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BMW run-flat, staggered and star-marked tires
What run-flat, staggered and star-marked (*) mean on a BMW, which sizes each model uses, and what changes if you switch to regular tires.
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Run-flat Switching to regular tires Staggered Star-marked Sizes by model
Run-flat tires
Run-flat tires have stiff sidewalls that carry the car for a limited distance after losing air. BMW marks them RSC; other makers use RFT, ROF, EMT or ZP. Cars that left the factory on run-flats usually have no spare tire. Because a run-flat looks normal when flat, these cars rely on the tire pressure monitor to tell you15.
On run-flats, follow your owner's manual for the speed and distance limit after a tire failure warning; see BMW tire pressure warning.
Switching from run-flat to regular tires
- Replace all four at once. Tire makers warn against mixing run-flat and regular tires except temporarily in an emergency15.
- Match or exceed the factory size, load index and speed rating on the door-jamb placard15.
- You lose the ability to drive on a flat, so carry a spare or a sealant kit. BMW's Seal & Drive kit seals punctures up to about 4 mm (0.16 in)16.
- Ride and handling can change, because the suspension may have been tuned for run-flats15.
- The tire pressure monitor keeps working with regular tires on the same wheels.
Staggered tires
A staggered setup uses wider tires on the rear than the front. That affects rotation and replacement17:
- Tires can't move front to rear because the sizes differ.
- Non-directional tires can usually be swapped side to side on the same axle. Directional staggered tires can't be rotated at all.
- When replacing only two tires, the new pair goes on the axle that needs it. Rear tires usually wear out first on rear-wheel-drive BMWs.
| Model | Factory staggered sizes (front / rear) |
|---|---|
| 3 Series E90 (2010 328i) | 225/45R17 / 255/40R17 (Sport)1 |
| 3 Series F30 (2014 328i) | 225/45R18 / 255/40R18 (M Sport option)2 |
| 3 Series G20 (2021 330i, M340i) | 225/40R19 / 255/35R19; M340i also 225/45R18 / 255/40R183 |
| 4 Series G22 (2022 430i) | 225/40R19 / 255/35R194 |
| 4 Series Gran Coupe (2022) | 245/40R19 / 255/40R19; 245/35R20 / 255/35R204 |
| i4 (2023) | 245/40R19 / 255/40R19; M50 also 255/35R20 / 285/30R205 |
| M3 F80 (2016) | 255/40R18 / 275/40R18; 255/35R19 / 275/35R196 |
| M3/M4 G80/G82 (2022) | 275/40R18 / 285/35R19; 275/35R19 / 285/30R207 |
| 5 Series F10 (2014 528i) | 245/45R18 / 275/40R188 |
| 5 Series G30 (2019 530i) | 245/40R19 / 275/35R199 |
| X3 F25 (2015) | 245/45R19 / 275/40R1910 |
| X3 G01 (2020) | 245/45R20 / 275/40R20; M40i also 245/40R21 / 275/35R2111 |
| X5 F15 (2016) | 275/40R20 / 315/35R2012 |
| X5 G05 (2021) | 275/40R21 / 315/35R21; 275/35R22 / 315/30R2213 |
| X7 G07 (2021) | 275/40R22 / 315/35R2214 |
Star-marked (*) tires
A star (*) on the sidewall means the tire is a version BMW approved for its cars. BMW recommends star-marked tires of the same make and tread pattern on all four wheels18. BMW says it tests tires against up to 50 criteria before approval19. Other markings work the same way for other carmakers, for example MO for Mercedes-Benz2021.
BMW-approved sizes and brands (examples from BMW Germany's list)
| Model | Size | Regular (STD) | Run-flat (RSC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Series Touring, 4 Series | 225/45R18 | Hankook, Michelin, Pirelli | Bridgestone, Hankook, Michelin; Continental (winter) |
| M3, M4 | 275/35ZR19 front, 285/30ZR20 rear | Michelin, Pirelli, Yokohama, Bridgestone (ultra-high performance) | — |
| X5 | 275/40R22 front, 315/35R22 rear | Michelin, Pirelli | Pirelli |
| X7 | Mostly run-flat (RSC) sizes | — | Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, Continental |
From BMW Germany's published list19; it covers current European models, and US availability can differ. A dash means BMW lists no tire of that type in that size. BMW's full list has many more sizes.
