225/50R16 vs 215/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/50R16 | 215/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.9" | 24.5" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.43" | 4.23" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 78.1" | 76.9" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 811 | 824 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.43" | 12.23" | -5.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/50R16. Fit 215/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,842 on the road, so it over-counts by 158. At a true 70 mph the first turns 947 times a minute, the second 962.