225/55R17 vs 205/65R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/55R17 | 205/65R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 27.5" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 5.25" | +7.7 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 84.0" | 86.4" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 754 | 734 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 13.37" | 13.75" | +9.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/55R17. Fit 205/65R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,280 on the road, so it under-counts by 280. At a true 70 mph the first turns 880 times a minute, the second 856.
What drivers reported
225/55R17 carries 87 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/65R17.