215/60R15 vs 225/60R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/60R15 | 225/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.2" | 25.6" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 5.08" | 5.31" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 79.0" | 80.5" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 802 | 787 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.58" | 12.81" | +6.0 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 215/60R15. Fit 225/60R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,188 on the road, so it under-counts by 188. At a true 70 mph the first turns 935 times a minute, the second 918.