205/50R17 in inches

A 205/50R17 tire is 25.1″ tall and 8.1″ wide, and fits a 17″ wheel. In inches it is written 25.1×8.1R17.

Diameter25.07″

Width8.07″

Sidewall4.04″

Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.

Manufacturer data

How tall 205/50R17 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General, Michelin and Toyo for all 20 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 24.3–24.4″ under load (below).

Real 205/50R17 tires measure 25.10–25.12″, against 25.07″ from the size code. Every one runs taller than the size code.

Height under load24.3–24.4″

Published revs per mile (827–829) mean the tire rolls like a 24.3–24.4″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread19.9–24.3 lb

The lightest (General G-MAX RS, XL) is 4.4 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A, XL).

20 tires in 205/50R17

Sort by the spec you care about.

	Load					Revs/mi	Source
General G-MAX RSPerformance	XL · 93W	25.10	19.9	10.0	1,433	829	Spec page
General G-MAX AS07Performance	XL · 93W	25.10	20.4	10.0	1,433	829	Spec page
Toyo CelsiusAll-weather	SL · 93V	25.12	20.7	10.1	1,433	827	Spec page
Toyo Celsius SportPerformance	XL · 93V	25.12	20.7	9.9	1,433	827	Spec page
Toyo Extensa HP IIPerformance	XL · 93W	25.12	20.7	9.1	1,433	827	Spec page
Toyo Celsius IITouring	XL · 93V	25.12	21.3	10.8	1,433	827	Spec page
General AltiMAX RT45Touring	XL · 93V	25.10	21.6	11.0	1,433	829	Spec page
General AltiMAX RT45Touring	XL · 93H	25.10	21.7	11.0	1,433	829	Spec page
General AltiMAX365 AWTouring	XL · 93V	25.10	21.9	11.0	1,433	829	Spec page
Toyo Extensa A/S IIAll-season	XL · 93V	25.12	21.9	10.3	1,433	827	Spec page
Michelin X-Ice SnowWinter	XL · 93H	25.12	22.3	10.5	1,433	828	Spec page
Michelin CrossClimate2All-season	XL · 93V	25.10	22.5	10.0	1,433	828	Spec page
Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4Performance	XL · 93Y	25.10	23.1	10.0	1,433	828	Spec page
Toyo Observe G3-IceWinter	SL · 89T	25.12	23.1	11.3	1,279	827	Spec page
Toyo Proxes R888RPerformance	SL · 89W	25.12	23.1	6.3	1,279	827	Spec page
BFGoodrich Advantage ControlAll-season	XL · 93V	25.12	24.0	10.5	1,433	828	Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUSPerformance	XL · 93Y	25.12	24.0	9.0	1,433	828	Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/APerformance	XL · 93W	25.12	24.3	8.5	1,433	828	Spec page
Michelin Defender2All-season	XL · 93H	25.10	24.3	10.5	1,433	828	Spec page
General AltiMAX Arctic XWinter	XL · 93T	25.10	–	12.0	1,433	829	Spec page

Is 205/50R17 a 25-inch tire?

≈25″

Yes. The size code works out to 25.07″, and the 20 tires here publish 25.10–25.12″, so people call it a 25.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

Size	Diameter ″	vs 205/50R17	Difference
215/45R17	24.62	-0.45″	-1.8%
245/40R17	24.72	-0.35″	-1.4%
225/45R17	24.97	-0.10″	-0.4%
255/40R17	25.03	-0.04″	-0.2%
235/45R17	25.33	+0.26″	+1.0%
265/40R17	25.35	+0.28″	+1.1%
215/50R17	25.46	+0.39″	+1.6%
275/40R17	25.66	+0.59″	+2.4%
245/45R17	25.68	+0.61″	+2.4%
315/35R17	25.68	+0.61″	+2.4%

How to read 205/50R17

How to read any tire size

How 205/50R17 93V is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 20 tires here (7 of them); tires in this size come in other load and speed ratings too.

1205Section width

205 mm across the widest point, or 8.07 inches. Every 205 size

250Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 50% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 102.5 mm or 4.04 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

417Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 17-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 5.5″ to 7.5″.

593Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,433 lb (650 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6VSpeed rating

Rated for up to 149 mph sustained.

XLExtra load

Printed after the size. In this size the XL tires carry up to 1,433 lb each and the standard-load tires up to 1,433 lb, as published.

Specification	Inches	Metric
Overall diameter	25.07	637 mm
Section width	8.07	205 mm
Sidewall height	4.04	102.5 mm
Circumference	78.8	2,001 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)	804.4	500 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)	827–829	514–515 per km
Approved wheel width	5.5–7.5	140–191 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 205/50R17

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 205/50R17

What is 205/50R17 in inches?

25.07 inches tall, 8.07 inches wide, on a 17-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 25.1×8.1R17.

How much does a 205/50R17 tire weigh?

Between 19.9 lb and 24.3 lb for the 19 tires listed here. The lightest is the General G-MAX RS (XL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A (XL).

What wheel width do I need for 205/50R17?

Manufacturers approve 5.5–7.5″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 205/50R17 make?

Published figures run 827–829 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 804.4, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 205/50R17 than 255/40R17?

0.04 inches taller on paper (25.07″ vs 25.03″), which raises the axle about 0.02″. Your speedometer will read about 0.2% slow.