215/80R20 vs 215/85R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/80R20 | 215/85R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.5" | 34.4" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.77" | 7.19" | +6.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 215 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 105.4" | 108.0" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 601 | 586 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 16.77" | 17.19" | +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 215/80R20. Fit 215/85R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,252 on the road, so it under-counts by 252. At a true 70 mph the first turns 701 times a minute, the second 684.