[MiGs550e]

550e here. I’m trying to understand why the door‑jamb sticker lists the cold tire pressures as 39 psi for the front and 42 psi for the rear, yet iDrive recommends 44 psi front and 48 psi rear. The car came with staggered all‑weather tires, so I’m wondering why the two sources don’t match. Is iDrive showing the recommended warm tire pressures, while the sticker shows the cold values?

Also, since my setup is staggered, I’m not sure how the manual tire‑selection menu is supposed to work. Should I assume the system bases its recommendation on the rear tire size, since that’s the only size that matches what I actually have —on the rear? Or should I be choosing the “Special Authorization – Other tires” option instead?

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by MiGs550e

550e here. I’m trying to understand why the door‑jamb sticker lists the cold tire pressures as 39 psi for the front and 42 psi for the rear, yet iDrive recommends 44 psi front and 48 psi rear. The car came with staggered all‑weather tires, so I’m wondering why the two sources don’t match. Is iDrive showing the recommended warm tire pressures, while the sticker shows the cold values?

Also, since my setup is staggered, I’m not sure how the manual tire‑selection menu is supposed to work. Should I assume the system bases its recommendation on the rear tire size, since that’s the only size that matches what I actually have —on the rear? Or should I be choosing the “Special Authorization – Other tires” option instead?

The door jamb shows recommended cold tire pressures. iDrive and the app adapt to the current ambient temperature and show recommended tire pressures accordingly.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by LVBMW

The door jamb shows recommended cold tire pressures. iDrive and the app adapt to the current ambient temperature and show recommended tire pressures accordingly.

I concur. I have a digital guage in my trunk and I always set the tires for whatever IDrive shows after I fill up.

[nZtiZia]

BMW’s TPMS confused me at first. I was chasing the pressures recommended by it, which constantly changed depending on temp. I learned that if one sets their pressures per the B pillar placard properly in the first place, the dynamic pressures coincide with TPMS’s recommended pressures

[MiGs550e]

Can anyone clarify what ‘special authorization’ means? I’d like to know in what situations it’s used and whether it requires a dealer to get involved or make any code-related changes.

On a related note, when I look at the tire selection menu (see image above), it only displays the rear tire size from my setup. I’m assuming that choosing this option signals the system that the car is running a staggered configuration and automatically infers the front size as 245/40 R20 99.

[AiredaleDad]

IDK. I'l check mine when I go home. I would think it shows square configuration since it only shows one size selection.

[AiredaleDad]

Here's what mine shows. But that's only if I select manual. In automatic it automatically selects them. Mine is set to automatic. It says winter but they are really all season. The only selections are summer or winter.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

BMW’s TPMS confused me at first. I was chasing the pressures recommended by it, which constantly changed depending on temp. I learned that if one sets their pressures per the B pillar placard properly in the first place, the dynamic pressures coincide with TPMS’s recommended pressures

This has been my experience as well! If I set the pressures according to the cold recommended pressures, they stay within 1-2 PSI of the dynamic pressure recommendations in iDrive across various ambient temperatures.

[aaexpert]

what is the Start Tire Recognition setting for? How / what is it recognizing?

[MiGs550e]

It initiates a process where the vehicle automatically determines the size of the tire on the vehicle. It requires the vehicle to be driven for a short period of time to complete.

[Super Spartan]

I just set mine to 35PSI and forget about it. I stopped bothering to check what iDrive recommends because it NEVER aligns with what I fill it up with. If it says recommended 34 PSI and I set the tires to that, after a few minutes it says recommended PSI is 36. I set it to 36, then it shows recommended PSI is 35. Screw that ****

[Touringi5]

Originally Posted by aaexpert

what is the Start Tire Recognition setting for? How / what is it recognizing?

It recognizes the brand and Winter/Summer models plus the sizes. Once set and recognized, you know exactly what shoes you have on.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by Super Spartan

I just set mine to 35PSI and forget about it. I stopped bothering to check what iDrive recommends because it NEVER aligns with what I fill it up with. If it says recommended 34 PSI and I set the tires to that, after a few minutes it says recommended PSI is 36. I set it to 36, then it shows recommended PSI is 35. Screw that ****

yea, that’s “chasing the pressures”, which is what I was doing when I got my first bimmer in 2020. I found if pressures are set with cooled down tires, the recommended pressures matche real pressures no matter the change in temps