215/70R14 vs 235/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R14 | 235/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.9" | 26.0" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 6.01" | +1.5 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 235 mm | +9.3 % |
| Circumference | 81.2" | 81.8" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 780 | 775 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.93" | 13.01" | +2.3 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 215/70R14. Fit 235/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,069 on the road, so it under-counts by 69. At a true 70 mph the first turns 910 times a minute, the second 904.
What drivers reported
215/70R14 carries 24 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/65R14.