2011 BMW X5 tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2011 BMW X5, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275/40R20 OEM | R20 | 5x120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 315/35R20 OEM | R20 | 5x120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 285/35R21 OEM | R21 | 5x120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 325/30R21 OEM | R21 | 5x120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2011 BMW X5 wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x120 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M14x1.25 |
| Center bore | 74.1 mm |
| Source | bolt-pattern.com |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the BMW X5, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the BMW X5 →
Compatible alternative sizes for 275/40R20
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
245/50R19 |
-0.05% | winter narrower | Safe |
245/45R20 |
0.07% | winter narrower | Safe |
245/55R18 |
-0.18% | alternative | Safe |
245/40R21 |
0.19% | plus 1 | Safe |
305/40R19 |
-0.19% | alternative | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 275/40R20 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 275/40R20 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 245/40R21; one rim size up, 0.19% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 285/30R22; two rim sizes up, 0.25% 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 2011 BMW X5 xdrive50i-sport-activity
The 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i-Sport-Activity ships from the factory on 275/40R20 tires mounted on R20 wheels. 4 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.
Tire choice on the BMW X5 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 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i-Sport-Activity 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 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i-Sport-Activity, 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 2011 BMW X5
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Most reported: Tires (General) (1) · TPMS (1)
Reported across: 2011 – 2011 (1 year)
What owners described
Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 25% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 16 reports covering every model year of the BMW X5 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 | 25% | 20% | 1.2× |
| Sidewall failure | 25% | 15% | 1.7× |
| Tread or belt separation | 19% | 13% | 1.4× |
| Bubble or bulge in the tire | 13% | 6% | 2.1× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 6% | 8% | 0.7× |
Mileage at failure
10 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 19,950 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 15,000 and 147,056 miles.
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about BMW X5. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS TIRES, SIZE: 255/50/19 (NA). UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
2 OF 4 PIRELLI VERDE SCORPION - RUN FLAT (255/55 R18 109H M + S ALL SEASON RUN FLAT) TIRES HAVE FAILED DUE TO INNER WALL SEPARATION WITHIN 30 DAYS. BOTH WERE FRONT TIRES ON MY 2013 BMW X5 35D. THESE ARE RUN FLAT TIRES THAT BOTH FAILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF EACH OTHER. THE "INNER WALL" HAD COMPLETELY SEPERATED FROM THE FIRST TIRE RENDERING IT FLAT. THE SECOND TIRE TO FAIL DID NOT GO FLAT BUT HAD A CUPPING IN THE CENTER AND CAUSED A STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. THE TIRES WERE BOTH REPLACED AND DEEMED UNSAFE BY LES SCHWAB (TIRE VENDOR). THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS AND I CAN TESTIFY THAT THE TIRE PRESSURES WHERE ALL AT THE PSI POSTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THESE ARE NOT A STAGGARD SET AND ARE ALL 4 WHEELS THE SAME.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER TIRES, SIZE: 275/40/R20 (NA). WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR SERVICE WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TIRE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,056. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT
THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2017 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE: 255/50R19 107W (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE DRIVER VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES. BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
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 2011 BMW X5?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2011 BMW X5?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2011 BMW X5?
Where can I buy tires for my 2011 BMW X5?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2011 BMW X5?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2011 BMW X5?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2011 BMW X5?
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 X5 is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2011 BMW X5.
- 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 2026-09-02.