225/60R18 vs 205/70R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R18 | 205/70R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.6" | 29.3" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.65" | +6.3 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 89.9" | 92.0" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 704 | 688 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 14.31" | 14.65" | +8.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/60R18. Fit 205/70R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,234 on the road, so it under-counts by 234. At a true 70 mph the first turns 822 times a minute, the second 803.
What drivers reported
225/60R18 carries 34 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/70R18.