Tire Size Confusion … What Should I Do?

I own a 2015 Ford Fusion SE and the door sticker says 225/50R17. But three local tire shops told me the correct trim size is 235/50R17. They mentioned my last two sets of tires went bald in the middle because I’m using the wrong size. If the door sticker says 225/50, why does every online tool suggest 235/50? Is the door sticker incorrect? Any advice would be great.

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The SE trim can have different tire sizes. A jump from 225 to 235 isn’t a big deal; I’d go with 235 myself.

Remy said:
The SE trim can have different tire sizes. A jump from 225 to 235 isn’t a big deal; I’d go with 235 myself.

I just don’t get why the door sticker has one size, but every tool I check says another size. Could the sticker be wrong?

@Wylie
No, cars can have various tire sizes. The tools likely go by what’s most common.

Scout said:
@Wylie
No, cars can have various tire sizes. The tools likely go by what’s most common.

So, should I just stick to the size on the sticker and ignore the other tools?

Wylie said:

Scout said:
@Wylie
No, cars can have various tire sizes. The tools likely go by what’s most common.

So, should I just stick to the size on the sticker and ignore the other tools?

It doesn’t really matter much. Changing size by one doesn’t do much.

I use 215/55/r17 since they were on sale. Hit 190k miles. Just buy what you can.

@Scout
Changing one tire size is hardly noticeable. It’s like a mile per hour difference or maybe two? Not sure exactly.

But I’d stick to the sticker size if you have the original wheels. I’ve seen a ton of different stock wheels for these.

Over-inflated tires make the center wear out faster because they bear more of the car’s weight.

They’re giving you info that isn’t accurate since being one size off doesn’t cause your issue.

Keelan said:
Over-inflated tires make the center wear out faster because they bear more of the car’s weight.

They’re giving you info that isn’t accurate since being one size off doesn’t cause your issue.

Thanks, I didn’t know that over-inflation could lead to center tread wear. My front tires have that problem while my rear ones are even without any issue.

Since the VIN is a P0H, it’s an SE FWD gas engine. It should be using P235/50R17 (the hybrid uses P225/50R17), but either size should work on a 7.5-inch wide wheel. That’s not the reason for your wear.

@Winslow
I’m no car expert, but why does the door sticker recommend 225/50 while the actual specs say 235/50? Is that a common mistake? What’s the difference?

Wylie said:
@Winslow
I’m no car expert, but why does the door sticker recommend 225/50 while the actual specs say 235/50? Is that a common mistake? What’s the difference?

The door sticker shows factory tire and speedometer settings. Comparing a P235/50 tire to a P225/50R17 tire, the P235/50 will give a slightly higher speedometer reading since it’s larger and rotates fewer times per mile than the smaller P225/50R17 tire; your speedometer will read faster than your true speed with the larger tire.

My Fusion says 235/40/R19, but I have 235/45/R18s for a better look and ride.

I’d suggest the wider tire for a firmer feel and better grip.

When you compare P235/50 to P225/50R17, the main difference is that P235/50 is wider (235mm versus 225mm), but both have the same sidewall aspect ratio (50%) and fit on a 17-inch wheel (indicated by the R17).

Breakdown:

Width:
P235/50 is wider than P225/50R17, which means better contact with the road for potentially more grip and stability.

Sidewall Height:
Since both have the same sidewall aspect ratio (50%), their sidewall heights will be similar relative to their widths.

The P235/50 will be about a half-inch taller.

Some points to consider:
Handling:
A wider tire (P235/50) can give more grip and stability in turns, though it might make handling a bit less responsive due to the bigger contact area.

Fuel Efficiency:
A wider tire could reduce fuel efficiency just a little due to more rolling resistance.

It’s totally okay since the overall diameter is within 3% margins. Just go for the size that’s on sale or cheaper.