How much does a225/50 R17tyre cost?
The comfort-biased sibling of 225/45 R17. Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Mondeo, Audi A5, Skoda Superb fitments. Taller sidewall, smoother ride, less stiff handling. £92-£128 mid-range, £130-£195 premium fitted.
The touring-saloon size
Why 225/50 R17 over 225/45 R17
225/50 R17 lives at the comfort end of the 17-inch family. Compared to its 225/45 R17 sibling, the 50-series profile gives an extra 11mm of sidewall height: 112mm versus 101mm. That extra cushion translates to a more compliant ride over pothole-strewn UK B-roads, better small-impact absorption, and lower likelihood of pothole-related rim damage. The trade-off is slightly slower turn-in response and a marginal increase in body roll under hard cornering, which is why performance trims tend to specify 225/45 R17 while touring and comfort-oriented trims stick with 225/50 R17.
The OE fitment list is heavy on mid-size estates and touring saloons. Vauxhall Insignia. Ford Mondeo Mk4 and Mk5. Audi A5 base trim. Volkswagen Passat. Skoda Superb mid-trim. Renault Talisman. Peugeot 508. BMW 3 Series Touring on certain trim combinations. Drivers of these cars typically prioritise long-distance comfort over circuit-style handling, and the slightly taller 50-series profile delivers that.
Pricing at this size sits roughly 20 to 30 per cent above the same brand and model in 205/55 R16, and within a few pounds of equivalent 225/45 R17. A Continental PremiumContact 7 in 225/50 R17 in May 2026 fits at roughly £115 to £135 per tyre; the same model in 225/45 R17 is £125 to £148. The 45-series profile carries a small additional premium for the lower-aspect-ratio compound. Across a set of 4, the difference is £40 to £52, which is more or less the cost of upgrading to a slightly better brand.
The best mid-range options at this size in 2026 are the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2, the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 and the Avon ZV7. All three deliver 28,000 to 35,000 mile typical tread life with B wet-grip ratings. The Goodyear stands out for cabin quietness, which matters most on the touring-saloon use case. The Hankook is the price leader. The Avon is the British-developed option tuned specifically for UK road surfaces.
At the premium end, Continental PremiumContact 7, Michelin Primacy 4+ and Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 are the three to know. All three are A wet-grip rated. The Continental and Michelin trade leads on comfort, quietness and tread life depending on the year of the test cycle; both are excellent. For the heavier estate variants (Mondeo Estate, Passat Estate, Skoda Superb Estate), check the load index carefully; some estates need the 98 load rating rather than the 94 found on the saloon variant.
Where to buy at 225/50 R17 specifically: Costco UK (if a member) usually wins on Michelin and Continental at this size. Blackcircles often leads on price across mid-range and premium brands. Halfords (Motoring Club) is within a few pounds of Kwik Fit on most lines. Independent garages can be competitive but stock varies; this is a high-enough-volume size that any decent independent should keep a couple of brands ready.
FAQ
225/50 R17 tyre cost, common questions
How much does a 225/50 R17 tyre cost in 2026?+
A 225/50 R17 tyre costs £78 to £108 mid-range and £115 to £170 premium per tyre before fitting in 2026. With fitting, totals are £92 to £128 mid-range and £130 to £195 premium fitted. A set of 4 mid-range tyres typically lands at £370 to £510 fitted.
Which cars use 225/50 R17 tyres?+
225/50 R17 is the OE fitment on Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Mondeo Mk4 and Mk5, Audi A5 base trim, Skoda Superb mid-trim, Volkswagen Passat, Renault Talisman, Peugeot 508, BMW 3 Series Touring (some trims) and several mid-size saloons and estates. The size sits between the sporty 225/45 R17 and the SUV-leaning 225/55 R17.
How is 225/50 R17 different from 225/45 R17?+
Same section width (225mm) and same rim size (17 inches), but 225/50 has a 5-percentage-point taller sidewall: 112mm vs 101mm. The taller sidewall delivers a more compliant ride and better pothole resistance, at the cost of slightly slower turn-in response and slightly more body roll in cornering. Manufacturers spec 225/50 on comfort-biased touring saloons and 225/45 on performance variants of the same chassis.
What is the best 225/50 R17 tyre in 2026?+
For most UK drivers on this fitment, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the strongest all-rounder: A wet grip, excellent ride compliance, 35,000-mile typical tread life. The Michelin Primacy 4+ is the closest alternative, slightly quieter on motorway but slightly less sharp on dry handling. For mid-range, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and Hankook Ventus Prime 4 are both highly regarded; the Goodyear edges ahead on quietness, the Hankook on price.
Is 225/50 R17 more expensive than 205/55 R16?+
Yes, typically by 20 to 30 per cent per tyre at the same brand and model. The 17-inch rim and the wider 225mm section width both add cost. A Continental PremiumContact 7 in 225/50 R17 costs roughly £115 to £135 in May 2026 versus £95 to £115 for the same model in 205/55 R16.
Does my Vauxhall Insignia need run-flat at this size?+
No, the Vauxhall Insignia ships with a tyre repair kit and conventional (non-RFT) tyres at 225/50 R17. Most touring-saloon fitments at this size are non-RFT. Run-flat is more typical on the 225/45 R17 BMW 3 Series fitment where the chassis was specifically configured for the stiffer RFT sidewall.
Sources: Prices observed at SW1A postcode during May 2026. EU wet-grip per EPREL. OE fitment via manufacturer UK brochures 2016 onwards. Editorially independent; our pricing is not influenced by any tyre retailer or manufacturer.