Notes and specifications for tire/wheel exchange (Cooper)

General: 

• The tire size, manufacturer and tire tread must be the same on one axle
• To meet the BMW standards, the vehicle should be equipped with tires from the same manufacturer and with the same tire tread (tires approved by BMW) on all 4 wheels
• The difference in tire tread depth on one axle must not exceed 2 mm (control quality of suspension control systems and wheel alignment requirement)
• The tires with the higher tread depths must be mounted on the rear axle
• The DOT age difference must not exceed 4 years
• The tire pressure must be adjusted when the tires are exchanged
• Wheel exchange between the axles

The wheels may be exchanged between axles to achieve even abrasion. However, BMW does not recommend  switching the front wheels to the rear or vice-versa.

The wheel exchange may lead to the following customer complaints: 

• complaints regarding acoustics
• Risk of increased lane groove sensitivity

Compliance with the following requirements is required when exchanging wheels between the axles: 

• Assess the wear pattern
• The tread difference between the front and rear wheels must not exceed a maximum of 2-3 mm
• Exchange the wheels between the axles every 5000 Km 

Additionally for all-wheel drive vehicles: 

• Tire size, manufacturer and tire tread must be the same at all wheel positions; only in the case mixed tires are differing tire sizes permitted between the front axle and the rear axle.
• The tire tread difference between tires in all wheel positions must not exceed 2 mm  (normal quality of the wheel control systems and wheel alignment requirement)