225/40R18 vs 235/40R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/40R18 | 235/40R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.1" | 25.4" | +1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.54" | 3.70" | +4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 78.8" | 79.8" | +1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 804 | 794 | -1.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.54" | 12.70" | +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 225/40R18. Fit 235/40R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,126 on the road, so it under-counts by 126. At a true 70 mph the first turns 938 times a minute, the second 926.