225/50R22 vs 225/55R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/50R22 | 225/55R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.9" | 31.7" | +2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.43" | 4.87" | +10.0 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 225 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 96.9" | 99.7" | +2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 654 | 635 | -2.9 % |
| Axle height | 15.43" | 15.87" | +11.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6–8.5" | overlap 6–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" 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 225/50R22. Fit 225/55R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.6 mph | +2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,287 on the road, so it under-counts by 287. At a true 70 mph the first turns 763 times a minute, the second 741.