2009 Acura MDX Wheel Interchange
OEM wheel/tire sizes and fitment specs for the 2009 Acura MDX.
2009 Acura MDX Wheel Fitment Guide
You found a set of wheels and want to know if they will safely fit your 2009 Acura MDX. The main problem is balancing bolt pattern, offset, brake clearance, and tire diameter under real-world constraints. Below is a practical process I use in the shop, with checks you can repeat using the on-page calculator at wheelinterchange.com.
Goal
Select and validate wheels and tires that fit a 2009 Acura MDX without rubbing, vibration, or hardware issues, using the site’s comparison calculator and OEM baselines.
Prerequisites
- Access to the on-page calculator on wheelinterchange.com.
- Accurate specs for the candidate wheels and tires. Look at the back of the wheel for diameter, width, and offset stamps. Check tire sidewall for size and load index.
- Tools: a torque wrench, a jack and stands, and a way to measure clearances. Consider:
- 1/2 inch torque wrench
- M12x1.5 lug nuts that match your wheel seat type
- 64.1 hub centric rings if the wheel bore is larger than 64.1 mm
- TPMS sensors for 2009 MDX if you need replacements
2009 Acura MDX OEM Baseline
If a value is missing for your trim, use the calculator’s vehicle selector and confirm with the owner’s manual and OEM service information.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 5x120 |
| Center bore | 64.1 mm |
| Thread size | M12 x 1.5 |
| OEM rim diameter | 18 in |
| OEM rim width | 8.0 in |
| OEM offset (ET) | 45 mm |
| Backspacing | 5.77 in |
| OEM tire size | 255/55R18 |
Assumption: some trims and accessory packages may vary. Validate wheel part numbers and tire load index against the door placard.
Step by step
1) Eliminate incompatibilities first
- Bolt pattern must be 5x120. Do not attempt to fit 5x114.3 with wobble nuts or force. That is a safety risk.
- Center bore must be 64.1 mm or larger. If larger, plan hub-centric rings sized 64.1 mm to your wheel’s bore. If smaller, the wheel will not seat on the hub.
- Thread size is M12x1.5. Use matching lug nuts or bolts with the correct seat type that the wheel requires. Verify whether the wheel uses conical, ball, or mag-seat hardware.
2) Collect donor wheel and tire data
- Wheel: diameter, width, offset, and center bore. Check casting marks and part numbers.
- Tire: section width, aspect ratio, and rim diameter. Confirm load index and speed rating meet or exceed the door placard.
- Wheel load rating should be appropriate for an SUV. Use manufacturer documentation for validation.
3) Use the calculator to compare
- Open the calculator on wheelinterchange.com.
- Set “Installed on” to your vehicle: 2009 Acura MDX.
- For “Wheels from (donor vehicle)”, either choose the donor vehicle or enter the specs manually with “Custom wheel size”.
- Enter custom rim diameter, width, and offset. If you change rim diameter, the tool will update tire diameter in the comparison. Adjust “Custom tire size” to what you plan to run.
4) Evaluate the results
- Overall tire diameter: aim for a variance near ±3 percent to help maintain clearance, gearing, and speedometer accuracy.
- Inner clearance to strut and spring: keep a positive margin. I aim for at least 3 to 5 mm static clearance at the tightest point, more if possible.
- Outer “poke” relative to fender: confirm the wheel does not extend beyond the fender line through full suspension travel and steering lock.
- Offset and backspacing: compare against OEM 45 mm and 5.77 in backspacing. Large departures are possible but drive new clearance checks.
5) Plan hardware and sensors
- Hub-centric rings only if the wheel bore is larger than 64.1 mm. Order rings 64.1 mm to your wheel’s bore size.
- Lug engagement: for M12 studs, target thread engagement at least equal to the stud diameter. Count full turns on the nut. If using spacers, re-check engagement.
- TPMS: most 2009 MDX vehicles use direct TPMS. Transfer sensors or install compatible ones, then perform relearn or programming as required.
6) Test fit procedure
- Mount one front wheel without a tire if clearance is tight, or mount the full wheel-tire assembly.
- Hand rotate the hub and turn steering lock to lock. Watch caliper barrel and spoke clearance. A minimum of 3 mm static gap is recommended, more is better.
- Lower the vehicle and bounce the suspension. Listen for liner contact and observe fender clearance.
- Torque lugs to the value in your owner
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