215/60R16 vs 225/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/60R16 | 225/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.2" | 26.6" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.08" | 5.31" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 82.2" | 83.7" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 771 | 757 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 13.08" | 13.31" | +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 215/60R16. Fit 225/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,181 on the road, so it under-counts by 181. At a true 70 mph the first turns 900 times a minute, the second 884.
What drivers reported
215/60R16 carries 284 complaints. 225/60R16 carries 318 and 6 deaths.