CarSpecsHQ

235/50R17 vs 225/55R17

225/55R17 is a safe swap for 235/50R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +1.87%.

17" rim
235/50R17 26.25" · 225/55R17 26.74" · drawn to scale

Side by side

235/50R17225/55R17Difference
Overall diameter26.25"26.74"+0.49" (+1.87%)
Section width235 mm225 mm-10 mm
Sidewall4.63"4.87"+0.25"
Rim17"17"same
Circumference82.5"84.0"+1.5"
Revs per mile768754-14
Ride height——+0.25"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.061.1+1.1 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 61.1 mph

With 225/55R17 on a car calibrated for 235/50R17, the speedometer reads 58.9 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 1.9%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.6 mph
45 mph45.8 mph
60 mph61.1 mph
70 mph71.3 mph
80 mph81.5 mph

Other sizes close to 235/50R17

Questions

Can I replace 235/50R17 with 225/55R17?

225/55R17 is a safe swap for 235/50R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +1.87%.

What's the difference between 235/50R17 and 225/55R17?

225/55R17 is 0.49" taller and 10 mm narrower; the sidewall is +0.25". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 61.1 mph.

Will 225/55R17 fit on 235/50R17 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.