225/45R17 vs 235/40R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/45R17 | 235/40R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.4" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.99" | 3.70" | -7.2 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 78.5" | 76.7" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 808 | 827 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.49" | 12.20" | -7.3 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 225/45R17. Fit 235/40R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,771 on the road, so it over-counts by 229. At a true 70 mph the first turns 942 times a minute, the second 964.
What drivers reported
225/45R17 carries 122 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/40R17.