Winter tyre size question

[Matto]

I have just sourced a set of 17" Classix which I'm going to use for winter and looking to get some tyres fitted to them. After reading reviews etc I think I'm going to go for the Nokian WRA3's. I'm just not too sure what size to fit. From what I gather the standard size for 17's is 225/45/17 (please correct me if I'm wrong).

They also come in sizes 215/45/17 91V XL and 205/50/17 93V XL. The 215's are the cheaper option but the narrower 205 would be better for winter conditions. Plus I think in this size the rolling radius is about the same size as a 225/40/18.

I believe that the correct load and speed rating should be fitted too for safety and insurance purposes but does this cross over when fitting a smaller wheel? Current ones are 92Y.

Just wondering what people on here thought before I go spending monies 

[DFish]

225/40/17 would be the correct from a dealer size.

Fish

[skard]

225 45 17 on a mk5

[malaroo978]

Standard 17" wheel size is 225/45/R17.

Winter tyre standard size is 205/55/R16. Obviously the narrower tyre being better to cut into snow.

If you wanted you can obviously get 205 on a 17. 205/50/17 would keep your rolling diameter the same if you wanted to do this (compared to 225/55/R17)

[Andy]

225/45/17 are the correct size--if you slide in the snow with narrow tyres on them rims it could pop them of the rim

[Eccie]

I run 225/45/17 Nokian winter tyres on the GTI with 17" Monza's.

They are great for the winters we have in the UK, cold, frost & wet, depending on where you are in the country you may get 1 days snow or up to 3-4 weeks of snow. So you want a tyre that works for the majority of the conditions you may encounter. We all know that a thinner tyre is recommended for snow & if we got regular snow through the winter like they do in Sweden or the alps then, I'd probably go thinner, on a thinner wheel.

With the wide range of weather that the uk gets I wanted a tyre that could cope well in most conditions, now that the temp has dropped this week, mine are fantastic at -2 with these frosty mornings and that's what I got them for.

[zerolag]

I'm running 225/40/18 Goodyear Ultragrip Winter Tyres atm, noticeable difference the other morning, when peeps were tail sliding on an untreated roundabout, I had no issues at all.

The temps do have to be quite low to see the benefit though; they are crap in the dry above 15*C, when comparing against a quality summer tyre like Eagle F1 AS2's.
Quiter and better ride comfort though.

In hindsight I would keep the F1's on until it snows.

[bacillus]

fwiw you should inflate your winter tyres 3-5 psi higher than recommended for a summer tyre.

[Matto]

Thanks for the info. I have a set of 16's fitted at the minute with Dunlop Winter Sport 3D's as I don't have any tyres for the 17's and I must say they are shockingly bad. Wheelspins at 1500 rpm in 3rd. Not good. Actually a lot worse than my summers were in the same conditions.

As they are going mad with the salt at the minute I will keep them on until I get some tyres fitted to the 17's then swap them over.

[Matto]

Also when it comes to the load and speed ratings, would a 91V XL be suitable or should it be the 94V XL?

[DFish]

Yeap sorry got the wrong button, 225/45/17. :( You plonker Fish.