215/70R21 vs 215/65R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R21 | 215/65R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 32.0" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 5.50" | -7.1 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 215 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 103.2" | 100.5" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 614 | 630 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 16.43" | 16.00" | -10.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 6–8" | 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 215/70R21. Fit 215/65R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.7 mph | -2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,742 on the road, so it over-counts by 258. At a true 70 mph the first turns 716 times a minute, the second 735.