225/55 R17 Tyres Explained

225/55 R17 is a common tyre size for many hatchbacks, estates and smaller SUVs. The numbers are simple. 225 is the tyre width in millimetres. 55 is the aspect ratio, so the sidewall height is 55% of 225mm (about 123.8mm). R17 means the tyre fits a 17 inch wheel. You'll find this size on vehicles that need a mix of comfort and handling for daily use and longer journeys. Premium brands on the page include Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Bridgestone and Goodyear. mid range manufacturers shown include Hankook, Kumho, Yokohama and Falken. Value options include Wanli, Tomket, Mazzini and Royal Black. If you want a specific example, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Continental PremiumContact 5 are available in 225/55 R17. To check this is the right size for your car, inspect the tyre sidewall, the driver's door placard or your vehicle handbook, or enter your registration for an exact fit.

The tyre size that you find on the sidewall of a tyre will tell you important information such as the width, profile and diameter of your tyre. In this case, for the tyre size 225/55 R17, this means the following: 225 - the width of the tyre in millimetres. I.e. 225mm wide. 55 - the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case 55% R17 - the diameter of the tyre's inner rim in inches. Basically what size of wheel this is designed to fit onto. In this instance it is a 17 inch wheel.

If you are looking for the recommended tyre pressure for 225/55 R17 tyres, you will find that this will depend on the manufacturer and model. Each vehicle manufacturer has their own tyre pressure recommendation for their model, that will deliver an optimal performance for your vehicle. Check the following if you are unsure what the correct tyre pressure is for your 225/55 R17 tyres Tyre label - this is often the best place to find your tyre pressure information. It is located on the door jamb on the driver’s side of the vehicle. It is a small rectangular label that provides the driver with the recommended tyre pressure and tyre sizes. Vehicle handbook - Quite often the vehicle handbook with contain a section that relates to the technical details for the tyre. This should include the required tyre size, load rating, speed rating and recommended tyre pressure.

The sidewall height of a 225/55 R17 tyre is calculated by using the profile information of the tyre size. In this instance 55. This tells us that it is 55% of the tyre's cross-section width. When looking at a tyre, the sidewall height is the distance between the tread line of the tyre and the rim line. Given that this tyre size has a cross-section width which equals 225mm, we can work out that the sidewall height is 55% of 225 – this comes to 123.75mm.