1987 BMW 325i tire sizes & fitment

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1987 BMW 325i?

Yes — the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 1987 BMW 325i, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.

Approved fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
195/65R14 OEM	R14	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

See the best tires for the BMW 325i, ranked by category →

Tire recalls & safety complaints for the BMW 325i →

Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every BMW 325i factory size →

Compatible alternative sizes for 195/65R14

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size	%Δ OD	Category	Verdict
`225/45R16`	-0.03%	plus 2	Safe
`175/65R15`	-0.10%	plus 1	Safe
`215/65R13`	0.10%	alternative	Safe
`185/55R16`	0.13%	plus 2	Safe
`175/80R13`	0.18%	winter narrower	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 195/65R14 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 195/65R14 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 175/65R15; one rim size up, -0.10% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 225/45R16; two rim sizes up, -0.03% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 1987 BMW 325i

The 1987 BMW 325i ships from the factory on 195/65R14 tires mounted on R14 wheels. Only one approved fitment is documented for this model year, so replacement options should match the original size exactly unless a plus-size upgrade is being considered. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the BMW 325i comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 1987 BMW 325i owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 1987 BMW 325i, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 1987 BMW 325i

Complaints

Crashes

Injuries

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Reported across: 1987 – 1987 (1 year)

What owners described

Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 20% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 30 reports covering every model year of the BMW 325i that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problem	This subject	All tire complaints	Relative
Blowout or sudden deflation	20%	20%	1.0×
Sidewall failure	20%	15%	1.3×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	7%	6%	1.1×
Cracking or dry rot	3%	9%	0.4×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	3%	8%	0.4×

Mileage at failure

25 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 14,721 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 3,500 and 30,000 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about BMW 325i. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR THE PRIMEWELL PZ -900 225/40 ZR18 92 W XL. ON 21DEC17, WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE SUDDENLY LOSS AIR AT AROUND 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER DUE TO MORNING HOUR COMMUTE TRAFFIC AND SPEEDS INVOLVED. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A HOLE OR NAIL BUT AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL, I FOUND A 2 INCH CRACK LOCATED ON THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. A LOCAL TIRE SHOP WARNED ME ABOUT A PRIMEWELL TIRE RECALL IN 2017. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH, THE SAME LOCATION OF THE CRACK AND WHAT HAPPEN TO ME WHILE DRIVING IS THE SAME AS VALERA TOURING II SIDEWALL PROBLEMS THAT LED TO A RECALL. I HAVE NOT CHANGED THE TIRE AND HAVE PHOTOS. ALL PRIMEWELL TIRES NEED TO BE CHECKED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, THIS IS NOT ISOLATED TO ONE MODEL.

NHTSA complaint 1438242 · 2007 vehicle

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE DRIVER DOOR SIDE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. *NLM THE CONSUME R NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HAD A SMALL ORANGE SIZE BUBBLE IN EACH TIRE. (THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD) *SCC AS A RESULT OF THE UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE CONSUMER SUFFERED HEARING LOSS.

NHTSA complaint 407474 · 2001 vehicle

TOOK MY CAR TO BMW DELAER TO GET TIRES ROTATED. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID I NEED 4 NEW TIRES. MY 325I IS A 2001 AND HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT. MY FATHER HAS BEEN IN THE CAR BUSINESS ALL HIS LIFE AND SAID THAT MY TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR AT LEAST 30,000 MILES - ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOW MILEAGE I HAVE. I HAVE FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AGAINST CONTINENTAL AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND A FINANCIAL ISSUE. WHO WANTS TO SHELL OUT $400 FOR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN LAST AS LONG AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO! I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF A TIRE BLOWOUT. I AM ALSO GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO CONTINENTAL AND REQUEST THAT THEY EITHER REPLACE ALL MY TIRES OR AT LEAST GIVE ME PRO RATA FOR NEW TIRES. NHTSA - PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER!!!

NHTSA complaint 456317 · 2001 vehicle

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY DURING COMMUTE TRAFFIC MY PRIMEWALL TIRE VALERA SPORT AS DOT Y9FE DCWX 3917 TIRE THAT WAS MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT REAR END SUDDENLY CAME APART. THERE WAS SLIGHT TUG ON THE CAR FOLLOWED A COUPLE SECONDS LATER BY SLIGHT FISH TAILING. THE TIRE CAME APART AT THE LOWER SIDEWALL AT INNER PORTION OF THE WHEEL AT ABOUT 65 MPH. THE TIRE IS ONLY ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS OLD. LOOKS NEW WITH PLENTY OF THREAD.

NHTSA complaint 1498935 · 2006 vehicle

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 1987 BMW 325i?

The OEM tire size for the 1987 BMW 325i is 195/65R14 mounted on R14 wheels.. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment; confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.

Can I run a different tire size on my 1987 BMW 325i?

Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.

Where can I buy tires for my 1987 BMW 325i?

Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them; variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.

What is the recommended tire pressure for the 1987 BMW 325i?

The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.

Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1987 BMW 325i?

Yes; the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

How often should I rotate the tires on my 1987 BMW 325i?

Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite; most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.

Sources for this page

Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the BMW 325i is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 1987 BMW 325i.
ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.

Last verified 2026-10-07.