Currently I have 205/50/17s all round. The fronts are some cheap ditchfinder things that were on when i got it, and the rears are Continentals that have reached the limit of their life - approx 2mm. Therefore I need some new boots.

I usually go for Bridgestones or Michelins, however, the prices for all tyres I have found are obscene in 205/50r17.

I have the offer of a lot cheaper set of 215/45r17s, with various manufacturers to choose from. My local place keeps alot more in 215/45 and can therefore do me a better deal.

Does anyone run 215/45 instead of 205/50? I have worked the diameter etc out, and the difference is negligible, so that does not worry me. I was thinking maybe with the addition width of a 215/4, it may also help with understeer?

Think I'm right in saying that 215's will throw your speedo out, 225/45 are what most people use including me as the difference is extremely small. I've got 225's at the front and 205's at the back the 205's went up by £20 each in 5 months!

Only difference with 225's is that there's abit more tramlining than with 205's but the upside is loads more grip in the wet and dry

Oh and to make the understeer better fit a rear anti roll bar

I run 225/45/17,s on my octy,look far better on the car than 205/50s

Do people have any trouble with 225's rubbing on back, i got a set of audi s3 wheels to run while i get my spiders refurbed,

I put them on for a few days and they rubbed like hell on back archs, i know there wider rims 7.5 x 17 and a smaller offset 32 instead of spiders 38, but even spiders look close on back with 205's on

my fronts are getting down to legal limit and i have a set off 225/45/17 tyres that i was going to try on spiders before i got them referbed but not got chance to yet

Edited 15 April, 201115 yr by Volvomeg

I also have 225's on mine and had no problems, much cheaper then the 205's when I got them a year ago!

215/45's are only about 1cm smaller in diameter so minimal difference to speedo's, which we know are wrong anyway. I intend to go this route next, as i want a little more tyre width but not too much. 215/45s seem to be about 10-15% cheaper than 205/50s. Not sure how the 225/45s compare?