CarSpecsHQ

225/50R16 vs 225/45R17

225/45R17 is a safe swap for 225/50R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.46%.

16" → 17"
225/50R16 24.86" · 225/45R17 24.97" · drawn to scale

Side by side

225/50R16225/45R17Difference
Overall diameter24.86"24.97"+0.11" (+0.46%)
Section width225 mm225 mm0 mm
Sidewall4.43"3.99"-0.44"
Rim16"17"+1"
Circumference78.1"78.5"+0.4"
Revs per mile811808-4
Ride height——+0.06"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.060.3+0.3 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 60.3 mph

With 225/45R17 on a car calibrated for 225/50R16, the speedometer reads 59.7 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 0.5%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.1 mph
45 mph45.2 mph
60 mph60.3 mph
70 mph70.3 mph
80 mph80.4 mph

Other sizes close to 225/50R16

Questions

Can I replace 225/50R16 with 225/45R17?

225/45R17 is a safe swap for 225/50R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.46%.

What's the difference between 225/50R16 and 225/45R17?

225/45R17 is 0.11" taller and 0 mm wider; the sidewall is -0.44". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 60.3 mph.

Will 225/45R17 fit on 225/50R16 wheels?

No — 225/50R16 needs a 16" wheel and 225/45R17 a 17" wheel. This is a plus/minus-size swap that changes wheels too.