225/35R18 vs 205/40R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/35R18 | 205/40R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.2" | 24.5" | +1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.10" | 3.23" | +4.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 76.0" | 76.8" | +1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 833 | 825 | -1.1 % |
| Axle height | 12.10" | 12.23" | +3.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/35R18. Fit 205/40R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,106 on the road, so it under-counts by 106. At a true 70 mph the first turns 972 times a minute, the second 962.