225 50r17 vs 225 55r17 Tire – Learn the Differences

Are you thinking about choosing the best tire for your vehicle and want to pick between the 225 50r17 and 225 55r17 tires? Then you are in absolute luck today because we have designed this article just to cover this purpose only.

The 225 50r17 vs 225 55r17 tires is an informative article that will tell you all about the big and small differences between these two tires. Moreover, the knowledge that you will get from reading this article will help you massively to learn the ins and outs of these two tires.

So, if you are looking to invest in one of these tires, don’t skip anything and read the article thoroughly trust me you will love every bit of this.

225/50r17 vs 225/55r17 Tires: Numerical Table of Differences

This table shows all the numerical differences between the 225 50r17 and 225 55r17 tires. You can know about all the little differences that these two tires possess only by looking at the table. The table is given below: –

Main Points	225/50r17 Tires	225/55r17 Tires	Differences
Overall Diameter	25.86 inches	26.74 inches	0.88 inches
Section Width	8.86 inches	8.86 inches	None
Radius	12.93 inches	13.37 inches	0.44 inches
Circumference	81.24 inches	84.02 inches	2.78 inches
Sidewall Height	4.43 inches	4.87 inches	0.44 inches
Revs Per Mile	804	778	26
Tread Depth	9.5/32 inches	9.5/32 inches	None
Rim Diameter	17 inches	17 inches	None
Tire Type	A-Radial Ply Tire	A-Radial Ply Tire	None
Tire Weight	20 lbs	20 lbs	None

225 50R17 vs 225 55R17 Tires – Discussion on Differences

Now, it’s time to discuss all the differences in a detailed manner so that you can learn about the differences better. Here goes the discussion: –

Overall Diameter

At the very onset, we are going to discuss the overall diameter of the two tires. The overall diameter of a tire is important because it affects the handling of a vehicle. It also affects the fuel economy of your vehicle and gives you an amazing driving experience. In short, it affects and controls your vehicle’s whole drive train.

• The overall diameter of 225 50r17 tires is 25.86 inches
• The overall diameter of 225 55r17 tires is 26.74 inches
• The difference between the two is 0.88 inches.
• Percentage-wise, the difference is 3.4%
• The 225 55r17 tires have slightly more overall diameter

Section Width

The cross-section width or section width of a tire is important because it determines which type of tire is suitable for your vehicle. It is usually measured from one sidewall to the other. It usually affects your vehicle’s traction, steering response, and ride comfort as well.

• The section width of 225 50r17 tires is 8.86 inches
• The section width of 225 55r17 tires is 8.86 inches
• The difference between the two tires in terms of section width is zero

Radius

The radius of your tires is another important factor that you must not take lightly. It affects the various aspects of your vehicle, such as acceleration and deceleration, anti-lock braking system, stability calibration system, speedometer readings, and much more. It also helps you a lot to buy and fit the spare parts of the tires easily.

• The radius of 225 50r17 tires is 12.93 inches 
• The radius of 225 55r17 tires is 13.37 inches
• The difference in radius between the two tires is 0.44 inches
• The 225 55r17 tires have slightly more radius than the 225 50r17 tires

Circumference

The circumference of a tire refers to the distance it travels in a single revolution. It improves the stability of the vehicle. It affects the gear ratio and speedometer reading of your vehicle. Moreover, it also influences and controls the acceleration process of your vehicle as well.

• The circumference of 225 50r17 tires is 81.24 inches
• The circumference of 225 55r17 tires is 84.02 inches
• The difference between the two stands at 2.78 inches
• Percentage-wise, the difference is 3.4%
• The 225 55r17 tires have slightly more circumference than the 225 50r17 tires

Sidewall Height

Knowing the exact sidewall height of a tire is useful because it is responsible for providing better handling to the vehicle. It also provides an improved grip and gives more flexibility to the vehicle. In short, it offers a more comfortable driving experience to you.

• The sidewall height of 225 50r17 tires is 4.16 inches
• The sidewall height of 225 55r17 tires is 4.87 inches
• The difference between the two is 0.44 inches
• Percentage-wise, the difference is 10%
• The 225 55r17 tires have a bit more sidewall height than the 225 50r17 tires

Revs Per Mile

The revolution per mile or RPM usually means the exact number of times the tire will revolve or make a full round in the process of making a distance of 1 mile. It is important because it protects the car from vibration.

It also protects the gearbox from overheating. Moreover, it provides additional protection from aquaplaning as well. So, it needs no telling that the importance of RPM of a tire is huge for prolonging the lifespan of the engine. 

• The RPM of 225 50r17 tires is 804
• The RPM of 225 55r17 tires is 778
• The difference between the two in terms of RPM is 26
• Percentage-wise, the difference is 3.3%
• The 225 50r17 tires have a slightly more RPM than the 225 50r17 tires

Tread Depth

The tread depth of a tire influences the overall speed of the vehicle. It usually affects the traction and also provides driving safety to the vehicle. It also affects the controlling system of the vehicle and provides additional protection from aquaplaning as well.

• The tread depth of 225 50r17 tires is 9/32 inches
• The tread depth of 225 55r17 tires is 9/32 inches as well
• In terms of tread depth, there is no difference between the two tires.

