How Long Do BMW Tires Last?

‍Does BMW Make Tires?

BMW does not produce the tires it uses on its vehicles. It's an auto company that produces most of the parts for its cars—just not the tires.

Instead, BMW uses tires made by other major manufacturers, as outsourcing keeps the costs low and the quality exceptionally high. This practice is used by all other major automakers.

BMW chooses tires for its vehicles carefully. The tire size and tread type are matched to the car to ensure optimal performance. Most tires used on BMW vehicles are all-season tires.

BMW Tire Life Expectancy

BMW tires last between 25,000 and 30,000 miles, assuming you follow the recommended tire rotation and alignment schedule. Also, keeping your tire pressure at the right PSI will extend the life of your tires. Usually, that's one to four years of tire life.

Some owners have reported getting 30,000 or 40,000 miles out of their tires, though this usually isn't the best idea. It's best to replace your tires at the selected intervals, as the tread on-road tires are not particularly deep, and they become slick and hazardous if driven too long.

BMW Tire Maintenance Schedule

BMW owner's manuals and dealerships agree that you should rotate your tires once every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Generally speaking, this is about how often you should rotate any kind of road tires—but it's especially important on BMWs because they use premium tires that cost more than standard highway tires.

Tires should be replaced when the tread depth reaches 3mm or less, as this is when tires become slick and pose a hazard (especially during wet weather). Additionally, the rubber in the tires decomposes slowly over time, which increases the chance of a blowout.

Summer Tire Life vs. All-Season Tire Life

Do BMW summer tires have a different lifespan than all-season tires? And if so, what's the difference? This is a common topic of discussion on BMW forums, and the answers seem to vary between people and locations.

 Generally speaking, you'll probably get more use out of all-season tires than winter tires. Although all-season tires are made with softer rubber (to compensate for the hardening effect of cold weather), they have deeper tread. Thus, the deeper tread doesn't wear out as quickly.

This is less true in areas that salt or dirt the roads during the winter, as the additional friction caused by sand and salt wreak havoc on tire rubber of any kind.

But in areas with more mild climates, all-season tire life seems to be a bit longer, though sometimes the differences are too minute to consider.

Does BMW Use High-Quality Tires?

Yes, BMW only uses good-quality tires on its vehicles. BMWs are known for their 'driving machine' precision, and road handling capabilities and tires are a huge part of that. Most used BMWs also come with high-quality tires, as the driving experience can change rapidly without them.

BMW uses some of the most costly and well-made tires available, but it isn't loyal to one particular brand. The tires found on an individual new BMW vary based on location and regional weather characteristics.

For example, in cold climates, new BMWs come with tires that are better suited to dramatic temperature changes. The same holds true in especially hot or wet climates. Tire brands also vary between vehicles, and BMW parts departments stock multiple tires makes in different sizes.

What Tires do BMW Vehicles Use?

The exact tire size and brand varies between vehicle models and years. The most common tires used on BMW vehicles are made by Michelin, Goodyear, and Pirelli. These are top-tier tires and some of the best on the market.

What Tires Does the New BMW 3-Series Use?

New and late model BMW 3-Series vehicles use P225/50R17 or P225/45R18 tires, except the M3, which uses P275/40R18 tires on the front and P285/35R19 tires on the rear.

What Tires Does the New BMW 4-Series Use?

BMW 4-Series sedans use P225/45R18 tires. These are similar in size to the P245/45R18 tires used by the new BMW 5-Series and also last just as long as the 3-Series tires.

What Tires Does the New BMW 5-Series Use?

New and late model BMW 5-Series vehicles use P245/45R18 tires. These are larger than the tires on most BMW 3-Series vehicles, but their size doesn't affect their longevity.

What Tires Does the New BMW 8-Series Use?

BMW 8-Series vehicles are like the M-variants of the 3 and 5 series and use different tires on the front and rear. On the front wheels, the BMW 8-Series uses P245/45R18, which are the same size as stock 5-Series tires. In the rear, the 8-Series uses P275/40R18 tires, which are better for traction.

What Tires Does the New BMW X-Series SUV Use?

The BMW X-Series is a line of larger SUVs that use taller and wider tires than the typical BMW sedans and coupes. The new BMW X3 uses P225/60R18 or P245/50R19 tires, and the BMW X5 uses P256/50R19 or P275/45R20 tires.

Do Rear-Wheel-Drive BMW Tires Last Longer than All-Wheel-Drive Tires?

Yes, rear-wheel-drive BMW vehicles can usually expect a bit more life out of their four tires. This is because the rear tires, which get power from the engine, wear out faster—but regular tire rotations spread the wear evenly across all four.

All-wheel-drive BMW vehicles add extra wear to the front tires, so they wear out somewhat faster than cars with power to only the rear wheels. The exception is with vehicles that use different tires in the front and rear (like the BMW M3) as the wider rear tires can't be rotated to the front.

Do BMW Vehicles Use Run-On-Flat-Tires?

Yes, many new and late-model BMWs come from the factory with run-on-flat or 'run-flat' tires. You can drive on run-flat tires at limited speeds and for a short distance if they go flat, allowing you to get to a tire shop without requesting a tow.

In many cases with modern cars, these tires are used as a substitute for a spare tire or an inflator kit. This is common practice, even for BMW—as all-new BMW vehicles that come equipped with run-flat tires don't come with a spare.

Do BMW Vehicles Come With a Tire Repair Kit?

Generally, new BMWs don't come with a tire repair kit. This is in contrast to earlier BMW models, which very often came with a spare tire. But why don't new vehicles come with an inflator or repair kit?

The reason is simple—most BMW owners live in cities or areas with repair infrastructure close by, so there's really no need to include a spare tire. This isn't great for people in rural areas, but run-flat tires meet the need well enough.