tubeless tires TD 230/55 R 390

Thanks to a special manufacturing technology, these tires retain pressure for a fairly long period of time when the tread is damaged, so you will be able to leave a busy road, tunnel, bridge, etc. and change the wheel in a convenient place.



On a damaged tire you can drive approximately 5 km, and with very careful driving – up to 10 km, depending on the vehicle load and road conditions, at a speed of no more than 60 km/h.

TD type tires can only be installed on special TD rims.

Wheels and tires recommended by BMW

BMW 520i, 525i

* Summer tires only for BMW 520i

** When installing summer tires on this rim, be sure to follow the installation rules, otherwise the brakes may overheat during sudden braking - contact a BMW service station.

¹⁾Disc for BMW 520i only

BMW snow chains must be fitted to both rear wheels at the same time.

If your vehicle is equipped with a 240/45 ZR 415 tyre on a 195 TR 415 rim, the use of anti-skid chains is not possible.

Pay attention to the information about wheels and tires entered in the vehicle documents. If wheels and tires of sizes different from those recommended by BMW are used, a corresponding entry must be made in the passport data.

On making technical changes to the design of the vehicle

At any BMW service station you will be glad to be informed about the advisability of the proposed changes, the relevant legal provisions and the manufacturer's recommendations. To do this, you must provide the vehicle's serial number, and in some cases the engine number.