215/85R20 vs 215/80R20
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 | 215/85R20 | 215/80R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.4" | 33.5" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 7.19" | 6.77" | -5.9 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 215 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 108.0" | 105.4" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 586 | 601 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 17.19" | 16.77" | -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 215/85R20. Fit 215/80R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,754 on the road, so it over-counts by 246. At a true 70 mph the first turns 684 times a minute, the second 701.