I'm looking ar 17" rims and a lot of online stores are selling rims/tires package. The size of the tires in the package is 205/40-R17. I looked up tirerack.com, it gives me the size for 17" tire is 205/45-R17, but discounttire.com gives me 205/40-R17 and someone told even I could use 215/45-R17. I'm confused...
I heard I have to lower my car in order to use 205/40-R17 on my 2004 Lancer. Is it true?

Any help will be appreciated!

 

i assume you have a ralliart correct? If so, 205/40/17 will fit w/out lowering the car. I have these on one of my sets of rims and 215/40/17 on the other and both fit and work properly

 

a 205/45/17 will put the outside diameter of the tire closer to the outside diameter of the original tire. This is desireable because it will not affect your speedometer error or effective gearing as much - because these are tuned for the original tire size.

 

My car is actually 04 Lancer ES, not RalliArt and the original steel wheel/tire size is 185/65-14, does this make any difference?

 

Oh, in that case, a 205/40/17 is almost an EXACT replacement diameter-wise. Can't go wrong with those.