225/60R16 vs 215/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R16 | 215/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.6" | 27.0" | +1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.50" | +3.5 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 84.8" | +1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 747 | -1.4 % |
| Axle height | 13.31" | 13.50" | +4.8 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 225/60R16. Fit 215/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 71.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 90 mph | 91.3 mph | +1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,140 on the road, so it under-counts by 140. At a true 70 mph the first turns 884 times a minute, the second 871.
What drivers reported
225/60R16 carries 318 complaints and 6 deaths. 215/65R16 carries 139.