215/35R16 vs 205/40R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/35R16 | 205/40R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.9" | 22.5" | +2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 2.96" | 3.23" | +9.0 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 68.9" | 70.5" | +2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 920 | 898 | -2.4 % |
| Axle height | 10.96" | 11.23" | +6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 5.5–7.5" | 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 215/35R16. Fit 205/40R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,242 on the road, so it under-counts by 242. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1073 times a minute, the second 1048.