215/45-17 size, is it legal???

[Garretto]

Hi

I was asking for prices of 215/45-17 at a tire retailer and they told me that this size is not equivalent to the celica stock size (which I know), and he suggested I might have problems with the insurance in case of an accident. They said the insurance company could claim that the wheel diameter is bigger than what's stated in the technical sheet of the car, so not a proper size, and then refuse to pay for the damage.

Did you ever hear something like that? I've always seen people here at NC.org not worrying too much about tire sizes and legal matters. I'm from Spain, maybe it is different in the US?

[hellr]

Might be different in the US. It sounds sort of silly to me since they could possibly say that by you having worn tires (3/32 inch tread instead of 9 or 10/32 inch tread) that you aren't running at the stock wheel diameter. I don't think it is something that an insurance company would be able to prove that easily. There isn't really a standard throughout the industry as far as wheel diameters go so for you to maintain the same exact wheel diameter you would practically have to buy the same brand/model tire that came stock on the car.

[z6joker9]

i've always used 215/45/17s, i've never heard of that rule, but as stated it might be different there. i cannot see how that little of a difference could have an adverse effect on anything though. at high speeds your speedo will be a few MPH off, but it is at highspeeds always anyway.