CarSpecsHQ

235/45R17 vs 225/50R17

225/50R17 is a safe swap for 235/45R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +2.10%.

17" rim
235/45R17 25.33" · 225/50R17 25.86" · drawn to scale

Side by side

235/45R17225/50R17Difference
Overall diameter25.33"25.86"+0.53" (+2.10%)
Section width235 mm225 mm-10 mm
Sidewall4.16"4.43"+0.27"
Rim17"17"same
Circumference79.6"81.2"+1.7"
Revs per mile796780-16
Ride height——+0.27"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.061.3+1.3 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 61.3 mph

With 225/50R17 on a car calibrated for 235/45R17, the speedometer reads 58.8 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 2.1%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.6 mph
45 mph45.9 mph
60 mph61.3 mph
70 mph71.5 mph
80 mph81.7 mph

Other sizes close to 235/45R17

Questions

Can I replace 235/45R17 with 225/50R17?

225/50R17 is a safe swap for 235/45R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +2.10%.

What's the difference between 235/45R17 and 225/50R17?

225/50R17 is 0.53" taller and 10 mm narrower; the sidewall is +0.27". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 61.3 mph.

Will 225/50R17 fit on 235/45R17 wheels?

Both use a 17" rim, so the wheel diameter matches; check the wheel's width range for a 225 mm tire and the fender clearance.