215/70R20 vs 225/65R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R20 | 225/65R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.9" | 31.5" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 5.76" | -2.8 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 225 mm | +4.7 % |
| Circumference | 100.1" | 99.0" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 633 | 640 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 15.93" | 15.76" | -4.3 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 215/70R20. Fit 225/65R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 90 mph | 89.1 mph | -0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,895 on the road, so it over-counts by 105. At a true 70 mph the first turns 739 times a minute, the second 747.