225/40R14 vs 215/45R14
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 | 225/40R14 | 215/45R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.1" | 21.6" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.54" | 3.81" | +7.5 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 66.2" | 67.9" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 956 | 933 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 10.54" | 10.81" | +6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 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 225/40R14. Fit 215/45R14 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 1116 times a minute, the second 1088.