225/55R14 vs 235/50R14
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 | 225/55R14 | 235/50R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.7" | 23.3" | -2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.63" | -5.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +4.4 % |
| Circumference | 74.6" | 73.0" | -2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 849 | 867 | +2.1 % |
| Axle height | 11.87" | 11.63" | -6.3 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 225/55R14. Fit 235/50R14 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 | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.1 mph | -1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,793 on the road, so it over-counts by 207. At a true 70 mph the first turns 991 times a minute, the second 1012.