225/55R21 vs 225/60R21
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 | 225/55R21 | 225/60R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.7" | 31.6" | +2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 5.31" | +9.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 225 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 96.6" | 99.4" | +2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 656 | 638 | -2.9 % |
| Axle height | 15.37" | 15.81" | +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 225/55R21. Fit 225/60R21 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 10,288 on the road, so it under-counts by 288. At a true 70 mph the first turns 765 times a minute, the second 744.