[chefpat]

Hi guys i'm writting from Québec, my choice is made for my new shoes and i'm going with 225/45/17, is there somebody here that experienced a very poor MPG with this size of tires or nobody noticed a big difference because with my Volks TDI 2002 there were a huge difference. How much PSI did you inflated your tires?

 

[lg paul]

Im running 225/40/18, which is probably even heavier than a 225/45/17, and I havent noticed any reduction in mileage from my 205/50/17s. Of course, it all depends on the weight of the tires and their rolling resistance.

 

[Zarzthor]

When I was running that size on my old '04 I didn't notice any reduction in mileage. Averaged 29mpg mixed city/hwy driving and I have a heavy foot on the hwy.

 

[wetsuitxninja]

Still getting +28 even with 225s and a roof rack :lol: Cant be much happier without going to a boring car.

 

[HeaTransfer]

I went from 205/50/17 to 225/50/16. I would say that the fuel economy with the 225 setup is worse by about 10%.

Here are other variables:
- the 225s on 16s are lighter than stock
- the 225s are shorter than stock so shorten the gearing, which decreases fuel economy. You will notice that a 225/45/17 is also "shorter" than stock.
- the 225s are wider and are a much stickier compound.
- I probably drive harder on the 225s.

 

[kendalf]

[quote author=HeaTransfer link=topic=70955.msg1248747#msg1248747 date=1173067895]
- the 225s are shorter than stock so shorten the gearing, which decreases fuel economy. You will notice that a 225/45/17 is also "shorter" than stock.
- the 225s are wider and are a much stickier compound.
- I probably drive harder on the 225s.

[/quote]

225/45R17 is actually the same diameter as the stock 205/50/17, so you won't have any difference in gearing. I do agree that wider tires and a more high performance, stickier compound can have an effect on mileage, and more so if you drive harder on the better tires.

I went from the stock Goodyears to Max Performance 225/45ZR17s, and I haven't noticed any difference in gas mileage. Of course, it's appropriate to add, YMMV!

In the end, I wouldn't let gas mileage sway your choice of wheels and tires, as the effect on mileage from just changing to the wider tires will not be drastic. There were probably other factors that caused you to have much poorer mileage with your Volks.

EDIT: corrected tire size

 

[HeaTransfer]

I'm gonna be super anal and say that 225/455/17 is a bit shorter than stock size, cuz it is :thebeansoldier:

(24.97" vs 25.07"; the 225/50/16s are not much shorter either at 24.85")

 

[HouRman]

225 45R17 will display 59.8mph when you're really going 60mph. Thus, it's 0.4% fast.

Not really a significant number, but it's still there.

 

[kendalf]

I concede. There is a 0.1" difference.

By any chance are you an engineer? Don't take that the wrong way; I'm a Physics person and I've done more than my share of pointing out minute differences! :lol: