BMW 5 Series tire pressure
Select your model year for the exact OEM cold PSI specification and tire size.
Front / rear, cold. Same number expressed in the unit your gauge uses.
The BMW 5 Series (2017–2024) is a sedan weighing approximately 1,830 kg with a 51% front weight bias. OEM cold tire pressure has remained constant at 38/42 PSI across all 8 model years. Front and rear pressures differ — typical for sedans where the axles carry uneven loads. OEM tire size is 245/45R18. Pick a year below for the verified spec and a calculator to adjust for load, sport, or track-day use.
Pick your model year
Setups for the BMW 5 Series
Weather, altitude, and load
- Cold weather (below 0 °C)
- Tires lose roughly 1 PSI for every 10 °C drop. Going from a +20 °C summer day to a −10 °C winter morning, your 38 PSI tires read closer to 35 PSI — under-inflated. Compensate by inflating to 40/44 PSI when temperatures sit consistently below freezing.
- Hot weather + long highway driving
- Tires gain 4–6 PSI when hot from highway speeds in summer. Set cold pressure to the OEM number (38/42 PSI) — don't try to compensate by under-inflating cold. Always set pressure first thing in the morning, before the first drive.
- High altitude (above 1500 m)
- Lower atmospheric pressure means a sealed tire reads ~1 PSI higher per 1000 m of elevation gain. Driving from sea level to a 2000 m ski resort, expect your gauge to read ~40 PSI for what was 38 PSI at sea level. This is benign — don't bleed it down.
- Fully loaded (passengers + cargo)
- For a full house — passengers, luggage, towing — increase rear pressure by 2–4 PSI: 38/45 PSI is a safe target. The fronts stay the same since the steering axle load doesn't change much.
If your BMW has run-flats
Most modern BMWs ship with run-flat tires (look for RFT, RSC, SSR, or ZP markings on the sidewall). The OEM cold pressure is identical: 38/42 PSI. Run-flats run the same as conventional tires — what changes is the consequence of running 5–10 PSI low. With run-flats, that's the difference between "noticed at next inspection" and "wall failure within 80 km / 80 km/h limits". Check pressure monthly, not seasonally.
Don't get this wrong
- Reading the sidewall instead of the door jamb
- The number stamped on the tire's sidewall is the maximum the tire can safely hold — usually 44–51 PSI. It's not what your BMW 5 Series is tuned for. Use 38/42 PSI from the door-jamb spec.
- Checking pressure when tires are warm
- Tires gain 3–5 PSI after 5+ minutes of driving. If you check after a drive and see 42 PSI, you're actually running ~37 PSI cold — and you'll bleed it down to 38 PSI. Always measure after 3+ hours parked.
- Using the spec from a different model year
- Generation changes can shift the OEM number — different curb weight, different tire size, different load index. Pick your exact year above instead of trusting a forum post from a different generation.
- Ignoring the rear when running loaded
- Going on a long road trip with luggage + 4 passengers? Most manufacturers print a separate "max load" pressure on the door jamb (typically +3 PSI rear). For the BMW 5 Series, target around 38/45 PSI when fully loaded.