205/40R15 vs 225/40R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/40R15 | 225/40R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.5" | 22.1" | +2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.23" | 3.54" | +9.8 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 67.4" | 69.4" | +2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 940 | 913 | -2.9 % |
| Axle height | 10.73" | 11.04" | +8.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7.5" | 6–8.5" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 205/40R15. Fit 225/40R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.6 mph | +2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,294 on the road, so it under-counts by 294. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1097 times a minute, the second 1065.