205/65R16 vs 225/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/65R16 | 225/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.5" | 26.6" | +0.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.25" | 5.31" | +1.3 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 83.2" | 83.7" | +0.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 761 | 757 | -0.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.25" | 13.31" | +1.8 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 205/65R16. Fit 225/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.5 mph | +0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,052 on the road, so it under-counts by 52. At a true 70 mph the first turns 888 times a minute, the second 884.
What drivers reported
205/65R16 carries 22 complaints. 225/60R16 carries 318 and 6 deaths.