215/65R15 vs 225/60R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/65R15 | 225/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.0" | 25.6" | -1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.50" | 5.31" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 81.7" | 80.5" | -1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 776 | 787 | +1.4 % |
| Axle height | 13.00" | 12.81" | -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 215/65R15. Fit 225/60R15 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 9,856 on the road, so it over-counts by 144. At a true 70 mph the first turns 905 times a minute, the second 918.