Lexus GX 550 - Wheels & Tires

For our personal 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail (see review pre-purchase), we wanted a wheel/tire package with an OEM+ aesthetic. Something rugged, that tastefully accentuated the vehicle… and didn’t have a negative impact on our daily driving routine. To that end, we chose Fifteen52 Alpen HD wheels in 17×8 +35, wrapped in Milestar Patagonia X/T tires, size 285/75R17. Here’s the breakdown behind that choice…

Fifteen52 Alpen HD Wheels | 17×8 +35

Fifteen52 created the 17×8 +35 sizing specifically with the Lexus GX 550 in mind. The +35 offset has been dialed-in to bring the wheels out flush with the GX body. Yet – you still retain full steering clearance without having to cut, modify, or lift the vehicle. This GX 550 is not lifted, and there are no rubbing issues with this wheel & tire combo. The Alpen HD is available in 2 colors: Frosted Graphite & Desert Bronze. Both shades accentuate the unique design of the wheel. In our case, we chose Frosted Graphite because it blends with the body-trim on the Overtrail. Additionally, the ‘frosted’ finish compliments the ‘pearl’ in Lexus’s Eminent White Pearl paint.

Milestar Patagonia X/T Tires | 285/75R17

The Patagonia X/T in 285/75R17 is a true 34” tire. That’s 1-inch larger than the 33s that come on the GX 550 Overtrail model. Behind the scenes, Milestar Tires is on a mission to become a true enthusiast brand. They’ve hired some talented/fresh minds from within the aftermarket/enthusiast sector. In our opinion, that deserves support, and we thought the Patagonia X/T would be a perfect tire for our Lexus GX 550 Overtrail. The Patagonia X/T is a legitimate all-terrain tire. It’s got a strengthened rubber compound & 3ply sidewall for enhanced durability. The tread pattern is designed to find bite in all off-road conditions – from rock to snow. It’s also designed to quickly shed debris – like snow, slush, & mud – in order to keep maximum traction. To summarize – the Patagonia X/T is an all-terrain tire that lives more at the off-road end of the spectrum. That being said – it has more refined pavement manners (quieter & smoother) than a full-out mud-terrain tire.

Notes & considerations…

Here are some further reasons why we chose this wheel & tire combination.

Offset…

These wheels are 17×8 +35. To break that down, 17 is the diameter (in inches). 8 is the width (also in inches). And +35 is the offset (in millimeters). Offset is the distance of the wheel’s mounting surface from the center of the wheel; changing offset moves the wheel inward & outward on the vehicle. Without getting too deep into it, a lower offset on this wheel size (lower than 35mm) would move the wheel outward – and require cutting, trimming, and/or a lift on the GX 550. And the lower that number goes, the more it would need. On the contrary – a higher offset wheel (larger than 35mm) would move the wheel inward, making it less flush to the body lines. In Goldilocks terms, the 17×8 +35 is juuuust right. And for reference – the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail comes on 18×7.5 +50 wheels.

Diameter…

We downsized the diameter of the wheel by one inch… from an 18 to a 17. 17in wheels are often the preferred, more common size in the functional off-road market. Reason being: 1) Downsizing the wheel diameter allows you to increase the overall sidewall of the tire (more forgiving over natural terrain). And 2) There’s a wider selection of off-road tires (& often better pricing) on 17-inch sizes.

Tire size…

As mentioned, the Milestar Patagonia X/T in 285/75R17 is a true 34” tire. That’s just 1-inch larger than what the GX 550 Overtrail model comes with… but it has a big visual impact. Going to a 34 lifts the vehicle 1/2-inch & fills out the wheel-wells without getting into the negative effects of running a tire that’s ‘too large’. A 34” tire (285/75/17) is a good option for someone who plans to drive the vehicle regularly/routinely, and doesn’t want to marginalize the daily driving experience. ALSO – the 285/75R17 fits in the original spare tire location (barely… see video at the end). We got a 5th wheel/tire for the spare, as running unmatched tires sizes is not recommended.

*You’re going to need new lug nuts & hub centric rings. We got our lug nuts at Black Bear Off-Road, where the wheels/tires were mounted. And here is the sizing for the hub centric rings with these wheels.