225/75R17 vs 215/80R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/75R17 | 215/80R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.3" | 30.5" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 6.64" | 6.77" | +1.9 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 95.2" | 96.0" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 666 | 660 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.14" | 15.27" | +3.3 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 225/75R17. Fit 215/80R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,084 on the road, so it under-counts by 84. At a true 70 mph the first turns 777 times a minute, the second 770.
What drivers reported
225/75R17 carries 3 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 215/80R17.