People on here, specifically Rishie, suggests a 205/45 tire and not 205/40 on 17 inch fitments. What's wrong with a 40 on a 3rd gen?

The only reason I've heard is that it is to short and will result in more mileage on the odometer. Are there other reasons? And does it really add THAT much to the mileage? I know there is a way to figure it out but alas my math has never been good. Nor my mind.

Thanks for the help.

 

where is the wheeel size calculator, link pulease

 

Well according to that calculator and using the default tire size of 195/55/15 a 205/40/17 is going to be 0.1 % too slow.

That doesn't seem bad at all???

EDIT: Here's the data:

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
195/55-15    4.2in     11.7in    23.4in    73.7in         &n bsp; 860        0.0%
205/40-17    3.2in     11.7in    23.5in    73.7in         &n bsp; 860        0.1%

 

only ONE problem....not ALL tires are created equal......and not ALL 205/40's will be the same diameter....at least they are not reporting their diameters as the same....I have been looking at all different brands and in numerous sizes....205/40 being one of them....MY goal is to keep the diameter as close to stock as possible.....and I have been finding that not all makers of the same size tire report the diameters as being the same.

Just to go the tirerack.com and bring up any tire you want...then look at its spec's.....diameter is one of them....you will see that different makers of the same size tire show different diameters.

205/40WR17 80W 23.4 inches diameter for a Kumho 712

and 23.6 for a Pirelli P7000 so there are slight differences. Maybe not enough to make that much difference...but a difference just the same.

and the stock tire on our cars is the 195/50/16 which has a diameter of 23.7 guess its a trade off.....

 

I dont think you need the 45 on your car, your gonna lower it anyway. i got the 215/40's sure

are the rims your getting 7 or 7.5 inches?

 

hell with 205/40 ,, get a 215/40/17 ,, my dad has that on his jetta and they are sweet as hell
Bruce

 

exactly..thats what i have and i like em....

nice and wide...gives the car a a nice wide stance.
booyakasha!

 

that is what I am talking about ,,,,, tiya
bruce

 

No go on 215's for these though. They're a 42 offset. I'd never get away with it without rolling the fenders.

I was just wondering if there were any other reasons why not to get 205's. Like structural integrity of something. I dunno.

Looks aren't a problem. It's going to be lowered as soon as I get the rims anyways.

 

I did not suggest it for the wagons specifically cause our tire is slightly taller at 195/50/16. This matches better with the 215/40. you however can use the 205/40. It all comes down to the calculator.

I personally would rather increase my diameter slightly than decrease it slightly. That's just me though. I'd like to drive more and register less on the odometer as well as increase fuel economy slightly.

I was just waiting to respond to see how resourceful you guys are. looks like you've done well and I'm here just to reassure that you can run the 205/40 with the sizing you were given.

Thanks, rishie