In the somewhat near future, l want to switch and replace my stock gen5 tires, which are currently the 195/60 R17 size. But, for a few reasons, l want to get very slightly wider/taller tires, so l want to get 205/60 R17 tires. The mystery: this size is readily available in several models from several brands throughout the EU and UK. But yet this size is unavailable in ANY brand in the usa, at least, as far as l can tell. Why is this? And will US tire sellers get this size for me if l want it? Without charging me a million dollars?
Sure would be cool if we had a tire expert here... But we don't.... Thought @Mendel Leisk has helped alot in these particular discussions.
They seem to be readily available in the online tire stores; so I'm sure they can be ordered and installed within a week. FWIW; you'll need to check the installing store if they will install a tire outside of OEM specs. I've run into that issue in the past. Most small mom & pops don't care, but chains may bulk.
Really? I looked a bit, but had no luck. Can you give me the names of a few online stores (in the usa) that carry (or can order) some 205/60R17 tires? Or some links? Thanks.
Yeah, thanks, but I have tried that. Because, when one goes to each link in the search results, you find nothing available, or maybe 1 winter-only tire. Nothing close to the many tires in this size that are available in the EU+UK. A winter-only tire is kinda limited, I need all seasons to be able to drive this year round. Nothing for all season tires in size 205/60r17 available from any of the big US online tire shops. Or, at least, that I could find.
This is what I have. Today is Costco's last day for $80 off a set of 4. Looks like Tirerack.com has similar offer with reward card through December 9, 2025. Happy with them. Got them back in 2023.
This is an example of the deteriorated state of the internet these days... Rather than giving you what you're looking for they make money by tricking you into clicking on something that isn't what you want and they make money even though the company paying for those clicks is getting scammed. Enclosed below is an explanation of what they calls this:
Yes, this is common, and that's a good way to describe the modern interwebs. About the tires, l would not find it very puzzling if this size was not made at all (for whatever reason). Because then it would make sense that they're impossible to find. Rather that this size is made in various models by a bunch of tire manufacturers, and that this size seems to be readily available in Europe, but oddly not at all (in all-season or all-weather variants) in the usa.
These are the available sizes. You want one with about the same diameter as yours, which is 26.2”. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/sizes/results.jsp?diameter=17 225/55R17 is perhaps what you need, which is an official optional size with a diameter around 26.8”. There are many tires in that size, including eco tires (see the filters).
Yes, thanks, but I do know how to find tires, and I am familiar with tire rack, and, yes, those seem to be the sizes available in the usa. But the size I want (see O.P., so tire size 205/60R17, which is within 2% of stock size) is made by several tire manufacturers and it is readily available in europe. But yet this size is seems to be unavailable in any all weather or all season tire in the usa, at least as far as l can tell. Why is this? And will US tire sellers get this size for me (without charging me a million dollars) if l want it? That is more what I am asking here.
I had got your OP. I am guessing you can’t get them here, However, you can try calling the manufacturers. That is the only way you can find out for sure.
Thanks, yes, of course I can (and will) do that. But, seeing as the purpose of forums like this is to share info among prius folks, I was just curious if anyone here has searched for this size (or others that seem rare or unavailable in the usa) and maybe had some insights as to 'the why' behind this mystery ...
We've had this discussion on this forum... You can probably find it with a web search. The search box on most websites can't find stuff though... Basically I tried to argue that Toyota's wheel size choices were awful because if you get a flat tire that can't be repaired people aren't able to go to any tire shop and find a tire to get them back on the road. Some Gen5 have waited days and sometimes weeks for something so simple. One Gen5 owner bought more extra tires than the one they needed after it taking so long to find. But then a bunch of people argued that I was wrong and it wasn't an issue... So you'll have to read all the threads and decide for yourself. The fact you started this thread is more proof of the validity of my / our side of the arguement.
Another question would be whether you can change the odometer ratio in the car's brain? I wonder if the tire height of the oem 19's are the same as the oem 17's, or did Toyota tweak the brain a little. I thought @Mendel Leisk said that 215/55/17's are very close in diameter to the oem 19's, but where does that leave the stock 17's. Ordinarily, I would care, but since mpgs are important with this car.... Have to do some research myself.
In a sane world that would be a required feature... But as always, Toyota's proprietary control, as well as obscure wheel and tire decisions has more to do with exclusivity and profit with the tire maker they decided to do business with.
