tirewheelguide

1997 BMW 7 Series tire and wheel sizes, bolt pattern and tire pressure

Bolt pattern 5x120 on every 1997 trim.

Tires for the 1997 BMW 7 Series

Sizes most trims come with first. Open your trim below for its exact size.

  1. 235/60R16 Best-rated standard on 13 trims · optional on 3 · Europe, Japan, USA
    Check price on Amazon · 235/60R16
  2. 235/50R18 front + 255/45R18 rear Best-rated standard on 3 trims · USA, Europe
    Check price on Amazon · 235/50R18 front Check price on Amazon · 255/45R18 rear
  3. 215/65R16 Best-rated optional on 9 trims · Europe
    Check price on Amazon · 215/65R16

Also listed: 245/55R16 235/55R17 235/50R18

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Trims sold in 1997
16
Generation
III (E38) sold in 3 market versions

16 trims sold in 1997

Sold in 3 market versions with different tire sizes. Open a trim for its tire and rim sizes, bolt pattern and tire pressure. Trims with the same tires and wheels share a row.

BMW 7 Series III (E38)

1994–1998 16 trims

Europe

9 trims
7 Series 725tds 141 hp · M51D25 I6 · Diesel 235/50R18 97Z / 255/45R18 95Z 8 fitments
Generation
E38 · 1994–1998
Market
Europe
Power
141 hp
Engine
M51D25 I6, Diesel
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 235/50R18 Check price on Amazon · 255/45R18 Wheels 18x8 ET20 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
Front235/50R18 97ZRim 18x8 ET20 5x12029 psi
Rear255/45R18 95ZRim 18x9 ET22 5x12033 psi
Front235/50R18 97ZRim 18x8 ET13 5x12029 psi
Rear255/45R18 95ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12033 psi
Front235/50R18 97ZRim 18x8 ET20 5x12029 psi
Rear255/45R18 95ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12033 psi
235/60R16 100WRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12029 psi
215/65R16 98WRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12029 psi
235/60R16 100WRim 16x8 ET23 5x12029 psi
245/55R16 100WRim 16x8 ET23 5x12029 psi
235/55R17 99WRim 17x8 ET23 5x12041 psi
7 Series 728i +7 variants 190 hp · 2.8L M52B28 I6 235/60R16 100W 8 fitments

Same tires and wheels on: 728iL, 735i, 735iL, 740i, 740iL, 750i, 750iL

Generation
E38 · 1994–1998
Market
Europe
Power
190 hp
Engine
2.8L M52B28 I6, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 235/60R16 Wheels 16x7.5 ET20 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
235/60R16 100WRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12029 psi
215/65R16 98WRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12029 psi
235/60R16 100WRim 16x8 ET23 5x12029 psi
245/55R16 100WRim 16x8 ET23 5x12029 psi
235/55R17 99WRim 17x8 ET23 5x12041 psi
235/50R18 97ZRim 18x9 ET22 5x12035 psi
235/50R18 97ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12035 psi
235/50R18 97ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12035 psi

How to read 100W: 100 is the load index (up to 1,764 lb / 800 kg per tire) and W the speed rating (up to 168 mph / 270 km/h). ET20 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres. Compare offsets in the wheel offset calculator.

Japan

4 trims
7 Series 735i (E-GF35) +3 variants 232 hp · M62B35 V8 235/60R16 100W 1 fitment

Same tires and wheels on: 740i (E-GF44), 750iL (E-GK50), L7 (E-L7)

Generation
E38 · 1994–1998
Market
Japan
Power
232 hp
Engine
M62B35 V8, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 235/60R16 Wheels 16x7.5 ET20 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
235/60R16 100WRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12029 psi

How to read 100W: 100 is the load index (up to 1,764 lb / 800 kg per tire) and W the speed rating (up to 168 mph / 270 km/h). ET20 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres.

USA

3 trims
7 Series 740i +1 variant 282 hp · 4.4L M62B44 V8 235/50R18 97Z / 255/45R18 95Z 2 fitments

Same tires and wheels on: 740iL

Generation
E38 · 1994–1998
Market
USA
Power
282 hp
Engine
4.4L M62B44 V8, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 235/50R18 Check price on Amazon · 255/45R18 Wheels 18x8 ET13 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
Front235/50R18 97ZRim 18x8 ET13 5x12032 psi
Rear255/45R18 95ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12039 psi
235/60R16 100HRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12032 psi
7 Series 750iL 322 hp · 5.4L M73B54 V12 235/60R16 100H 2 fitments
Generation
E38 · 1994–1998
Market
USA
Power
322 hp
Engine
5.4L M73B54 V12, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 235/60R16 Wheels 16x7.5 ET20 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
235/60R16 100HRim 16x7.5 ET20 5x12032 psi
235/50R18 97ZRim 18x9.5 ET25 5x12035 psi

How to read 100H: 100 is the load index (up to 1,764 lb / 800 kg per tire) and H the speed rating (up to 130 mph / 210 km/h). ET20 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres.

What these columns mean
Rim size
Rim diameter × width in inches, and the factory offset (ET) in millimetres, e.g. 18x7.5 ET25.
Bolt pattern (PCD)
Number of studs and the diameter of the circle they sit on. It must match exactly.
Center bore
Diameter of the hub hole. Larger aftermarket bores need hub-centric rings.
Pressure
Recommended cold inflation pressure for that axle, in psi.
Staggered
A wider tire on the rear axle than the front. Front-to-back rotation is not possible.
Thread size
Lug bolt or nut thread — needed when buying aftermarket fasteners.
Trims sold in 1997
16
Generation
III (E38) sold in 3 market versions
Other years
All years (1977–2027)

Considering a different size?

Compare your current tire size with the one you want: diameter change, ground clearance and speedometer error.

Open the size calculator

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