215/65R14 vs 225/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/65R14 | 225/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.6" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.50" | 5.31" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 78.6" | 77.4" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 807 | 819 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.50" | 12.31" | -4.8 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 215/65R14. Fit 225/60R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.7 mph | -1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,850 on the road, so it over-counts by 150. At a true 70 mph the first turns 941 times a minute, the second 955.
What drivers reported
215/65R14 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 225/60R14.