2009 GMC Acadia Tire Size

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
255/65R18 OEM	R18	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
255/60R19 OEM	R19	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Michelin

CrossClimate 2

all-season touring, UTQG 640, 60,000-mi warranty

Best budget

Cooper

CS5 ultra touring

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 800

Best quiet

Michelin

Defender 2

68 dB cabin noise (EU label); quietest in this size

Best winter

Toyo

Celsius CUV

All-weather; ice/snow grip

Compatible alternative sizes for 255/65R18

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
`255/70R17`	0.01%	alternative	Safe
`255/60R19`	-0.01%	plus 1	Safe
`225/85R16`	0.03%	alternative	Safe
`255/75R16`	0.03%	alternative	Safe
`255/55R20`	-0.03%	plus 2	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 255/65R18 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 255/65R18 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 255/60R19; one rim size up, -0.01% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 255/55R20; 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 2009 GMC acadia

The 2009 GMC Acadia ships from the factory on 255/65R18 tires mounted on R18 wheels. 2 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 GMC Acadia 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 2009 GMC Acadia 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 2009 GMC Acadia, 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 2009 GMC acadia

4

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Sidewall

Most reported: Sidewall (2) · Tires (General) (1) · TPMS (1)

Reported across: 2009 – 2009 (1 year)

What owners described

Cracking or dry rot appears in 42% of these reports; about 4.6× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 33 reports covering every model year of the GMC Acadia 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
Cracking or dry rot	42%	9%	4.6×
Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault	15%	2%	6.3×
Sidewall failure	12%	15%	0.8×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	6%	6%	1.0×
Tread or belt separation	3%	13%	0.2×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	3%	8%	0.4×

Mileage at failure

24 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 27,057 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 5,700 and 78,000 miles.

In owners' own words

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

WAS DRIVING AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING CAME ON AND WAS SHOWING I WAS LOSING PRESSURE SO SLOWED DOWN IN TIME WHERE THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. TOOK IN TO GET FIXED AND HE FOUND THAT TWO OTHERS WERE CRACKED SO THEY COULD GO BAD AS WELL. LUCKILY WAS NOT ON HIGHWAY WHEN TIRE DEFLATED.

NHTSA complaint 1069956 · 2007 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR FORTERA HL TIRES, SIZE: P255/65R18 109S. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE SIDEWALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V044000 (TIRES). THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,537.

NHTSA complaint 1215125 · 2014 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC ACADIA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR FORTERA HL TIRES, SIZE: P255/65R18. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT WALLINGFORD BUICK GMC (1122 OLD NORTH COLONY RD, WALLINGFORD, CT 06492, (888) 765-9107), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS AND TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE TREAD PATTERNS. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,590.

NHTSA complaint 1474923 · 2015 vehicle

BOUGHT FIRESTONE ALL SEASON TIRES DOT V60M AL1. TIRES WORN DOWN VERY VERY QUICKLY ALL THE WAY ACROSS IN LESS THAN 5K MILES. VEHICLE ALIGNMENT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. DEALER TRIED TO CLAIM IT WAS ALIGNMENT, ALIGNMENT SHOP SAID IT WAS A TIRE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE TIRES RUBBER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPOUND FORMULA. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO COVER THE TIRES. SAID THAT EXTREMELY FAST TREADWEAR ISN'T COVERED. IMAGINE THAT! PAID $657.00 FOR A SET OF TIRES THAT WITHIN 5 MONTHS NEED REPLACING. HAD MY WIFE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I WOULD OF MADE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OUT OF FIRESTONE LIKE WHAT WAS DONE IN THE 90S WHEN FORD EXPLORERS WERE TURNING INTO CRASH DERBY CARS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIRES MADE BY THIS COMPANY FOR ODDLY A COMPARITIVELY SIZED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 1628800 · 2008 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 2009 GMC Acadia?

The OEM tire size for the 2009 GMC Acadia is 255/65R18 mounted on R18 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 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 2009 GMC Acadia?

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 GMC Acadia is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2009 GMC Acadia.
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.