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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 :D , 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