225/65R18 vs 215/70R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/65R18 | 215/70R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.5" | 29.9" | +1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 5.93" | +2.9 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 92.7" | 93.8" | +1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 683 | 676 | -1.1 % |
| Axle height | 14.76" | 14.93" | +4.3 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 225/65R18. Fit 215/70R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,113 on the road, so it under-counts by 113. At a true 70 mph the first turns 797 times a minute, the second 788.