Tyre Help. 215/50/17 change to 225/45/17

[Craig1985]

hi guys. i know you'll be able to help, currently got 215/50/17 kumho tyres on my veccy diesel. i wanna try and improve handling but dont want my arches to look empty. dya think changing to 225/45/17 would make much of a difference with handling?! and would it make my arches look empty though? i have been pricing up tyres and i can buy a premium brand eg: continentals 225/45/17 for the same price as kumho 215/50/17.

i also believe this size is roughly the same circumfrence as my original tyre. is this correct?

before any1 says it...i know kumho are $hit


wahoo got 6000 miles out of kumhos on the front!! too much talk and a heavy foot and poor tyres...not a good combination!

[merikiito]

Just gone from 215/50/17 on 17" x 7J alloys with Goodyears NCT's to 225/40/18 18" 8J alloys with Wanli (think they are made by Goodyear) on my 1.9 CDTi and they are a massive improvement.


The difference is that the tyres are quieter and hold the road better. When I have worn these out I will be changing to Goodyear F1's 235/40/18's to give me even more grip/perfomance. My car was struggling on the 215's esp with the BSR remap and the extra power from that.

Mind you I have put Eibach sports dampers and springs on as well which helps (done when I had the 215's on)

The size difference is not huge but you can do a check here

www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp?postId=906

[bigknill]

I've made the same change recently going from Maxxis 215/50/17s to Toyo CF1 225/45/17s. In all honesty, I can't really see any difference in terms of filling the arches. They certainly don't look lost!

In terms of handling, they seem to ride better - the newer tyres take the edge off bumps - although it is a little bit more fidgety. Whether this is down to the change in size or the different make of tyre, I'm afraid I don't know.

What I do know is that there is a lot more choice in the 225/45/17 range and tyres seem to be cheaper.

HTH.

[Craig1985]

so is this correct? im better getting 235 45 17 as there nearer the same sixe as my oem tyre? using that web site above? can some one check? i dont realy understand this sorta thing?

[Craig1985]

I've made the same change recently going from Maxxis 215/50/17s to Toyo CF1 225/45/17s. In all honesty, I can't really see any difference in terms of filling the arches. They certainly don't look lost!

In terms of handling, they seem to ride better - the newer tyres take the edge off bumps - although it is a little bit more fidgety. Whether this is down to the change in size or the different make of tyre, I'm afraid I don't know.

What I do know is that there is a lot more choice in the 225/45/17 range and tyres seem to be cheaper.

HTH.

i agree tyres are certainly cheaper

[bigknill]

so is this correct? im better getting 235 45 17 as there nearer the same sixe as my oem tyre? using that web site above? can some one check? i dont realy understand this sorta thing?

As far as I'm aware, 225/45/17 are an officially recognised alternative size (by Vxl) and therefore shouldn't cause any difficulties. I'm not sure that 235/45/17s are recommended or whether you'd have to let your insurer know of the change.

[merikiito]

so is this correct? im better getting 235 45 17 as there nearer the same sixe as my oem tyre? using that web site above? can some one check? i dont realy understand this sorta thing?

Where as 225/45/17 are a recommended tyre by VX as repalcements for the 215/50/17, 235/45/17 are not. If I was going to 235's I would change the alloys to wider ones. Something like 17 or 18" x 7.5 or 8J, I think yours would be 7J (should say inside the rim) which means 7" width. Maybe some one has fitted the 235/45/17 and can confirm they are ok?

[parapaul]

so is this correct? im better getting 235 45 17 as there nearer the same sixe as my oem tyre? using that web site above? can some one check? i dont realy understand this sorta thing?

No, what Merikito said was 235/40/18 - although IIRC the correct size for 18" wheels is 225/40.

If you have 17" wheels, use 225/45 tyres. Job done.

[merikiito]

Yep go for 225/45's and you will be fine, look at the 235's width if you upgrade your alloys to 18" or 19" x 7.5J or 8J's

[Rebellion]

Just gone from 215/50/17 on 17" x 7J alloys with Goodyears NCT's to 225/40/18 18" 8J alloys with Wanli (think they are made by Goodyear) on my 1.9 CDTi and they are a massive improvement.

Wanlis aren't made by Goodyear m8, that's just wishful thinking; wanlis are a cheap chinese tyre, that's about all there is to it.