Winter Wheel Setup

[silentdub]

2017 X535D Currently has staggered 20 inch wheels, looking to pick up a set of 18's for winter snow tires. Prefer the width to be the same on all 4 corners.

Any recommendations on tire size and what offset?

Appreciate your feedback.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by silentdub

2017 X535D ... looking to pick up a set of 18's for winter snow tires. Prefer the width to be the same on all 4 corners.

Any recommendations on tire size and what offset?

Appreciate your feedback.

BMW lists recommended tire sizes in the owners manual for 18"/19"/20"/21" tires. You can check your X5d owners manual...but they are probably the same as what is listed below.

You can see in the chart below what is listed for 18" M+S (mud + snow) tires.

In regard to wheel offset...if you pull up the wheel diagrams in one of the online part database sites (like www.realoem.com or www.bimmercat.com)...it lists wheel offsets for the oe BMW 18" wheels for the f15 X5. If you are looking for aftermarket wheels...you can then check their offset specs to see if they are within the same range.

Also know that the hub size (wheel's center bore) for the f15 X5 is 74.1mm...so if you find wheels with a different hub size...you'll need to use either hub centric rings or wheel spacers to compensate for any differences since BMW wheels are HUB CENTRIC (they are centered by the hub) vs STUD CENTRIC vehicles (wheels are centered by the studes sticking out of the hub).

[RED_Y_]

Both 18 and 19 will work, you can look around for cheap OEM 19" wheel set you can find them for $400-600. Square set up in both cases. 255/50-19 and 255/55-18 would be tire size accordingly. Please search there are dozen threads about winter tires and wheels.

[N1ck]

Not a great photo I know. I went from staggered 20's to 18 255/55/18 winter setup.

[TOPEC]

Went with 18" oem wheels and 255/55 tires, just be prepared for hella sunk/small look wheels. If i were to do it again, id do 19" min

[blue dragon]

Originally Posted by N1ck

Not a great photo I know. I went from staggered 20's to 18 255/55/18 winter setup.

Love the heated garage.....

[N1ck]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Love the heated garage.....

Originally Posted by TOPEC

Went with 18" oem wheels and 255/55 tires, just be prepared for hella sunk/small look wheels. If i were to do it again, id do 19" min

I did a lower offset, I think 30 so it's not super terrible. It sure isn't the factory 315/35/20's though!

[Qsilver7]

I did something I’ve never done with winter tires and stuck with 20”. It wasn’t what I was going to do initially…but I couldn’t find any 18” or 19” wheels as winter approached…and I had a set of 20” style 87 wheels in my shed (from my e53). Winter tire selections were also going fast…so I ended up mounting a set of Yokohama BluEarth winter tires on my staggered 20” style 87 wheels.

Since the e53 has the smaller 72.56mm wheel hubs…I had to use a set of 12mm wheel spacers to handle the 74.1mm wheel hub of the f15 X5…and to help with the wheel offset difference of the e53’s style 87 wheels (9.5”x20” w/45mm offset {front} & 10,5”x20” w/30mm offset {rear}).

I figured 20” winter tires would still be better than all season tires…and I was pleasantly surprised how they performed. I thought they would fail in a deep snow situation…but when we had an 8 inch snowfall…I was able to get down my unplowed street with no issues. It was scary looking at those rear 315/35/20 rear winter tires that were almost a foot wide!

[N1ck]

Nice looking set up for sure!

[Qsilver7]

Thanks…I was just happy to rescue them from the shed…plus they saved me from having to purchase a new set of wheels.