BMW 550i GT Tires

BMW 550i GT uses five sizes across the 2010-2015 production run: 245/45R19, 275/40R19, 245/40R20, and 275/35R20 from 2010 through 2015, plus 245/50R18 from 2011 through 2015. The 245/50R18 size fits 18-inch wheels, the 245/45R19 and 275/40R19 sizes fit 19-inch wheels, and the 245/40R20 and 275/35R20 sizes fit 20-inch wheels. All listed options are radial sizes in modern metric format.

The important point is that a BMW 550i GT cannot be matched by year alone, because several years list multiple wheel-package combinations. Confirm the wheel diameter on the car first, then confirm whether the car uses a narrower front and wider rear staggered arrangement or another configuration before choosing a replacement tire.

A 2011 BMW 550i GT shows five listed sizes because the model was offered with multiple wheel packages rather than one universal setup. Those sizes span three rim diameters—18, 19, and 20 inches—and include both narrower 245-section tires and wider 275-section tires. That means the size split is driven by wheel diameter and vehicle configuration, not by one simple midyear tire change.

The practical takeaway is to read the tire sidewall already on the car and compare it to the actual wheel diameter before replacing anything. If the BMW 550i GT uses a staggered setup, front and rear sizes will differ, so measuring only one corner can lead to ordering the wrong pair for the opposite axle.

BMW 550i GT uses three rim diameters across the sizes listed here: 18 inches, 19 inches, and 20 inches. The 245/50R18 size is for 18-inch wheels, the 245/45R19 and 275/40R19 sizes are for 19-inch wheels, and the 245/40R20 and 275/35R20 sizes are for 20-inch wheels. Those diameters overlap within the same model years rather than replacing one another in a neat year-by-year progression.

That overlap makes the wheel itself the first fitment checkpoint on a BMW 550i GT. Before choosing a tire, confirm the stamped wheel size or read the complete tire code on the car now, because the same model year may appear with entirely different rim diameters and matching front-to-rear tire pairings.

A 2013 BMW 550i GT can use 245/50R18, 245/45R19, 275/40R19, 245/40R20, or 275/35R20 depending on the wheel package and tire position. The 18-inch size stands alone, while the 19-inch and 20-inch sizes are typically part of a narrower-front and wider-rear combination. The exact size is identified by the complete sidewall code on the car and by the wheel diameter it is mounted on.

Start by checking both front and rear tires rather than assuming all four match. On a BMW 550i GT, that simple step usually reveals whether the car is running a staggered setup, and it prevents the common mistake of selecting the front size for all four corners or confusing a 19-inch package with a 20-inch package.

BMW 550i GT tires in this range are offered with Blackwall, RWL, and Redline sidewall styles. Blackwall appears across the BFGoodrich and Nitto offerings, while certain Pro-Trac Street Pro III products are available with raised white letters or a redline sidewall. Sidewall style varies by size, with the broader style choices appearing in the 18-inch and 20-inch fitments listed here.

Most owners looking for a factory-like late-model appearance will stay with Blackwall, especially on a BMW 550i GT with an OEM-style presentation. RWL and Redline options create a more custom visual effect, so they make the most sense when the car’s wheel, suspension, and overall build already lean away from a stock grand touring look.

BMW 550i GT tire options here come from BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Pro-Trac. BFGoodrich appears in several g-Force series variations, Nitto is represented by the NT555 G2, and Pro-Trac appears with the Street Pro III line. Availability differs by size, so not every brand is offered in every BMW 550i GT fitment.

Brand selection should come after the fitment decision, not before it. Once the correct BMW 550i GT size and wheel diameter are confirmed, you can compare the brands within that specific size and decide whether you want a more conventional Blackwall presentation or one of the specialty sidewall treatments available in select Pro-Trac applications.

BMW 550i GT options here include BFGoodrich g-Force Comp 2 AS, BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp 2, BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A, Nitto NT555 G2, and Pro-Trac Street Pro III. All are radial tire series, but they differ by product family and, in some cases, by available sidewall treatment. Street Pro III is the series that introduces RWL and Redline choices in certain BMW 550i GT sizes.

The series name helps distinguish one product family from another after the fitment basics are settled. On a BMW 550i GT, the first question remains wheel diameter and front-versus-rear size; once that is established, the series choice becomes a matter of preferred appearance, brand family, and which specific product lines are offered in that exact size.

A BMW 550i GT should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from ozone sources such as electric motors, chargers, welders, or furnaces. Keep the car out of direct sunlight, and avoid long periods with one section of the tread carrying all the vehicle weight on an uneven floor. If the storage period will be extended, moving the car slightly from time to time helps reduce flat spotting.

Modern radial tires hold up best when storage conditions are stable and the car is not left neglected for seasons at a time. Because the BMW 550i GT is a heavy grand touring car, correct inflation and occasional repositioning are more important than on a very light collector car, especially if it sits through winter or long off-road intervals.

