215/40R20 vs 235/35R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/40R20 | 235/35R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.8" | 26.5" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.39" | 3.24" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 235 mm | +9.3 % |
| Circumference | 84.1" | 83.2" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 753 | 762 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.39" | 13.24" | -3.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 6.5–8.5" | overlap 6.5–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6.5" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 215/40R20. Fit 235/35R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,890 on the road, so it over-counts by 110. At a true 70 mph the first turns 879 times a minute, the second 889.