215/80R21 vs 215/85R21
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 | 215/80R21 | 215/85R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.5" | 35.4" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.77" | 7.19" | +6.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 215 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 108.5" | 111.2" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 584 | 570 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 17.27" | 17.69" | +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 215/80R21. Fit 215/85R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,245 on the road, so it under-counts by 245. At a true 70 mph the first turns 681 times a minute, the second 665.