235/45R17 tires

235/45R17 is the size Subaru put on the 2015 to 2021 WRX in base, Premium and Limited trim, which makes it the reference size for a whole community of enthusiast drivers. It also appears on early-2000s Volvo S60 T5s. Below are real prices for 179 tires in stock, three very different picks, a summer tire, a run-flat and a long-wearing all-season, and how to choose between them.

What 235/45R17 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $364 to $583, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 235/45R17 tire in stock at SimpleTire

WRX owners: summer tire or all-season

Our mid pick in this size is a summer tire. Dunlop designs it for warm weather, with a compound that gives strong dry and wet grip and short braking distances at speed, and the price of that grip is a treadwear grade of only 240, less than half that of the Milestar. On a WRX driven hard that can mean a new set every couple of seasons. All-wheel drive helps the car accelerate, not stop, so it does not change the choice. If the WRX is your only car and it sees a northern winter, the summer tire only works as one half of a two-set plan.

In the Sun Belt, or as the warm-season half of a two-set plan, the summer tire is the one that makes the car feel the way it was meant to.

A run-flat on a car that did not come with one

The Bridgestone pick is a run-flat tire that can be driven up to 50 miles after a puncture, so you can reach a shop instead of changing a wheel on the shoulder. It fits any car in this size, not only those that left the factory on run-flats. The trade-offs are weight and ride: in this size it is about 27 pounds, three more than the Milestar, and the stiffer sidewall is noticeable over sharp bumps. Because a run-flat looks normal when it has lost pressure, it relies on the car's tire pressure warning to tell you; make sure the system works before you depend on it.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 235/45R17 tire is 235 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 45 percent of that (about 4.2 inches tall), and it mounts on a 17-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 25.3 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 97V on the Milestar MS932 Sport (1,609 lb per tire, rated to 149 mph) and 94W on the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT and Bridgestone DriveGuard (1,477 lb per tire, rated to 168 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.

Milestar MS932 Sport, $91.96. The sensible daily tire for the price: an extra-load 97V all-season graded 540 A A, with 10/32 inch of tread and a 60,000-mile warranty for this V-rated size.

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, $271.96. A true summer tire for drivers who use the WRX's chassis: big shoulder blocks, a grip-focused compound and braking blocks designed for short stops at speed. It is graded 240 A A, which means fast wear, and it is not meant for near-freezing temperatures. Dunlop gives it no mileage warranty in this size.

Bridgestone DriveGuard, $180.40. Bridgestone's run-flat touring tire, drivable for up to 50 miles after a puncture. In this W-rated size the warranty is 50,000 miles (60,000 in H, T and V sizes), the grade is 460 A A, and it is the heaviest pick at 27.2 pounds.

What 235/45R17 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 247 tires listed in this size, 179 are in stock today. The median is $107.96; a third of the tires cost $90.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $228.99. 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 Milestar MS932 Sport, our budget pick here at $91.96, is also stocked in 235/55R17 ($119.99), 205/60R16 ($86.96), 225/40R18 ($90.99) and 225/50R18 ($94.96). The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, our mid-range pick here at $271.96, is also stocked in 235/35R19 ($347.96). The Bridgestone DriveGuard, our premium pick here at $180.40, is also stocked in 285/45R21 ($488.99). 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 and this size: summer tires are not winter tires

Many tires sold in this size are summer tires, and the manufacturers advise against driving them in near-freezing temperatures: the compound hardens, grip drops sharply and the tread can crack. They also carry no M+S or 3PMSF marking, so a car on summer tires fails Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law outright on the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, in force from September 1 to May 31, unless it is all-wheel drive with at least 3/16 inch of tread; fines start at $130. If the car is driven year-round in a state with real winters, either run an all-season or all-weather tire in this size or keep a second set of winter tires, often on a smaller, narrower wheel that is also less expensive.

Vehicles that came with 235/45R17

• Subaru WRX (2015-2021)
• Chevrolet Camaro (2016-2023, upsize from 245/50R18)
• Acura TSX (2004-2008)
• Volvo S60 (2001-2009, T5)
• BMW 3 Series (2006-2011, sport 17 in)

Not every car on this list came on 235/45R17 from the factory; the Camaro entry is an upsize, and several others used different sizes by year, so check the placard.

Which type of 235/45R17 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 235/45R17 tires cost?

Expect $70–$91 per tire for a budget brand, $91–$146 for a mid-range tire like the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, and $146–$229 for a premium tire like the Bridgestone DriveGuard. A set of four therefore starts at about $280. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 235/45R17 tires?

235/45R17 is original equipment on Subaru WRX (2015-2021), Chevrolet Camaro (2016-2023, upsize from 245/50R18), Acura TSX (2004-2008), Volvo S60 (2001-2009, T5) and BMW 3 Series (2006-2011, sport 17 in), 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 235/45R17 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT, 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 Bridgestone DriveGuard is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Milestar MS932 Sport is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 235/45R17 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.