205/70R14 vs 225/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/70R14 | 225/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 24.6" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.65" | 5.31" | -5.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 79.5" | 77.4" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 797 | 819 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.65" | 12.31" | -8.5 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 205/70R14. Fit 225/60R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,735 on the road, so it over-counts by 265. At a true 70 mph the first turns 930 times a minute, the second 955.
What drivers reported
205/70R14 carries 20 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 225/60R14.