BMW tire sizes

We cover 16 BMW models across 40 factory fitments, spanning model years 1968 to 2024. The size that turns up most often on a BMW is 195/65R14, followed by 245/45R18 and 225/45R18. Wheel diameters run from 13 to 22 inches, so the trim and wheel package matter as much as the model year.

BMW approves specific tires. BMW-approved tires carry a star on the sidewall. The star means BMW signed off on that exact tire for that car. Many BMWs also leave the factory on run-flats, marked RSC or with the maker's own code such as ZP or MOE, and BMW's own advice is not to mix run-flat and standard tires on the same car.

Pick your model below to see the size for every year and trim, what it costs from budget to premium, and which tires are worth buying in that size. If you already know your size, search by size instead, and if you are not sure where to find it, our guide on reading a tire size shows exactly where the placard sits.

BMW sells around 370,000 vehicles a year in the United States and has been the best-selling German premium brand here in most recent years. The volume is in the X3, X5 and X7 crossovers rather than the 3 Series that built the reputation, and the electric i4 and iX are now a meaningful share. BMW's name rests on chassis balance and straight-six engines, with the M division at the top of almost every model line.

It also owns MINI and Rolls-Royce.

Tires on a BMW

BMW marks approved tires with a star on the sidewall, and it is the most widely recognized OE code in the industry; Wikipedia's tire code reference lists the asterisk as original tires for BMW. The star means BMW tested and signed off that exact tire on that exact car, while the same pattern without a star is built to the tire maker's own specification and can differ in construction, noise and load rating at the same size. BMW is also the brand most associated with run-flats, which arrive marked RSC or with the maker's own code such as ZP or MOE, and BMW's own guidance is not to mix run-flat and conventional tires on one car.

Staggered fitments are normal from the 3 Series upward: an M340i runs 245/35R19 front and 255/35R19 rear, a current X5 on 20s runs 275/45R20 front and 305/40R20 rear, and an X7 goes to 275/40R22 and 315/35R22. The electric iX weighs close to 5,700 pounds and wears 255/50R20 or 265/45R21, and rear tire life is short enough that many owners choose the smaller wheel deliberately. The most common replacement decision on any BMW is whether to stay on run-flats or move to conventional tires and carry a plug kit.

The models that matter

The X3 is the volume model, on 225/60R18, 245/50R18 or 245/50R19. The X5 runs 255/55R18 on older cars and staggered 20 and 22 inch sets on current ones. The 3 Series takes 225/45R18 in base form and staggered 225/40R19 with 255/35R19 in M Sport trim, and the 5 Series 245/45R18 with a 275/35R19 rear on M Sport.

The electric i4 uses 245/45R18 on the eDrive40.

What owners find out later

Because run-flats let BMW delete the spare, most BMWs have no spare wheel and often no jack, which means a sidewall cut ends the trip even on a conventional tire. Moving from run-flats to standard tires improves ride quality noticeably but leaves you with no get-home option unless you buy a kit. BMW's TPMS on many models is indirect, reading wheel speed rather than pressure, so it must be reset through iDrive after every tire change and will not warn you if all four tires lose pressure evenly.