205/65 R17 Tyres
Everything we know about the 205/65 R17 tyre size: 4 owner reviews covering 43,011 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tyres you can actually buy in it.
- 4owner reviews
- 43,011 milescovered on them
- 37tyres made in this size
205/65 R17 EU tyre label data
EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 205/65 R17 rather than a range across a model. 34 tyres carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 100 (up to 800 kg per tyre). Speed ratings on offer: Y (300 km/h), W (270 km/h), V (240 km/h), H (210 km/h), T (190 km/h), R (170 km/h). 27 tyres in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.
A Best wet grip
5 tyres in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Summer 9.7
- Goodyear Vector All Season 4 All Season 9.7
- Pirelli Cinturato C3 Summer 9.4
- Nokian Snowproof 2 Winter 8.7
- Gripmax SureGrip Pro Winter Winter 7.3
A Lowest rolling resistance
The most fuel efficient choice: 4 tyres in this size reach rolling resistance class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 Summer 8.9
- Vredestein Ultrac Summer 8.7
- Bridgestone Turanza 6 Summer 8.4
- Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 Summer 8.4
66dB Quietest tyres
The quietest 205/65 R17 tyres are labelled at 66 dB external noise:
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 Winter 8.7
- Bridgestone Turanza 6 Summer 8.4
Label values come from the EU EPREL database and apply to the EU market versions of each tyre. Wet grip and rolling resistance run from class A (best) to E; noise is the measured drive-by figure. A good label is a floor, not a verdict - the tests and owner ratings above tell you far more.
What does 205/65 R17 mean?
A 205/65 R17 tyre is 205 mm wide, its sidewall is 65% of that width (133 mm) tall, and it fits a 17 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 698 mm.
| Section width | 205 mm |
|---|---|
| Sidewall height | 133 mm |
| Rim diameter | 17" (432 mm) |
| Overall diameter | ≈ 698 mm |
| Circumference | ≈ 2,194 mm |
| Revolutions per km | ≈ 456 |
| Revolutions per mile | ≈ 734 |
Also written as
205/65R17 205/65 ZR17 205-65-17 205 65 17
Figures are calculated from the nominal size. A loaded, rolling tyre runs a few percent smaller, and true widths vary slightly between makes.
What cars use 205/65 R17 tyres?
The cars most often running this size in our owner reviews. Each links to the best rated tyres for that exact car.
What drivers say about their 205/65 R17 tyres
The most recent owner reviews fitted in this size, in their own words.
Aquaplaning - I was aware of this phenomenon but had never experienced it in over 20 years of driving until I had these, now I can aquaplane with the best of them. In rain the car handles worse than Bambi trying to navigate a glacier after ten vodka red bulls. Yes, I know they are advertised as a summer tyre, but unfortunately I had no choice in this tyre purchase. If you live in an area where it never rains and the temperature never drops below 20 degrees then this is the ideal tyre for you. But if you live in the U.K. and value your life then do not buy these tyres. If you are a fleet manager purchasing tyres for Sun, Daily Mail journalists or Piers Morgan then get your cheque book out immediately.
Drive on 205/65 R17 tyres?
Review your tyres and help the next driver choose. It takes about five minutes, and every review on this page came from a driver who took them.
Where this data comes from
Owner ratings are submitted through the review form on this site, naming the tyre, the size and the distance covered, and are checked by hand before publication. Test results come from independent published tyre tests indexed by size, and label values from the EU EPREL database.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

