Shopping for new tires. Noticing that some people have mentioned 205, 215, and 225...... What gives? Cany any of these tires work and work well? 50 vs 55? Obviously, needs to be 17 inch.... What's with all the options?
I had to look it up too. Anyway, my first hunch: stay with stock size. If you're shopping at Costco that's all they'll do, they're funny about that. And if you're looking for alternatives, keep the outside diameter as close as possible to stock, say under 2% variation. And this why, just a whim?
Any opinions on this? POTENZA RE980 AS 215/50R17 95W XL BW ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE Costco offering free install and big rebate.. About $120 per tire installed.
For whatever reason TireRack, which supposedly carefully measures the wheel well, sells wider wheels than the 17” Toyota wheels. These 8” wide wheels do not safely fit the 215/50 tire size, and they claim/recommend 225/50 fits. On the http://www.tires.com website America’s Tire/Discount Tire also lists this size as an optional fit. Cheapest tire is $47 in that size so I am shooting for that one, personally. (As a background my father hit a curb or some other road hazard one day and the sidewalk had a cut about an 0.5 to 1 inch long. Seems like the tires are overloaded at the specified pressures so I replaced the one with XL (extra load), and when it comes time to replace the remaining 3 I might as well jump to 225/50). Those Potenzas look like a good option. (I did not realize they have “AS” at first). I’m just cheap nowadays....
I hope the remaining tire on that axle has a similar tread depth and design as the one you put on lest the electronic nannies get confused.
Thank you Mike for the concern. There is somewhat different tread depths and it was quite a concern to me. I put the tire in service on the rear axle, less likely to wear a differential. Then last tire rotation the store put it on the front. So far nothing bad. (I did select a tire with a lower Treadwear rating to try to help minimize the difference). I’ll definitely post in a thread if anything negative happens. (Crossing my fingers).
I might have not been clear, and I apologize for that. The replacement tire I purchased is the same 215/50R17 as the others. I am planning on switching all 4 to 225/50 and keeping that replacement, as it won’t be worn down yet, as an unmounted spare in the trunk.
Hey, I am also looking forward to change my prius rims and tyres. Currently it is running on 195/65/r15 and I am planning to install 215/55/r17. I do not wish to use spacers to increase the height of my car or any other alteration to install 17in rims. fuel average is not an issue. Please advice if I shall go with 215/55/r17? I do not want to use 215/50/r17 it will make the drive uncomfortable. In my country the roads are crappy. It is 3rd gen prius (model 2014)
You are going to a larger outside diameter tire with the 17" options you mention. Toyota's guidance is 215/45R17, which is slightly smaller OD. FWIW, 205/50R17 is available, and virtually the same OD (as stock 15", 195/65R15). If your roads are very rough I'd be very inclined to stay with stock 15" size.
