215/70R21 vs 235/60R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R21 | 235/60R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 32.1" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 5.55" | -6.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 235 mm | +9.3 % |
| Circumference | 103.2" | 100.9" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 614 | 628 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 16.43" | 16.05" | -9.5 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 215/70R21. Fit 235/60R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,772 on the road, so it over-counts by 228. At a true 70 mph the first turns 716 times a minute, the second 733.