225/75R17.5 vs 205/80R17.5
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 | 225/75R17.5 | 205/80R17.5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.8" | 30.4" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.64" | 6.46" | -2.8 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 96.7" | 95.5" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 655 | 663 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.39" | 15.21" | -4.8 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 225/75R17.5. Fit 205/80R17.5 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,879 on the road, so it over-counts by 121. At a true 70 mph the first turns 764 times a minute, the second 774.