215/45R21 vs 235/45R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/45R21 | 235/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.6" | 29.3" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.81" | 4.16" | +9.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 235 mm | +9.3 % |
| Circumference | 89.9" | 92.1" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 705 | 688 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.31" | 14.66" | +9.0 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 215/45R21. Fit 235/45R21 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 10,248 on the road, so it under-counts by 248. At a true 70 mph the first turns 822 times a minute, the second 802.