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TYRE MAINTENANCE TO RESUME DRIVING YOUR BMW I
f your BMW has been standing for a while then it’s worth checking tyres, as well as other critical components, to make sure you can get going again safely. The best and simplest way is to check tyres visually at first, to see if there are any lumps or deformations caused by the car standing still for a long time, or by the weather. Check also for damage, cuts, and abrasions. While you’re down there, ensure that tyre wear is above the legal limit of 1.6 millimetres tread depth. This can be checked using the tread depth indicator on the tyre itself: which is a 1.6 millimetre-high ridge of rubber within one of the main tyre grooves – just above the Pirelli fuel gift card offer Members of BMW Owners Club can now benefit from an exclusive offer from Pirelli of a fuel gift card. Available only when purchasing Pirelli tyres from a Pirelli Performance Centre or official BMW dealer. The Pirelli tyres purchased can be for any vehicle and not limited to tyres just for your BMW. It means that this offer is valid on tyres for any car and can also be used for your friends and family,
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BMW Car Club Magazine June 2020
TWI (Tread Wear Indicator). There are six of these TWI markings on the upper part of the sidewall. If that rubber ridge is at the same level as the groove itself, then the tyre is down to the legal minimum. Next, check tyre pressures and adjust if necessary. This helps guarantee optimal performance and safety, as well as the correct rolling resistance to help with fuel economy. Once you’re done, just make sure the dust caps are tight. When driving, pay close attention to any vibrations felt through the steering wheel after the car has been standing for a long period of time. If these don’t go away after the first few miles, get the car looked at by professionals as soon as possible. provided the terms and conditions are adhered to. The card’s value depends on the rim size and quantity of tyres purchased as follows: Rim Size
Two Tyres
Four Tyres
16” & below
£10
£30
17”
£30
£70
18” & above
£50
£100
Where can you get your tyres fitted? A
You might need to switch to summer tyres if the car is still on winters by the time you use it again. However, the law allows you to keep using winter tyres even in summer: just make sure that you don’t exceed the speed rating for the tyre as indicated on the sidewall. Finally, some people also like to rotate the tyres a quarter turn every couple of weeks or so, to vary the part that’s in contact with the ground, but this is only really a factor if the car is being stored for a very long period of time. Under most circumstances, tyres will be absolutely fine with regular looking-after, even if the car is not going anywhere. dedicated website is set up at pirelli. co.uk/bmwcarclub. Here you will find all the promotional details and a dealer locator enabling you to search for your nearest participating dealer. Terms and conditions apply. Please note, only claims from a Pirelli Performance Centre or official BMW dealer will be accepted. And don’t forget, you can keep in touch with Pirelli here: www.pirelli.co.uk/keepintouch. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk
