225/40R17 vs 205/40R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/40R17 | 205/40R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.1" | 23.5" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.54" | 3.23" | -8.9 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 75.7" | 73.7" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 837 | 860 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.04" | 11.73" | -8.0 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 225/40R17. Fit 205/40R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,738 on the road, so it over-counts by 262. At a true 70 mph the first turns 977 times a minute, the second 1003.