Down sizing rear tyres from 255/40/17 to 225/45/17
Discussion
Hi another tyre question, I am thinking of swapping 255 to 225.
It is about £50 cheaper per tyre but hopefully, reduces tyre noise and increases mpg and better balance to the 205/50/17 upfront?
Afterall, if my Boxster was fitted with the standard 16" rims, then the fronts would have been 205 with rears of 225.
Any thoughts please?
Thanks!
It is about £50 cheaper per tyre but hopefully, reduces tyre noise and increases mpg and better balance to the 205/50/17 upfront?
Afterall, if my Boxster was fitted with the standard 16" rims, then the fronts would have been 205 with rears of 225.
Any thoughts please?
Thanks!
Not an option really.
Your wheel rims are too wide to reduce tyre size by that amount, your insurance is likely to be voided in the event of a claim and that's without considering the effects it will have to the balance of the car.
Maybe you need to rethink the whole pork ownership thing if you are concerned about saving £100 on tyres.
Your wheel rims are too wide to reduce tyre size by that amount, your insurance is likely to be voided in the event of a claim and that's without considering the effects it will have to the balance of the car.
Maybe you need to rethink the whole pork ownership thing if you are concerned about saving £100 on tyres.
First check your manual but I am fairly sure that 225/45/17 is an approved size for use *in the winter* on the standard 17" rims. In fact, it is recommended if you planned to use chains as the addtional clearance is required.
I don't recall seeing a photo of 225's fitted (to the standard 17" rims) but would like to do so. It may look a little bit different, but I doubt that it would ever look like a VW on stretched tyres!
However, as I understand it, you are considering this as a year round solution to cut down on noise and save £££...
On the noise front, I have found Pilot Sports in 255 quiet and Brigestone S-02's to be terribly noisy... Not sure if an S-02 225 for example would be any quieter so you may have to take pot luck with your choice if you are in uncharted waters.
I suppose the paranoid would tell you that there 'may be insurance implications' but you could always tell your insurer and see what they say.
The real budget solution would be to sell your 17" wheels and find a set of OEM 16" wheels. You can often find these for buttons as nobody wants them but I would have to say, that as time marches on, the 986 looks better and better and the 16" look could be argued to add to the old school appeal....
I would agree that the handling will be more entertaining a lower speeds with a narrower rear tyre. Reducing tyre footprint is cheaper than adding BHP!
P.S. Not sure what car you have but of course on the S, you cannot drop down to 16" wheels (at least on the front axle!) due to the bigger brakes.
I don't recall seeing a photo of 225's fitted (to the standard 17" rims) but would like to do so. It may look a little bit different, but I doubt that it would ever look like a VW on stretched tyres!
However, as I understand it, you are considering this as a year round solution to cut down on noise and save £££...
On the noise front, I have found Pilot Sports in 255 quiet and Brigestone S-02's to be terribly noisy... Not sure if an S-02 225 for example would be any quieter so you may have to take pot luck with your choice if you are in uncharted waters.
I suppose the paranoid would tell you that there 'may be insurance implications' but you could always tell your insurer and see what they say.
The real budget solution would be to sell your 17" wheels and find a set of OEM 16" wheels. You can often find these for buttons as nobody wants them but I would have to say, that as time marches on, the 986 looks better and better and the 16" look could be argued to add to the old school appeal....
I would agree that the handling will be more entertaining a lower speeds with a narrower rear tyre. Reducing tyre footprint is cheaper than adding BHP!
P.S. Not sure what car you have but of course on the S, you cannot drop down to 16" wheels (at least on the front axle!) due to the bigger brakes.
Edited by MogulBoy on Friday 25th January 10:40
It looks like you've got 8.5" rears, so you can run 225s on there, but they'll look a little bit stretched.
So, it'll be fine, but you ought to let your insurance company know. Can't imagine they'll care much.
My old 986S would have been a much better car with a bit more sidewall and a bit less width.
So, it'll be fine, but you ought to let your insurance company know. Can't imagine they'll care much.
My old 986S would have been a much better car with a bit more sidewall and a bit less width.
I HAVE DONE IT.
7 inch wheels on front and back, no spacers (yes, you could put them for the 'fuller' looks). Mainly as a balancing act for my track driving.
Results: very positive, you still get a lot of grip from the rears but the car seems to be more lively at the rear - mind you, it's not a big difference as most imagine.
