205/85R16 vs 225/75R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/85R16 | 225/75R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.7" | 29.3" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.86" | 6.64" | -3.2 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 225 mm | +9.8 % |
| Circumference | 93.4" | 92.0" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 679 | 689 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.86" | 14.64" | -5.5 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 205/85R16. Fit 225/75R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.7 mph | -1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,854 on the road, so it over-counts by 146. At a true 70 mph the first turns 792 times a minute, the second 803.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 205/85R16. 225/75R16 carries 121.