Tires on a BMW 550i GT should be inspected before regular road use and at least several times through the year even if the car is driven infrequently. Check inflation pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, impact damage, uneven wear, and any signs that front and rear tires are wearing differently. On a staggered car, each axle should be inspected on its own terms rather than assuming wear will match end to end.

Routine visual checks catch problems early, especially on a BMW 550i GT that may see occasional enthusiast use instead of daily mileage. If the car develops vibration, pull, or unusual inner-edge wear, inspect immediately, because wheel alignment, inflation, or suspension issues can shorten tire life quickly on low-profile 19-inch and 20-inch fitments.

A BMW 550i GT tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, puncture history, or structural concerns make continued use questionable, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Collector and enthusiast cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out. Any tire that has become visibly dry, misshapen, or repeatedly loses air belongs on the replacement list regardless of how much tread remains.

Age-related replacement matters on a BMW 550i GT because low annual mileage can hide the real condition of the rubber. Date codes, storage history, and physical inspection all matter more than tread alone, so a lightly used set may still be due for replacement if the compound has aged or the sidewalls no longer look sound.

BMW 550i GT appears here with 18-inch, 19-inch, and 20-inch fitments, including 245/50R18, 245/45R19, 275/40R19, 245/40R20, and 275/35R20. Those sizes indicate that more than one wheel-and-tire configuration was used across the model’s run. Every listed option is a radial tire, and the exact original combination for a specific BMW 550i GT depends on the wheel package fitted to that car.

For originality work, the best reference is the individual car’s factory wheel and tire labeling, build information, and surviving original equipment details. A BMW 550i GT restored to factory appearance should match both the correct size combination and the correct visual presentation, which usually means confirming whether the car originally wore an 18-inch, 19-inch, or 20-inch package.

Correct tire fitment does matter to the presentation and perceived correctness of a BMW 550i GT, especially when the car is being preserved as a well-kept modern collector model. Wheel diameter, front-to-rear size relationship, and sidewall appearance all influence whether the car looks properly configured. A mismatched set can quickly make an otherwise strong car appear poorly sorted.

For a BMW 550i GT that will be shown, sold, or carefully curated, staying with the proper wheel package and matching tire proportions helps maintain credibility. Even outside formal judging, knowledgeable buyers notice when a grand touring BMW wears an incorrect same-size setup, the wrong wheel diameter, or an overly custom sidewall style that conflicts with the rest of the car.

BMW 550i GT tires in this range are available with Blackwall, RWL, and Redline sidewalls. Blackwall is the most natural visual match for a factory-style restoration of a modern BMW grand touring car, while RWL and Redline are specialty appearance choices offered in certain Pro-Trac Street Pro III sizes. The sidewall style should be considered part of the car’s overall presentation, not just a cosmetic afterthought.

If the goal is a stock-looking BMW 550i GT, Blackwall is the direction most restorers and preservation-minded owners will favor. RWL and Redline can suit a custom build, but they are best reserved for cars intentionally styled away from original appearance, because the sidewall treatment is immediately visible and can change the character of the car at a glance.

These BMW 550i GT tire options are modern radial products intended for road use in the sizes listed, provided the tires are correctly matched to the wheel diameter and axle position. Public-road safety depends on more than the size code alone, because inflation, age, load condition, wheel condition, and overall vehicle health all matter. A correctly sized tire on a neglected car is not a safe combination.

The right approach is to treat tire selection as one part of a complete readiness check for a BMW 550i GT. Confirm that the car has the proper 18-inch, 19-inch, or 20-inch tire package, make sure front and rear sizes are installed where intended, and inspect the tires themselves carefully before regular road use.

Before driving a BMW 550i GT, check tire pressure, visible tire condition, tread and sidewall damage, wheel condition, and whether the correct size is mounted at each corner. On this model, it is especially important to verify that the narrower 245-section and wider 275-section tires are in the correct positions if the car uses a staggered package. Also look for uneven wear that could point to alignment or suspension problems.

That quick inspection matters because the BMW 550i GT combines substantial weight, strong performance, and low-profile tire options. A problem that might feel minor in the garage can become obvious and expensive at road speed, so catching pressure loss, sidewall damage, or a mismatched tire pair before the drive is one of the best habits an owner can build.

A BMW 550i GT should only be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition, age, inflation, and specification of the actual tires fitted to the car. Several products listed here carry modern speed-rated sizing conventions, but safe speed in real use still depends on whether the tires are fresh, undamaged, and properly matched to the wheel and axle position. Tire age and condition always override what a sidewall code may suggest on paper.

For a collector-minded BMW 550i GT, sensible road speed starts with realism about the whole car rather than confidence in a single rating mark. If the tires are older, the suspension has not been recently checked, or the fitment setup is uncertain, moderate speeds and a thorough inspection are the prudent choice until the car has been fully sorted.