Spec X5 Overland Build

[thstone]

I started my search for wheels and tires by researching what others had done previously. I found several X5's that I liked and then found the details of wheel size, tire size, and lift.

Then I compared each wheel to a BMW stock wheel in terms of offset. If the wheel in the photo stuck out or poked out more than the BMW stock 17" or 18" wheel, then I made a note of that as "poke".

I used the stock wheels/tires as 17x7.5 et 40 wheel with 235/65/17 tires and 18x8.5 et 48 wheel with 255/55/18 tires.

Here is what I found... (Note: The info here is the best that I could find, but I can't guarantee the accuracy because, well you know, its the internet)

Example 1
18x8 et 13 Hamann HM2 wheels
Hankook RF10 265/60/18 tires
Poke 33mm more than stock

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Example 2
18x8.5 et 48 BMW stock wheel
285/60/18 tire
25mm spacer (= 48-25 = 23mm net offset)
Poke 30mm more than stock
2” lift

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Example 3
Dick Cepek Crusher Radial LT305/65R17
Cragar 17x9 wheels et 0
40mm spacer
2” front /1” rear lift
Poke: 40 mm wheel + 40mm spacer = 80mm more than stock

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Example 4
17x9 wheel et 32
General Grabber AT2 265/70/17
Adapter for lug pattern (wheel has 5x114.3) acts as a 25mm spacer
No lift, stock suspension
Poke 52mm more than stock

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Example 5
Stock BMW 17x7.5” wheels
BFG TA 265/70/17 tires
2.5” front/3” rear lift
Poke 0mm more than stock

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Example 6
17x8 et +20 wheel
265/70/17 tires
2" lift
Poke 51mm more than stock

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Example 7
17x8 et 38
265/70/17 Falken WildPeak AT tires
25 mm spacer/bolt pattern adapter
1.5" lift
Poke 33mm more than stock

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Example 8
7.5x17 et 41 BMW E36 M3 wheel
265/70/17 Falken WildPeak A/T tires
3” front/2.5” rear lift kit (J Level strut spacer kit from eBay)
Poke in 1mm less than stock

[soursamo]

Awesome posts!
I’m picking up some 275/65/18 general grabbers tomorrow, will post some pics on the stock wheels with no lift

[thstone]

Based on the above examples, I decided that I liked a combination of #4 and #6 so I decided to go with a Cragar Series 397 Soft 8 17x8 et 0 steel wheel in black so the tire would poke out 46mm more than stock. This makes the tire look wider than it really is and the 17x8 wheel wouldn't have any problem with fitment.

I read in several places that a 31" tire would fit on the stock X5 suspension without rubbing (and no lift). This helped me to decide that the tire size would be 265/70/17.

Then I had to make a choice about tire makes. After looking at a lot of tires, it came down to the BF Goodrich TA K02 vs the General Grabber ATX. Back in the day, I had owned several sets of the original BFG TA All-Terrains and they were top notch.

However, the Grabber ATX had some great reviews and I really liked the look of the aggressive sidewall and they were quite a bit cheaper than the K02's, so I decided to go with the Grabber ATX.

17x8 et 0 Cragar Series 397 Soft 8 wheel
265/70/17 General Grabber ATX