225/70R18 vs 215/70R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/70R18 | 215/70R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.4" | 29.9" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 6.20" | 5.93" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 95.5" | 93.8" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 663 | 676 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.20" | 14.93" | -7.0 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 225/70R18. Fit 215/70R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,819 on the road, so it over-counts by 181. At a true 70 mph the first turns 774 times a minute, the second 788.
What drivers reported
225/70R18 carries 7 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 215/70R18.