225/65R18 vs 205/75R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/65R18 | 205/75R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.5" | 30.1" | +2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 6.05" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 92.7" | 94.6" | +2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 683 | 670 | -2.0 % |
| Axle height | 14.76" | 15.05" | +7.5 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 225/65R18. Fit 205/75R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.8 mph | +1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,200 on the road, so it under-counts by 200. At a true 70 mph the first turns 797 times a minute, the second 782.