Can I buy a bigger tire size for my performance rims?

Question

I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant ES V6 and I bought it with aftermarket Proline performance wheels, I've been having problems with the tires going flat even if I hit a small bump or even a pothole my question is can I put a regular bigger/thicker tire on the rim instead of those performance tires so that the tire does not go flat so easily? The tire size is 205/40R17. Please let me know.

Answer 1

Hate to say it but you screwed the pooch badly on the tire size.

205/40R17 XL 84 is the upgrade for early-mid 90's Honda Civic compact cars that came originally with 13 or 14 inch wheels, not your bigger, heavier, mid-size Galant that came with 16-inch wheels. Those tires are woefully inadequate and possibly dangerous on your car.

When plus-sizing the two goals you need to achieve:  Matching the overall diameter and circumference of the original tires (+/-3%) and matching the load carrying capacity of the original tires.

The P205/55R16 89H sized tires originally fitted to your vehicle have an approximate overall diameter of 24.9 inches, rotate 838 times per mile and have a load carrying capacity of 1,213 pounds at 32 psi (front) and 1,069 pounds at 29 psi (rear).  

Those are your targets.

A tire sized 205/40R17 XL 84 has an overall diameter of just 23.5 inches, rotates 886 times per mile and at 32 psi carries a load of only 882 pounds.  That is the same as running the stock tires underinflated by about 12 psi!  

Get those tires off immediately.  They don't belong on this car and shame on the tire shop that mounted them for you.

What you should be using is either a 225/45R17 90H or 225/45R17 91H (or any higher speed rating) which will have the right diameter of 25.0 inches/833 rotations per mile and carries sufficient load so you don't even have to change tire pressures.  32/29 will work just fine.  This tire will have quite a bit more sidewall to absorb impact damage and won't be grossly overloaded like your current hoops.

Answer 2

Do not see why not. Take to any tire shop for a recommendation on what will work.

Answer 3

That all depends on the room you have to go bigger without rubbing. if your tire size is 205/40r17 the second number (40) is the number that will change the profile of the tire so you should ask your tire store if a 45 or anything bigger would fit. but its not always the tire size that does that i have a Camaro with 20s and my tires are smaller than yours they are 35r20s which makes my sidewall a bit smaller and i have no problems i even have to drive on 7 miles of gravel every day. so what i am saying is maybe you have a cheap crappy tire on it and you could try buying a more expensive and better tire.

Answer 4

The main thing that you are going to run into is rubbing issues.  Generally with 17" rims you are limited to a 40 or 50 tire when stock tires are usually 55's.  Check your clearances with the wheel turned all the way to the right and left and see if you are going to be able to fit a taller tire on there.  You should be able to find a good set of 205/50R17 for your car if they will fit without rubbing.

Answer 5

try a 215 on it