225/50R17 tyre diameter and speedometer calculator
A 225/50R17 tyre is 225 mm wide with a sidewall 50% of that — 112.5 mm — on a 17 inch rim. That gives an overall diameter of 656.8 mm.
- Overall diameter in inches
- 25.86
- Sidewall height
- 112.5
- Rolling circumference
- 2063.4
- Revolutions per kilometre
- 484.6
- Alternative size diameter
- 656.8
- Difference in diameter
- 0.000 % Within the usual 3% tolerance
- True speed on the alternative size
- 100.00
- Speedometer error
- 0.00
- Change in ride height
- 0.0
Show the working
- Alternative width = 225
- Alternative aspect ratio = 50
- Alternative rim = 17
- Indicated speed = 100
- width = 225 = 225
- aspect = 50 = 50
- rim = 17 = 17
- Sidewall height = 225 * 50 / 100 = 112.5
- Overall diameter = 17 * 25.4 + 2 * 112.5 = 656.8
- Rolling circumference = pi * 656.8 = 2063.4
- Revolutions per kilometre = 2063.4 > 0 ? 1e6 / 2063.4 : 0 = 484.637
- alt_sidewall = 225 * 50 / 100 = 112.5
- Alternative size diameter = 17 * 25.4 + 2 * 112.5 = 656.8
- Difference in diameter = 656.8 > 0 ? (656.8 - 656.8)/656.8*100 : 0 = 0
- True speed on the alternative size = 656.8 > 0 ? 100 * 656.8 / 656.8 : 0 = 100
- Speedometer error = 100 - 100 = 0
- Change in ride height = (656.8 - 656.8) / 2 = 0
- Overall diameter in inches = 656.8 / 25.4 = 25.8583
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- sidewall height = width x aspect ratio / 100
- overall diameter = rim diameter in mm + 2 x sidewall height
- true speed = indicated speed x new diameter / original diameter
Keep a replacement size within about 3% of the original diameter. Beyond that the speedometer, the odometer and often the stability control all read wrong.
The aspect ratio is a percentage of the section width, not a fixed height, which is why a wider tyre at the same aspect ratio is also taller.
Rolling circumference under load is slightly less than the free circumference because the tyre deflects. This is the unloaded figure.
Key dimensions of a 225/50R17
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Section width | 225 mm | 8.86 in |
| Sidewall height | 112.5 mm | 4.43 in |
| Rim diameter | 431.8 mm | 17 in |
| Overall diameter | 656.8 mm | 25.86 in |
| Circumference | 2063.4 mm | 81.2 in |
| Revolutions per km | 485 | 780 per mile |
Frequently asked
What is the overall diameter of a 225/50R17 tyre?
656.8 mm, or 25.86 inches.
What does 225/50R17 mean?
225 is the section width in millimetres, 50 is the sidewall height as a percentage of that width, R means radial construction, and 17 is the rim diameter in inches.