andy535d

As I've had mine for just over a fortnight thought I should at last check the tyre pressures and set the RPA.

The plate on the car states the pressures should be 2.1 front and 2.4 rear, in normal use, ie not fully laden.

When I checked mine they were 3.0 fronts and 3.5 rear! Since I've corrected the pressures I have noticed a little more road noise.

Has anyone else found thier new tyres so far out from the correct pressures? Also if a slightly higher pressure (but not as high as it was) helps keeps down road noise is it really going to make that much difference?

Opnions appreciated.

Rich535d

The tyre pressures on my car were fine when I picked it up. Having seen how much the tyres could cost , this is something I want to keep any eye on. Is it possible that the guy who did the PDI on your car was not aware of the difference between psi and bar??

andy535d

I guess its possible he got confused. You tend to think that BMW 'technicians' know what they're doing!!

Am going to check the pressures at a second garage just to make sure it wasn't the pump that was faulty, although I've used this one in the past with no probs.

Rich535d

I've started to use an electronic tyre pressure meter. Mine is a Draper, works fine, and is a lot more accurate than the ones fitted to the tyre inflators at the petrol stations. I check my tyres when I wash th car. That way, I don't do unnecessary 'checks'

stream

Cars are shipped from the factory with the tires over inflated (I guess in case there's a slow leak), and the dealer is supposed to check this during PDI, but my experience is most don't. It's the iirst thing I check when I get a new car home, and most times the pressure is way too high.

stream

Good point. I've never trusted the gauges at the gas (petrol ) station.

JDN

Maybe in the UK, Andy, but not in the US. I had mine tell me on the last trip that 32 all the around was AOK for the 18" runflats on the 124 wheels. If a shop can't get something as simple as tire pressure right, what can you imagine they can do to the electronics. I lost 46 days of use of my vehicle at that shop last year.

cobradav

I had checking tire pressure on my check list for new car pick up. I believe it is on the check list in the FAQs section. Anyway, it appears to be a common thing for new deliveries that the high pressure put in at factory is not taken out by the dealer upon delivery. Mine was 50 psi (3.45? bar) front and rear. Set to placard ( I split difference between min/max recommendations) prior to driving off the lot. Had my trusty air gauge with me and keep it in car at all times. Check pressures at least monthly.

stream

I've found that my tires lose pressure more than any car I've had in the last 10 years. Is this a characteristic of runflats?

JDN

Just to the contrary, stream, mine seem to hold the pressure exceptionally well.