215/40R17 vs 205/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/40R17 | 205/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.8" | 24.3" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.39" | 3.63" | +7.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 74.7" | 76.2" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 848 | 831 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 11.89" | 12.13" | +6.3 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 215/40R17. Fit 205/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,207 on the road, so it under-counts by 207. At a true 70 mph the first turns 990 times a minute, the second 970.