215/40R18 vs 225/35R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/40R18 | 225/35R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.8" | 24.2" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.39" | 3.10" | -8.4 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 77.8" | 76.0" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 814 | 833 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.39" | 12.10" | -7.3 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 215/40R18. Fit 225/35R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,770 on the road, so it over-counts by 230. At a true 70 mph the first turns 950 times a minute, the second 972.
What drivers reported
215/40R18 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 225/35R18.