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Tire sizes

225/60R17 — what neighbouring sizes do to the speedometer

A crossover fitment sitting between two aspect ratios, with a symmetric 0.89 in either side.

Metric notation · Passenger touring

Overall diameter
27.63 in
702 mm
Section width
8.86 in
225 mm
Sidewall height
5.31 in
135 mm
Aspect ratio
60%
sidewall as a share of width
Wheel diameter
17 in
the hole in the middle
Circumference
86.8 in
2205 mm
Revolutions per mile
729.9
geometric, not measured
Revolutions per km
453.6
geometric, not measured
Typical load index
82–99
1047–1709 lb per tire

A passenger tire's load index tracks its air volume, and volume tracks section width and sidewall height. Sizes in this class sit in the band that carries a typical two-tonne car with its rated payload across four tires.

The load-index range shown is the band this CLASS of size is typically produced in — not a list of what is in stock for this exact size today. Load index and speed symbol are printed on the sidewall of the specific tire you are holding, and the required minimum is on the placard of the specific vehicle you are fitting. Read both.

Nearest real sizes in imperial notation, same wheel

  • 32x11.50R1732.00 in tall+4.37 in
  • 33x10.50R1733.00 in tall+5.37 in
  • 33x12.50R1733.00 in tall+5.37 in

Compare any two sizes, including ones this site has no page for, in the comparison tool.

Platforms recorded with this size

The size covers small crossovers and the taller estates — Qashqai, Tiguan, Escape and similar — in their smaller wheel options.

What each alternative on this wheel would read

A speedometer is scaled by rolling circumference, so a change of size shows up directly as a difference between the number on the dial and the speed of the vehicle. Taking this size as the calibration point:

Fitted instead Diameter At an indicated 70 mph Per 100 indicated miles
225/55R17 26.74 in 67.8 mph 96.8 miles
235/55R17 27.18 in 68.9 mph 98.4 miles
235/60R17 28.10 in 71.2 mph 101.7 miles
225/65R17 28.52 in 72.2 mph 103.2 miles

The two 225 mm entries are symmetric: 0.89 in and 3.21% in each direction, because five points of aspect ratio at a fixed width and wheel is a fixed quantity of rubber. The two 235 mm entries are not symmetric with each other, because they differ in aspect ratio as well as width.

Its match is on a 19-inch wheel

275/40R19 measures 27.66 in — 0.11% from this size, with 1.97 in more section width and a sidewall of 4.33 in against 5.31 in. A crossover tire and a sports-saloon tire, standing the same height.

Sidewall against wheel

The 5.31 in sidewall is what distinguishes this size from most of what shares its diameter. On a 17-inch wheel that is a comfortable proportion; the same casing depth on a 19 or 20-inch wheel would put the tire well over 30 in tall.

What can be recalibrated afterwards

Some vehicles allow the tire size to be reprogrammed in the instrument cluster or body module, and some do not. Where it can be done, the correction is applied to the same wheel-speed signal that feeds the odometer, so both move together; where it cannot, the error in the table above is permanent for as long as the size is fitted. The speedometer calibration reference covers the options and their limits.

Related

Class: Passenger touring. Every figure above is computed from the size code, not stored — see how these numbers are calculated.