205/40R17 vs 225/35R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/40R17 | 225/35R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.5" | 23.2" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.23" | 3.10" | -4.0 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 73.7" | 72.9" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 860 | 869 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 11.73" | 11.60" | -3.3 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 205/40R17. Fit 225/35R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,891 on the road, so it over-counts by 109. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1003 times a minute, the second 1014.