Rim Diameter

The rim or wheel diameter is usually measured in inches across the face of the vehicle. And it is done from one beat seat to the other. A wider rim diameter provides additional driving safety and helps your vehicle to carry more load than usual. It affects both the range of the braking system and also the overall speed of the vehicle as well.

• The rim diameter of 225 50r17 tires is 17 inches  
• The rim diameter of 225 55r17 tires is also 17 inches
• In the case of the rim diameter, there is no difference between the two tires.

Tire Type

It is a great thing that both tires have a radial construction type. In the case of the radial tire construction type, the tire not only provides superb performance but also has a solid reputation in the marketplace as well.  Some of the main advantages of a radial tire construction are given below: –

• Enhances the lifespan of the tire
• Offers less vibration. 
• Withstands heavy load and pressure.
• Offers better handling to the vehicle.
• Provides a lower fuel consumption rate
• Offers flex to the sidewall.
• Provides improved traction.
• Offers a smoother cut resistance.

Tire Weight

The weight of the vehicle is very crucial because it adds to the overall weight of the vehicle. It usually affects the handling of the vehicle. Moreover, it also affects the cornering of the vehicle a lot. Besides influencing the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, it also affects the cornering rate of the vehicle.

• The typical weight for the 225 50r17 tires is 20 lbs  
• The typical weight for the 225 55r17 tires is also 20 lbs as well.
• The difference between the two is absolutely zero.
• Both of the tires don’t add any weight to the vehicle.

225 50R17 vs 225 55R17 Tires – More Numerical Differences

The 225 50r17 and 225 55r17 tires have some additional numerical differences that make these tires quite unique from some of the other tires. These differences are shown in the table below:

Now, let us discuss the differences in detail so that you may have a proper idea of what these tires are all about. The discussions are as follows:

Rim Width Range

The rim width range of tires is one of the most crucial things to consider while choosing a specific type of tire because it determines which tire will fit the vehicle easily. It generally affects the handling, rolling resistance, contact patches, and overall performance of the vehicle. Moreover, the friction between the wheel and the road also gets controlled by this.

• The rim width range of the 225 50r17 tires is 6.00-8.00 inches
• The rim width range of the 225 55r17 tires is also 6.00-8.00 inches. So,
• There is no difference between the two tires in this regard. 

Actual Speed

The actual speed knowledge of a tire is important because it gives us a clear idea about the actual speed capacity of a vehicle. This aspect of the tire helps the vehicle to reach the top speed quite easily. Moreover, it makes the acceleration process much easier as well.

• The actual speed of the 225 50r17 tires is 62.14 mph
• The actual speed of the 225 55r17 tires is 60.08 mph
• The difference between the two is 2.06 mph.
• The 225 50r17 tires have a higher speed than the 225 55r17 tires

Max PSI

Pound-force per square inch or PSI is the name of a measuring unit that we use to measure the pressure of liquids and gasses. The Standard PSI for every tire is around 32-40. It provides riding comfort, better handling, and driving safety. It also affects the fuel consumption rate of a vehicle.

• The max PSI for the 225 50r17 tires is 51 
• The max PSI for the 225 55r17 tires is also 51. So,
• There is no difference between the two tires at this point.

Max Load

The max load indicator tells a lot about the strength of a given tire. It also provides us with valuable information about the lifespan of a tire. Usually, larger tires can carry more loads than smaller tires.

• The max load of the 225 50r17 tires is 1477 lbs
• The max load of the 225 55r17 tires is 1609 lbs
• The difference between the two is 132 lbs
• The 225 55r17 tires can carry 132 pounds more load.

Max Speed

The max speed indicator tells us valuable information about the fastness of a tire. It usually increases the acceleration capacity of a tire and makes it swift as well. Usually, smaller tires have more speed.

• The max speed for the 225 50r17 tires is 149 mph
• The max speed for the 225 55r17 tires is 118 mph
• The difference between the two is 31 mph
• The 225 50r17 tires have more max speed

Sidewall Letters

The sidewall of a tire contains very useful information regarding its history, aspect ratio, speed rating, and the actual size of the tires. So, if you want to have a quick look at the specs of a given type of tire then the sidewall letters will help you a lot.

• The sidewall letters for the 225 50r17 tires are in black
• The sidewall letters for the 225 55r17 tires are in black as well. So,
• There is no difference between the two tires in this regard

Speedometer Reading

The speedometer reading of a tire informs us about the authentic speed of a tire. It tells us how fast a tire rotates while running at its full speed. It also tells us about the actual circumference of a given tire.

• The speedometer reading for the 225 50r17 tires is 100 km/h
• The speedometer reading for the 225 55r17 tires is 96.69 km/h
• The difference between the two is 3.31 km/h

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of the people who own a vehicle ask many questions regarding the various types of tires and their specifications. Some of the most frequently asked questions are discussed below: –

Final Thoughts

The 225 50r17 vs 225 55r17 tires is an informative article that discusses and shows all the important differences between these two types of tires. Both of these tires are very unique and different from each other in every aspect.

Moreover, they have a very good reputation in the market. So, if you want to make an investment in these tires, you can certainly do it without any hesitation whatsoever.

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