XSeries-forum

Apologies if this has been covered before but I'm going round in circles- I have a '54 plate 4.8is with the std 20" wheels and want to change to a winter set up. BMW tell me the only set up I can go to without messing up transfer box, speedo etc is a type 99 wheel in 18" with non staggered sizes. (which they no longer make or can source). 
Numerous people have told me I have to go with this advice as it's what is stated on the door pillar, but others have told me its cr*p and I can fit 19" Tigerclaw alloys with 255/50/19 front and 275/45/19 rear tyres.

Does anyone run a 4.8is on 19" with these tyre sizes with good or bad tales to tell?
Help and advice needed please.

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2646.0.html
This will keep you busy for a while.

  It is a case of trial and error but I have  a E53 2004 3.0d that I use BMW X6 wheels on for winter as the offset are very similar fronts are the same at et48 rears , et45 on my car et21 on the X6 the only thing I need to do is fit spigot rings to the front wheels as the centre bore is 74.1 on the front of a X6 , 72.6 on the front of the X5 E53 .
  The tyre option are 255/50/19 front , 285/45/19 rears  although BMW again recommend 255/50/19 all round due to better traction !

According to this http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/X/X5-E53 the style 199s are the only wheels with offset of ET40 for the E53.
A number of the 18's have ET48 which is not that far off.

I'd go for same size tyre all round though.

I use the 255/55R18 setup as advised by BMW on my 4.8is, non staggered, for winter. Works well.