225/60R21 vs 215/65R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R21 | 215/65R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.6" | 32.0" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.50" | +3.5 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 99.4" | 100.5" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 638 | 630 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.81" | 16.00" | +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 225/60R21. Fit 215/65R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,118 on the road, so it under-counts by 118. At a true 70 mph the first turns 744 times a minute, the second 735.