Winter tire fitment?
 

2023 ES300 h, tire size 215/55/17. Got a chance for a great deal for winter tires, just wondering if the slight size difference would be a no go. Winter size would be 225/55/17. Should I not?

Here are a few points to consider:

1. Tire Width: Going from 215 to 225 means the new tires will be 10mm wider. While this isn't a huge difference, it could lead to a slight change in handling and steering responsiveness. Wider tires might provide more traction on snow, but they can also impact fuel efficiency and road noise.
   
2. Clearance: Ensure that the wider tires (225/55/17) will fit within the wheel wells of your vehicle without rubbing against any components during turns or bumps.
   
3. Speedometer Accuracy: Changing the tire size can potentially affect your speedometer accuracy. Wider tires could lead to a slightly higher reading on the speedometer compared to your actual speed.
   
4. Ride Comfort: Wider tires might provide a slightly softer ride due to increased cushioning, but they could also transmit more road imperfections into the cabin.
   

Moreover I would recommend you to visit this website wheel guiders as they do have a lot of guides on the day to day issues we face with our tires.

From tiresize.com's Tire Size Comparison Calculator, here's the numerical differences between the two tire sizes:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...7a68fcf403.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...47718af8d6.png

225/55/17 would work fine. They would be both wider and taller than 215/55/17, but the difference is negligible. A wider tire is also worse in the snow, but again, only 10mm wider would make a negligible difference.

Tiresize.com provides a good visual comparison. You probably wouldn't notice much.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...04b43dfa13.jpg

225's will be fine. I have 215/55R17 on mine and the odometer is out slightly compared to the stock 18" tire size. So you'd see just a slight discrepancy of speed/mileage.

Your speedometer should read exactly the same with either 215/55/17 or 235/45/18, as the they are interchangeable. 215/55/17 is the factory size for the 17” wheel on the base ES. Both tires have identical overall diameter and revolutions per mile.

I was just thinking about this today. I would seriously consider Michelin CrossClimate II. A European site did elaborately documented testing in wintry conditions and found they actually handled better in the snow than Blizzaks; the only area they really fell short was on ice. I'm very impressed and may make them my next set of year-round tires.

Yeah it was supposed to but it doesn't. I chalk it up to manufacturing tolerances, I don't care enough to literally measure the circumference.

This is a copy and paste from my order

Michelin X-Ice North 4 Studded Tires 215/55R17XL 98T
Item #14047

Aha.... maybe it's because my tires are studded!!!

Studs wouldn’t make a difference. They barely protrude (about 1/32 of an inch). 215/55/17 and 235/45/18 are identical as far as the speedometer is concerned. Just curious, what makes you think your speedometer is off with the 17’s?

I have checked the speed against GPS on a radar detector and a roadside side.

Rest assured, you can trust the laws of physics over GPS and roadside speed signs. Seeing both tires have an overall diameter of 26.3 inches, and revolve 790 times per mile, they can’t affect your speedometer differently.