205/45R17 vs 225/45R17
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 | 205/45R17 | 225/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 25.0" | +2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.63" | 3.99" | +9.8 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 76.2" | 78.5" | +2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 831 | 808 | -2.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.13" | 12.49" | +9.0 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 205/45R17. Fit 225/45R17 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 | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.6 mph | +2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,292 on the road, so it under-counts by 292. At a true 70 mph the first turns 970 times a minute, the second 942.