225/50R16 vs 235/45R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/50R16 | 235/45R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.9" | 24.3" | -2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.43" | 4.16" | -6.0 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 78.1" | 76.4" | -2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 811 | 829 | +2.1 % |
| Axle height | 12.43" | 12.16" | -6.8 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 225/50R16. Fit 235/45R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.1 mph | -1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,786 on the road, so it over-counts by 214. At a true 70 mph the first turns 947 times a minute, the second 967.
What drivers reported
225/50R16 carries 13 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/45R16.