Michelin lines offered with a star marking in the US
Pilot Sport 4S, Pilot Sport A/S 4, Pilot Sport Cup 2, Primacy Tour A/S, Primacy A/S, CrossClimate 2, Latitude Sport 322. Not every size of each line carries the star; check the sidewall or listing for "*".
Factory sizes by model
Prices for these sizes are in BMW tire replacement cost by model.
| Model | Square sizes | Staggered (front / rear) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Series E90 (2010 328i)1 | 205/55R16; 225/45R17 | 225/45R17 / 255/40R17 (Sport) |
| 3 Series F30 (2014 328i)2 | 225/50R17; 225/45R18 | 225/45R18 / 255/40R18 (M Sport option) |
| 3 Series G20 (2021 330i, M340i)3 | 225/45R18; 225/40R19 | 225/40R19 / 255/35R19; M340i also 225/45R18 / 255/40R18 |
| 4 Series G22 (2022 430i)4 | 225/45R18 | 225/40R19 / 255/35R19 |
| 4 Series Gran Coupe (2022)4 | 245/45R18 | 245/40R19 / 255/40R19; 245/35R20 / 255/35R20 |
| i4 (2023)5 | 225/50R18 | 245/40R19 / 255/40R19; M50 also 255/35R20 / 285/30R20 |
| M3 F80 (2016)6 | — | 255/40R18 / 275/40R18; 255/35R19 / 275/35R19 |
| M3/M4 G80/G82 (2022)7 | — | 275/40R18 / 285/35R19; 275/35R19 / 285/30R20 |
| 5 Series F10 (2014 528i)8 | 225/55R17; 245/45R18 | 245/45R18 / 275/40R18 |
| 5 Series G30 (2019 530i)9 | 245/45R18; 245/40R19 | 245/40R19 / 275/35R19 |
| X1 F48 (2018)23 | 225/50R18; 225/45R19 | — |
| X3 F25 (2015)10 | 245/50R18; 245/45R19 | 245/45R19 / 275/40R19 |
| X3 G01 (2020)11 | 225/60R18; 245/50R19 | 245/45R20 / 275/40R20; M40i also 245/40R21 / 275/35R21 |
| X5 F15 (2016)12 | 255/55R18; 255/50R19 | 275/40R20 / 315/35R20 |
| X5 G05 (2021)13 | 265/50R19; 275/45R20 | 275/40R21 / 315/35R21; 275/35R22 / 315/30R22 |
| X7 G07 (2021)14 | 285/45R21 | 275/40R22 / 315/35R22 |
One model year per generation. A dash means none listed for that year. Your door-jamb placard is the authority for your car.
Sources
- tiresize.com: 2010 BMW 3-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2014 BMW 3-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2021 BMW 3-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2022 BMW 4-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2023 BMW i4 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2016 BMW M3 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2022 BMW M3 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2014 BMW 5-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2019 BMW 5-Series factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2015 BMW X3 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2020 BMW X3 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2016 BMW X5 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2021 BMW X5 factory tire sizes
- tiresize.com: 2021 BMW X7 factory tire sizes
- Toyo Tires technical bulletin TSD-12-017: replacing OE run-flat tires with non-run-flat tires
- BMW USA FAQ: BMW Seal & Drive tire kit
- Tire Rack: does it matter which position new tires are mounted?
- BMW USA FAQ: what the star symbol on a tire means
- BMW Germany: tire marking (star) and approved tires by model
- Goodyear: what OE tire markings mean
- Giti: BMW star-marked tires explained
- Michelin US: BMW star-marked tire lines
- tiresize.com: 2018 BMW X1 factory tire sizes
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