225/60R16 vs 245/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R16 | 245/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.6" | 26.6" | -0.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.31" | -0.2 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 245 mm | +8.9 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 83.6" | -0.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 758 | +0.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.31" | 13.31" | -0.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 7–9" | overlap 7–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" 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 245/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,993 on the road, so it over-counts by 7. At a true 70 mph the first turns 884 times a minute, the second 884.
What drivers reported
225/60R16 carries 318 complaints and 6 deaths. Nobody has filed one naming 245/55R16.