Just wondering if there is any reason why 205/40WR17 should be a concern. I've noticed the stock size is 205/ 45WR17, but by going to a 40, will this affect very much? My main reason in asking is price. I've noticed a huge difference in price between the two sizes. Most of which is 30-40%.

 

The 40-series tire will have a 0.4" shorter sidewall than the 45-series tire. This results in a 73.7" circumference instead of 76.2", which will mean 860 revolutions per mile instead of 831.

What does that all mean? Compared to the stock size, running the 205/40R17 tire will give you a speedometer reading that is 3.3% too fast. For example, when your speedo reads 60mph, you'll actually be travelling 58mph.

Sure, it might help save you from getting a ticket (since you'll be driving a little slower than you think you are), but it will also mean your car will rack up more miles than it should be. Drive 58 miles and your car thinks you've driven 60. That means your odometer will be off as well.

 

Nothing I could see other than that at 60mph on the speedo you'll actually be doing about 58mph....also, there's 0.4 of an inch less side-wall, so ride comfort *might* be compromised a bit...

 

everyone seems to foget the big one: load rating

 

i use the toyo RA-1's on the track. they are also that size. they do make the speedo read faster than normal. the only problem on the road i forsee is that the shorter sidewall will make it easier to damage your wheels and give a stiffer ride. when i switched to these from 225 45 17's i tended to bounce off the rev limiter a lot. that just takes some getting used to.

 

^^^

 

Has anyone tried a 205 or 215 /50/17? Will there be any rubbing on this?

 

mattman- those tires are too big for the car.

try searching under 205/45/17 and 215/45/17's.

 

Wow... I'm not gonna run anything larger than my 215/40/17. I'd go with 45's if I was the nervous type, but certainly no larger.

 

i run 215/45 on the street and its no problem even with lowering

i tried 205/50-17 in the winter for 2 weeks... and believe me... the back rubbed more than u can believe...

 

Well, there you have it. No 50 for me!

Thanks for the input!!

 

Acceleration will improve, piston travel per mile will go up - more engine wear, gas mileage might go down, weight of the tire will go down - better braking in theory, different contact patch shape...perhaps good, perhaps not good.

Load rating, load rating, load rating etc...

Why do folk dismiss plus sizing concepts?