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Sub 205/50R17 for 215/45R17?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2014.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Anyone done the above, and stuck with it? I know it's been mentioned, just wondering the current situation. If you've done this, how did it work out for you?
     
    #1 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    People regularly sub 215/45 for 215/50. Just a higher side wall. Fits good either way
     
    #2 JC91006, Oct 18, 2014
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I sold the car so I didn't have the 205/50/17s on there for long but I prefer that over the 215/45/17s. Just watch which tires you buy. A lot in that alternative size are XL rated which may increase ride harshness. XL tires should be safer and resist blowouts more though.

    If ground clearance is an issue then go with the 205/50/17. It's not much but every 1/2" counts right? ;)
     
    #3 F8L, Oct 18, 2014
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One big hurdle, if you use Costco or someone with similar culture, could be convincing them to mount alternative size. Actually I'm so fed up with them after their last cock up (sold me 3 right and one left X-Ice) I may just shop elsewhere.

    It'll be a while, but I love to window shop. ;)
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2014
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Get a price from them then take it to your local equivalent to Discount Tire. Most places will match or come close. :)
     
    #5 F8L, Oct 18, 2014
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Funny: Kal Tire was close or even lower, when I checked AFTER buying those X-Ice at Costco (for another vehicle). Except rebates are mail-in at KT. They're a couple/three blocks from us, strong contender.

    Yeah we drive around winters on 195/65R15 snows. 205/50R17 are virtually same OD. Think they'll easier ride, better fuel economy.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2014
  7. situationalawareness

    situationalawareness Member

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    Will that size be a temporary fix for the odometer issues?
     
    #7 situationalawareness, Oct 18, 2014
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Do you mean the speedo issue? That it reads about 4% fast? That's legislated, I don' mind it.

    Regarding odo, it's a bit of mystery if toyota adjusted for 215/45R17, which does 1~2% more revs per given distance, comparing to stock 195/65R15. 205/50R17 is virtually the same revs as stock, VERY slightly less.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2014
  9. situationalawareness

    situationalawareness Member

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    What do you mean it's legislated?
    Yes, I meant the speedometer, to compensate for the appoximate 1.5-2 mph discrepancy.
     
    #9 situationalawareness, Oct 19, 2014
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Legislated as in legislated.

    And yes, if I put a 1.5% larger OD tire on a car with speedo reading 4% high, it'll read a little closer to accurate. It'll be 2.5% high.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Oct 19, 2014
  11. situationalawareness

    situationalawareness Member

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    Yes, I understand you typed legislated, I wasn't sure what you meant. The governments made laws legislating the need for an inaccurate speedometer?

    Thanks for the tire info.
     
    #11 situationalawareness, Oct 19, 2014
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes, to err on the side of caution.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Oct 19, 2014
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes, a car can read higher than actual (but must fall within a certain %) but can never read below actual. Different manufacturers have varying degrees of speedometer discrepancy with German cars typically having the highest "errors" (apparently because their clientele is more likely to swap out the stock tires for larger rims)
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Oct 19, 2014
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Anyway, anybody using 205/50R17?
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Oct 19, 2014
  15. situationalawareness

    situationalawareness Member

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    Thank you for explaining it, unlike other people :)
     
    #15 situationalawareness, Oct 20, 2014
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