225/40R15 vs 235/40R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/40R15 | 235/40R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.1" | 22.4" | +1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 3.54" | 3.70" | +4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 69.4" | 70.4" | +1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 913 | 900 | -1.4 % |
| Axle height | 11.04" | 11.20" | +4.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6.5–8.5" | overlap 6.5–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6.5" to 8.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/40R15. Fit 235/40R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 71.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 90 mph | 91.3 mph | +1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,143 on the road, so it under-counts by 143. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1065 times a minute, the second 1050.