225/45R20 vs 235/40R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/45R20 | 235/40R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 27.4" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 3.99" | 3.70" | -7.2 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 87.9" | 86.1" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 721 | 736 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.99" | 13.70" | -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 225/45R20. Fit 235/40R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,796 on the road, so it over-counts by 204. At a true 70 mph the first turns 841 times a minute, the second 859.
What drivers reported
225/45R20 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/40R20.