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17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:17 pm
by georgey
Hi guys, I have 17 inch wheels and at present have 215 55 17 tyres looking to buy a new set soon. My question is what choice of profile do I have 55,60,65,70 or example and would I be able to fit 205's? What tyres and sizes can you recommend. Thanx Georgey.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:14 pm
by francophile1947
I've got 225/55x17 fitted with no problems (even my speedo is accurate with the satnav). Have a look here
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/start.html and enter the tyre sizes you want. If you go for a 50 profile, you may not get tyres with a heavy enough load rating - remember minimum of 92 front and 96 rear.
This site will let you see how the tyre sizes affect you gearing/speedo
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:20 pm
by scanner
From what I can see the least you can get away with is 215/55-17 as some (but not all) are available with an adequate load index.
Lower profiles than that 205s or 215/50s don't have high enough load index.
Do a search on "Tyre" AND "Load" AND "Index" and you should find lots of back posts on the subject.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:24 pm
by Jolly Rogers
I have got 225/55/17 load index 101 they worked out £60 a corner
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:25 pm
by madmile
I'd stick with the size you have - I think it suits the bongo well. Quite a few of us running 'accelera' tyres with a nice 98 load index. I have usually paid £60 each, but M&M tyres Bedwas - about a mile before you get to me recently quoted me £46 each for the same tyre

, and I may be getting another set in the next week or so.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:45 pm
by georgey
Thanx for the replies guys...and thanx Ed will have a look week after next £46 sounds good. think I will stick with the 215/55/17. Regards Georgey.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:37 am
by mikeonb4c
All been said above, but I'll add my agreement. Mine had 50's on it when I bought it. Only lasted 5k miles, side walls cracking due to inadequae load rating, ride too harsh. I got lucky and sourced (cheap) 4 x Pirellis with 55 depth and high load rating, and the Bongo is a dream with them on. I'd be curious to go to - say - 60 or 65 to see if MPG on the open road improved but seem to recall it was v. difficult to find affordable ones. I think the 55s are probably the best overall 17" tyre.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:08 pm
by stilldesperate
To check sizes versus speedo accuracy (and list common sizes available) try:
http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual ... calculator
(This is on the info sheet in the members area)
Hope this helps
SD
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:09 pm
by stilldesperate
mikeonb4c wrote:All been said above, but I'll add my agreement. Mine had 50's on it when I bought it. Only lasted 5k miles, side walls cracking due to inadequae load rating, ride too harsh. I got lucky and sourced (cheap) 4 x Pirellis with 55 depth and high load rating, and the Bongo is a dream with them on. I'd be curious to go to - say - 60 or 65 to see if MPG on the open road improved but seem to recall it was v. difficult to find affordable ones. I think the 55s are probably the best overall 17" tyre.
I'll second the load rating, last Bongo had too low a rating, and trye shredded in France....
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:14 pm
by bongoSI
I recently fitted some 17s to my bongo and bought a full set of Neuton NT5000 215 55 R17 tyres with load index 98 for £221 off eBay, incl. next day delivery.
Tyres are great value and I've had no problems so far. They have side wall protection too.
Think my speado reads slighty slower than it should though.
Re: 17inch wheels best profile & tyres?
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:28 pm
by missfixit70
These are the ones I've got, didn't get them from here, cost about £200 fitted
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... c6ffa7307d