225/60R16 vs 225/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +3.3 %. That is past the 3% band — expect rubbing, and a speedometer that is properly wrong.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R16 | 225/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.6" | 27.5" | +3.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.76" | +8.3 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 225 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 86.4" | +3.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 733 | -3.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.31" | 13.76" | +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 225/60R16. Fit 225/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 31.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 50 mph | 51.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 70 mph | 72.3 mph | +2.3 |
| 90 mph | 93.0 mph | +3.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,333 on the road, so it under-counts by 333. At a true 70 mph the first turns 884 times a minute, the second 855.
What drivers reported
225/60R16 carries 318 complaints and 6 deaths. 225/65R16 carries 23.