205/50R17 tires

205/50R17 is a compact-car size: the Nissan Sentra SR and SL from 2013 to 2019, the Nissan Versa SR since 2020, and the Mazda3 s from 2010 to 2013. It is about 25 inches tall and fits 17-inch wheels from 5.5 to 7.5 inches wide. Below are real prices for 233 tires in stock, three picks with the specifications behind them, and why the premium pick in this size needs a second look.

What 205/50R17 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $364 to $556, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 205/50R17 tire in stock at SimpleTire

Extra load and standard load in one size

205/50R17 is sold in two load ratings: 93 extra-load (XL) and 89 standard-load. Our budget and mid-range picks are listed today as 93W, and the Pirelli as 89V. A higher load index than the placard is always acceptable; a lower one is not. Check the sticker on the driver's door pillar of your Sentra, Versa or Mazda3 and compare the number before the speed letter.

The size also leans sporty. Many tires sold in it are ultra-high-performance all-seasons with W speed ratings, shorter warranties and sharper steering than a touring tire. On a commuter car that is more tire than it needs; on a Mazda3 s it suits the car's character.

Same name, different season

Pirelli uses the Cinturato P7 name for both summer and all-season tires. Tiresize.com lists the plain Cinturato P7 in this size as a summer tire, and the retailer's page for that line says it should not be used when temperatures stay below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The all-season versions carry the words All Season in the model name. Before you order the premium pick, read the full model name on the listing.

For a car driven year-round in a state with real winters, the Continental is the safer choice of the three, or a dedicated winter tire on a second set of wheels.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 205/50R17 tire is 205 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 50 percent of that (about 4.0 inches tall), and it mounts on a 17-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 25.1 inches. Every replacement has to match all three numbers, and the load index and speed rating on the placard inside the driver's door have to be met or exceeded.

In this size our picks are marked 89V on the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season (1,279 lb per tire, rated to 149 mph). The first number is the load index, the letter the speed rating; a tire with equal or higher values than your placard is fine, a lower one is not.

Our guide on reading a tire size walks through the markings, and this one lists every load index and speed code.

Our three picks, side by side

One tire at each price level from what the retailer stocks in this size, with the mileage warranty and UTQG grades as published by the manufacturers and their retailers. Treadwear is the number to compare: it is a relative wear rate, so 700 should last roughly twice as long as 350 on the same car.

Kumho Ecsta PA51, $112.99. Kumho's ultra-high-performance all-season, with a 45,000-mile warranty on replacement tires and a 500 treadwear grade in a representative size. It is listed here as, an extra-load tire, and it gives a Sentra SR or Mazda3 s crisp steering at a modest price.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, $182.99. Continental's UHP all-season, with a 50,000-mile warranty on non-staggered fitments and the SportPlus+ compound for wet and light-snow grip. It is listed as in this size, and it is the best year-round tire of the three.

Pirelli Cinturato P7, $317.52. A grand-touring tire with low rolling resistance, listed as 89V in this size, which is a lower load index than the other two. Tiresize.com classifies the plain P7 in this size as a summer tire; confirm the season on the listing if you drive through winter.

What 205/50R17 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 302 tires listed in this size, 233 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Ferentino Eternopresa at $63.96, a 89V tire. The median is $111.96; a third of the tires cost $90.99 or less, and the top five percent start above $222.06. Those are per-tire prices before mounting and balancing, which adds $15 to $45 per tire at most shops, read from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

The same tires in neighboring sizes

The Kumho Ecsta PA51, our budget pick here at $112.99, is also stocked in 215/45R18 ($119.96), 205/45R17 ($115.99), 215/45R17 ($119.99) and 225/45R17 ($176.96). The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, our mid-range pick here at $182.99, is also stocked in 215/45R18 ($189.99), 215/45R17 ($176.99), 225/45R17 ($174.99) and 245/45R17 ($217.99). Useful if your vehicle came with a different wheel package, or if you are comparing an upsize: the same tire usually costs more per inch of wheel, not per inch of rubber. Prices per tire, from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

Winter on a compact car in this size

Compact cars are nearly all front-wheel drive, and that is what the traction laws look at. In Colorado the Passenger Vehicle Traction Law applies on the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 to May 31: a two-wheel-drive car must be on tires marked M+S, 3PMSF or rated all-weather by the manufacturer, with at least 3/16 inch of tread, and fines start at $130. Most all-season tires in this size are M+S rated, so the marking is usually there; the tread depth is what catches older tires. A light car on narrow tires actually does well in snow because the tire cuts down to the road instead of floating on it, so a dedicated winter set in this same size, swapped on in November, is the simplest upgrade if you live where it snows.

None of our picks in this size, the Kumho Ecsta PA51 and Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 205/50R17

• Nissan Sentra (2013-2019, SR/SL)
• Mazda3 (2010-2013, s)
• Nissan Versa (2020-2024, SR)

The 2014 to 2018 Kia Forte EX and the 2013 to 2017 Hyundai Elantra GT use 215/45R17 on their 17-inch wheels, not this size.

Which type of 205/50R17 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 205/50R17 tires cost?

Expect $64–$91 per tire for a budget brand, $91–$139 for a mid-range tire like the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, and $139–$222 for a premium tire like the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season. A set of four therefore starts at about $256. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 205/50R17 tires?

205/50R17 is original equipment on Nissan Sentra (2013-2019, SR/SL), Mazda3 (2010-2013, s) and Nissan Versa (2020-2024, SR), among others. Always confirm with the sticker inside your driver's door, because trim levels and wheel packages can change the size.

What is the best 205/50R17 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, is the sweet spot of price and tread life. If you keep the vehicle a long time or drive in heavy rain and snow, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Kumho Ecsta PA51 is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 205/50R17 tires?

On a front- or rear-wheel-drive car, yes: replace in pairs on the same axle and put the newer pair on the rear. On all-wheel-drive vehicles most makers want all four replaced together, or a new tire shaved to match, because a difference in circumference strains the drivetrain.