225/55R22 vs 225/50R22
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 | 225/55R22 | 225/50R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.7" | 30.9" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.43" | -9.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 225 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 99.7" | 96.9" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 635 | 654 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.87" | 15.43" | -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 225/55R22. Fit 225/50R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,721 on the road, so it over-counts by 279. At a true 70 mph the first turns 741 times a minute, the second 763.