I actually get better grip in the wet with 225s, but that may be partly due to the crap 255 tyres I have.
Btw, you can use the 8.5 inch rears for 225s (as standard on the S) as well, which is actually what Porsche suggests for the winter tyres (see the manual).
7 inch wheels on front and back, no spacers (yes, you could put them for the 'fuller' looks). Mainly as a balancing act for my track driving.
Results: very positive, you still get a lot of grip from the rears but the car seems to be more lively at the rear - mind you, it's not a big difference as most imagine.
I actually get better grip in the wet with 225s, but that may be partly due to the crap 255 tyres I have.
Btw, you can use the 8.5 inch rears for 225s (as standard on the S) as well, which is actually what Porsche suggests for the winter tyres (see the manual).
Edited by chris7676 on Friday 25th January 12:41
Mine is the standard 2.7.
I used this website http://www.alloywheels.com/Tyre_Calculator
It said 0.3% difference so at 70mph, the speedo will read 69.79mph.
A 255 tyre will fit a rim size 8.5x17 to 10x17.
A 225 tyre will fit 7.5x17 to 9x17.
I think the Boxster S II style alloy at the rear is 8.5x17 ? So a 225 tyre will be perfect.
I just think a 255 is overkill. You don't really need it, just like you don't really need 19". It's for bragging rights on Kensington High St.
Unless you are Walter Rohl, I don"t think most of us will tell the difference of a 30mm narrower tyre on a weekend blast, even if you think you're "on it", in reality, you are no way near the car's limit, nevermind the tyres.
Thank you for the friendly advice and for those who have beef about me not being able to afford a Pork, then I suppose you have never taken a buy one get one free deal at Tesco just because you drive a Porsche. There are plenty of people on these forums who take thier own oil to OPC to save £70 or buy non N rated tyres to save £20.
I used this website http://www.alloywheels.com/Tyre_Calculator
It said 0.3% difference so at 70mph, the speedo will read 69.79mph.
A 255 tyre will fit a rim size 8.5x17 to 10x17.
A 225 tyre will fit 7.5x17 to 9x17.
I think the Boxster S II style alloy at the rear is 8.5x17 ? So a 225 tyre will be perfect.
I just think a 255 is overkill. You don't really need it, just like you don't really need 19". It's for bragging rights on Kensington High St.
Unless you are Walter Rohl, I don"t think most of us will tell the difference of a 30mm narrower tyre on a weekend blast, even if you think you're "on it", in reality, you are no way near the car's limit, nevermind the tyres.
Thank you for the friendly advice and for those who have beef about me not being able to afford a Pork, then I suppose you have never taken a buy one get one free deal at Tesco just because you drive a Porsche. There are plenty of people on these forums who take thier own oil to OPC to save £70 or buy non N rated tyres to save £20.
KPE said:
Unless you are Walter Rohl, I don"t think most of us will tell the difference of a 30mm narrower tyre on a weekend blast, even if you think you're "on it", in reality, you are no way near the car's limit, nevermind the tyres.
You know what? I think you will notice a difference, and the car will be more fun because of it. There's just too much tyre as standard for it to be fun - competent yes, but it doesn't move around as much as I'd like. That (and the seats) is why I sold my 986S.Possibly going to see a Boxster S this weekend and this got me thinking. Has anyone else tried this or going for 225/45 all round?
Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
Patrick Bateman said:
Possibly going to see a Boxster S this weekend and this got me thinking. Has anyone else tried this or going for 225/45 all round?
Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
I think there is a reasonable choice if you buy your tyres online for home delivery such as Camskill or Openeo and then take the tyres to your local depot to be fitted. Avoiding N rated tyres will give you more options too. Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
The Pilot Sport 3 isn't available in this size.
Rear options- http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres-255-40-17/?s...
Front options- http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres-205-50-17/?s...
Has anyone sampled a narrower set up and enjoyed the lower grip available?
Rear options- http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres-255-40-17/?s...
Front options- http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres-205-50-17/?s...
Has anyone sampled a narrower set up and enjoyed the lower grip available?
Patrick Bateman said:
Possibly going to see a Boxster S this weekend and this got me thinking. Has anyone else tried this or going for 225/45 all round?
Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
Yes, see my post above. Trying to find quality matching tyres between 205/50 and 255/40 gives little choice. Can't help but think, as above, that the 255 section rubber is a bit much.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff