225/60R15 vs 215/60R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R15 | 215/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.6" | 25.2" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.08" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 80.5" | 79.0" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 787 | 802 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.81" | 12.58" | -6.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/60R15. Fit 215/60R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,816 on the road, so it over-counts by 184. At a true 70 mph the first turns 918 times a minute, the second 935.