215/50R15 vs 235/45R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/50R15 | 235/45R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.5" | 23.3" | -0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.23" | 4.16" | -1.6 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 235 mm | +9.3 % |
| Circumference | 73.7" | 73.3" | -0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 860 | 865 | +0.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.73" | 11.66" | -1.8 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 215/50R15. Fit 235/45R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 70 mph | 69.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 90 mph | 89.5 mph | -0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,941 on the road, so it over-counts by 59. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1003 times a minute, the second 1009.