215/40R14 vs 225/40R14
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 | 215/40R14 | 225/40R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 20.8" | 21.1" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.39" | 3.54" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 65.3" | 66.2" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 971 | 956 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 10.39" | 10.54" | +4.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 6–8.5" | overlap 6–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 215/40R14. Fit 225/40R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,152 on the road, so it under-counts by 152. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1133 times a minute, the second 1116.